Does anyone work in store development, site selection or similar?
Care to provide some insight into these fields? Advice on how to transition in other than continuous networking and joining ICSC, etc.?

I had a second interview for a real estate associate role with an excellent group of companies but lost out due to inexperience. Never been so crushed as I was super familiar with the companies and the job would have had lots of interesting travel.

I've made a couple similar posts in the past so I thank you in advance for your patience.
[{"id": "coxg3d0", "text": "I worked for a developer as site selector for a national tenant. Started totally green, right out of college. Just got lucky by having a contact who knew the developer and the guy liked me. \n\nWithout that, I would get my license and break in that way. There's a lot of crossover from brokerage to development. ", "replies": [{"id": "coxgjes", "text": "interesting, thank you for the insight. ", "replies": [{"id": "coxi9ev", "text": "ICSC is a good but you need to get your foot in the door somewhere else. I interned right out of college and got hired by a retail only CRE firm.  ", "replies": [{"id": "coxin11", "text": "interesting. yes i had a great interview with this company. got an email for a second interview and then never heard from them again. \n\nit was literally the perfect gig for me looking to break in. great tenants, lots of travel and an overall awesome company. \n\nstill haven't gotten over it. ", "replies": [{"id": "coxj930", "text": "Did you call them?", "replies": [{"id": "coxjffo", "text": "yes. went like this:\n\nreached out to hiring manager on LinkedIn thinking i had no shot at job (it called for 4 years experience)\n\nwe set up an informational interview that turned into a real interview\n\ni was told HR would follow up\n\nHR followed up via email about 4 days later saying he wanted to speak to me and to give him my availability over the next couple days\n\nthat was 2 weeks ago, i have since followed up 2x via email and once phone (voicemail)\n\n:(", "replies": [{"id": "coxjyec", "text": "I'd try again. Until you get a firm no. Then try some more. Leasing or sales firm?", "replies": [{"id": "coxk1bu", "text": "I'd be scouting retail locations for brands", "replies": [{"id": "coxk3kd", "text": "I'd follow up directly with the person who interviewed you. ", "replies": [{"id": "coxke01", "text": "I should. I sent him a thank you letter but didn't get any response.", "replies": [{"id": "coxkgs4", "text": "Just get him on the phone so you can at least get a hard no straight from the source. You have nothing to lose. ", "replies": [], "depth": 11}, {"id": "coxkil8", "text": "Call them at 7:30AM on their office line. ", "replies": [], "depth": 11}], "depth": 10}], "depth": 9}], "depth": 8}], "depth": 7}, {"id": "coxzbcz", "text": "Definitely keep trying.  I have people that I'm doing deals with that I can't get on the phone at times. ", "replies": [{"id": "coxzhqb", "text": "Called the hr guy, got voicemail again.\n\nEmailed hiring manager, nothing yet.\n\nWe'll see, thanks for the advice!", "replies": [], "depth": 8}], "depth": 7}], "depth": 6}], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "coxtg4x", "text": "You may want to look the big companies with lots of locations to work for them directly.  I'd think you'd have more luck finding something entry level at someone like a McDonalds or Krogers that has a decent sized first party real estate staff.", "replies": [{"id": "coxu8lx", "text": "Thank you and I totally agree. My main problem is finding what chains have offices in my region (NYC). I know quite a few but haven't found too many openings. Starbucks on occasion but that's about it so far.", "replies": [{"id": "coxumap", "text": "You might try something like http://www.dealmakers.net/ .  You can read through the corporate re contacts to find the ones there.  Then I'd just start calling till you get somewhere.  There's gotta be tons of those in nyc ", "replies": [{"id": "cozzygs", "text": "I've tried that in the past with limited success. I will certainly try again.\n\nI set up a meeting with a director at a rapidly expanding food and bev chain via LinkedIn yesterday so I'm pumped about that.\n\nJust doing my best to make contacts.", "replies": [{"id": "cp008aw", "text": "We get national expansion contacts for our market pretty often.  I'll try to keep an eye out for the NYC based ones if you'd like.  DM your email if so", "replies": [{"id": "cp02ju1", "text": "DM'd. thank you. ", "replies": [], "depth": 6}], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "cp4e4id", "text": "Someone recommended I try to break in with a firm like CBRE in their Global Corporate Services group.\n\nAnyone concur?\n\nNumnum where are you, sent you a DM.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]