Accepted an offer with a CRE brokerage &amp; job hunting process &amp; advice
This post is going to be a combination of some story telling, venting &amp; also hoping to hear some good advice for people who have done similar career transition &amp; maybe some good advice or encouragement if anyone has anything!

I am 31. My college degree is in Civil Engineering and I have been working for a General Contractor the last 7 years during construction management, the pay was great, benefits were great, but I had to leave because of the toxic managers that I just finally couldn't stand and the overall very conservative, macho, toxic masculinity culture that construction industry as a whole is very much about, and it just really finally caught up to me. Professionally I was becoming unfulfilled, and also think that I can do more, yearning for more control with my time/schedule, etc. So I left early April to reset my mind and find something else. Fortunately I have a house, enough saving, healthy, and no kid, so I was in a position to leave a good paying job (Was making about $140K with base salary &amp; bonus + profit sharing). 

I took some time off, and then started job searching, I was getting some really good responses from the jobs I was applying - design/engineering firms, owners' rep/owner CM, PM jobs for developers, and a few SaaS companies in the construction industries, and a CRE agent job with a boutique buyer representing only brokerage firm etc. Some of these jobs were more of a fall back plan, but industry I really tried to get into was SaaS Sales or CRE, two jobs that potentially have a more lucrative future, more earning potential with the work you put in, have more flexibility, develop more of an entrepreneurial mindset which I love. So I was pretty set on getting into either one, if not, then I will maybe find something construction management related again. 

\[VENT\] - Job hunting process definitely sucks, every rejection feels super personable, and although I got 3 company's interviews into 2nd/3rd round at 3 tech companies that do construction SaaS, I didn't get neither job, I know it is a competitive field, but I felt my construction background would very much be a good fit, but I really felt these tech companies have a very definitive type of people they look for, and have some standard answers they want to hear, it's not really about getting to know ME. I was disappointed but I just tell myself it's nothing personal, I trust my ability, and it's their loss. 

\[CRE firm\] - I went thru 3 rounds of interview with this boutique CRE that does buyer representation only, 50/50 split for now, will be 60/40 split in 2023, and if your volume gets to a certain level it bumps to 80/20. I like the opportunity because it's a smaller firm, in a niche market, with very good training program, and I will be their first agent in my market. The interview process was very personable in contrast of the tech companies, they offered, and I accepted the job, though it is a bit scary going into this, but I felt my construction/PM/Estimating background will give me a good foundation, and the potential can be very exciting. Anyone has done similar transition? And any advice/thoughts with this? 

Tech was my slight more favored field, just because it's cool, it's edgy, but I know it's not all that either. But I do feel like if my goal is eventually be a business owner myself, I felt the CRE job will provide a much better foundation/network/skillset/mindset for that. So I am happy, it's a bit of bittersweet, but I feel like life does work in a mysterious way and maybe this is what I meant to do at this point!

Also, I am going to work on the side with my nights and weekend for an ex-coworker who started his own construction management company 3 years ago, it's a way to use my knowledge, and make some income on the side for the first year doing CRE, and also another opportunity that if this company does become successful, I would be in a good position as well. 

The post is long, if you have made it this far, maybe share a thought or two or just some words of encouragements! Thanks guys.
[{"id": "i9wfmni", "text": "So you have never done a lease or purchase transaction and do not have a license? You are also the first person in the market so you have no one to go on questions?", "replies": [{"id": "i9wkr3p", "text": "They are providing all the training and platforms, I am working on getting my license now before joining their training, and I will be working under a broker closely for the first 6 month to a year as my mentor to provide ongoing guidance and training, and other agents in the nearby areas.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "icmiaoe", "text": "Congratulations. If you do well, youll do very well.If you ever have trouble finding a lender for your buyers, let me know!", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "iurzabb", "text": "Rejection is the thing you need to handle best on brokerage. You are going to get rejected most of the time and your ability to earn is directly tied to how quickly you can move on from the rejection and on to the next and or keep those in your pipeline and follow up without sounding offended. I have been a CRE broker in NYC for 10 years and in my first 5 years i would say not once did it not take getting over a first rejections to get to a yes and sometimes years of staying in touch before a yes. now i rep sellers exclusively so different commitment but important to note. Also sending PM. and hey CONGRATS!", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]