ARGUS Certification
I am looking to get started in a career in CRE out of college. I don’t have any relevant internship experience and I am looking for a way to appear more attractive to firms. I’ve spoken with a contact in the field and they suggested a certification in ARGUS. It’s a really expensive course and I was wondering if this is worth the $1,500 investment? 

Also, if anyone has other advice on things I can do to prepare for a career in CRE?
[{"id": "eknyry8", "text": "It\u2019s a must to know if you are going into the finance side of CRE. If you\u2019re doing traditional brokerage it won\u2019t be necessary", "replies": [{"id": "eko1608", "text": "Thanks! Definitely interested in the finance side", "replies": [{"id": "ekoafb8", "text": "It was only a few hundred dollars when I did the online certification about 2 years ago so am surprised how expensive it is now but knowing Argus and not knowing can be there difference between getting the job tbh. Some shops will train you on it if they\u2019re going to hire someone really green but they typically prefer some use with it", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "eko9voz", "text": "Here's what I've heard from the grapevine: most potential employers say yes, it's totally worth it, but if they haven't yet hired you, they aren't the ones actually footing the bill. The general consensus seems to be that for an undergrad with limited resources, [Argus isn't really worth the price tag.](https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/lets-talk-argus)\n\nThe developers, PE fund managers, and associates I've spoken to say it MAY give you a leg up in hiring, and it definitely shows commitment. But if $1,500 is a really big spend for you (it definitely is for me) it might not be ENOUGH of a boost to be worth it. Coffee with an experienced industry professional is $4, and a professional organization membership can be as low as $100 for an undergrad. Both do far more for you if you use them right.", "replies": [{"id": "ekobt2u", "text": "Maybe it\u2019s not worth it for the curriculum itself but if OP doesn\u2019t have it and doesn\u2019t have a RE degree and others who are applying have both, then OPs resume is going in the trash bin at my shop.", "replies": [{"id": "ekoci60", "text": "Guess you have a point there, especially with no RE experience. Didn't think of that. \n\nDon't know how much time OP has left in their degree, but maybe OP should see if their school offers any classes that give them Argus experience. I took one a couple years back, and they gave us each a semester's license. Schools get them cheap.", "replies": [{"id": "ekpzdm9", "text": "Yea - we had the option to take a weekend class and learn the student edition for like $300. No brainer.", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}, {"id": "ekoclq9", "text": "This, analysts positions in CRE are far and few and whatever you can do to put yourself ahead, will definitely show. Everyone trying to make it in the beginning does coffee and industry events. When I was doing that stuff in the beginning of my CRE career, everyone told me Argus would make me that much more valuable and it certainly has.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ekoa5vu", "text": "Not really worth it IMO, I got the certification through the training program and I could have learned just as much reading the training manual (the one which the training is based off of) which can be found for free online. Argus isn\u2019t too complicated once you play with it for a while.", "replies": [{"id": "ekoblry", "text": "Theres a difference between reading the manual and learning how the actual program works. If someone told me in an interview that they just read the manual, I wouldnt give them credit for being able to use it. Hell even the analysts I\u2019ve hired who used AE at their previous jobs weren\u2019t even up to par and I\u2019ve had to retrain a lot of mechanics.", "replies": [{"id": "ekoctn4", "text": "Fair, I just felt as if it wasn\u2019t worth the $1,500 as I felt like I went from not knowing how to use it at all to maybe knowing how to run a rent roll. Learning on the job with someone training you is much more valuable, plus when I was applying for jobs I found my interviewers not to caring so much about the certification, more so my knowledge of real estate fundamentals. They all planned to train in Argus once you got the job.", "replies": [{"id": "ekpza4t", "text": "Yes of course learning how to use the software on the job is going to make you proficient, but my point is just that $1,500 is not a lot of money when it comes to investing in your future. You got think long term - it\u2019s going to make you more marketable. I would bet many of the kids making that choice have no problem dropping $20 on open bars, or $60 on a big night out. You have to make your choices.", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}, {"id": "ekpgzfs", "text": "Can you drop the link for the online manual from the class? I\u2019ve only been able to find the user manual, which isn\u2019t as helpful for the certification as the instruction (step-by-step) manual that is used in the training program", "replies": [{"id": "ekq0gdt", "text": "My mistake... it is the user manual that can be found online, which is essentially a more in depth training manual without all of the examples. I still find myself referring to the user manual often, as it is jam packed with every feature of the program.  This is the one I use:   [User Manul](https://www.altusgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ARGUS-Enterprise-11.6-User-Guide-2017-Product-Doc.pdf)", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ekoc23y", "text": "If you didn\u2019t go to a target school and take the real estate courses AND don\u2019t have a relevant internship on your resume, then you\u2019ve basically shown 0 interest in real estate to me (on paper). I\u2019ve managed recruiting for both BAs and MBAs, full time and interns, and frankly your background wouldn\u2019t stack up. Would having AE certification get you the job by itself? Not necessarily, but it at least makes me read your resume more carefully and potentially do a screening phone call with you. Otherwise, it\u2019s going in the trash.", "replies": [{"id": "ekoj8oz", "text": "No idea why this is being downvoted, it's 100% correct. I'm a CIS major graduating soon with no internship experience in CRE. The only reason I'm getting call backs is because I have three things listed on my resume that are the main talking points: Real Estate Finance Course from my school, BIWS Real Estate Financial Modeling Course, and ARGUS Enterprise in skills section. I have not done the certification yet, and it probably shouldn't even be in my skills but I knew it would lead to gaining a lot more attraction. The only ARGUS experience I have was attending a one day training led by my aunt at the brokerage shop she works at.", "replies": [{"id": "ekpz04i", "text": "I mean people can downvote if they don\u2019t like the harsh truth, but I\u2019m a director at a top 10 asset management firm and one of the top mortgage producers in the country. I also ran a large recruiting and training program at my last shop for analysts (BA) and associates (MBA). I\u2019ve screened thousands of resumes, organized and ran at least 20 super days, interviewed I don\u2019t know how many candidates. I train all of our new analysts, and this is on top of my normal job. This isn\u2019t outside the norm - we have very limited time to devote to recruiting so if your resume doesn\u2019t scream \u201cI\u2019m interested in real estate and i have the basic skillset to do the job\u201d I\u2019m not going to waste time on you.", "replies": [{"id": "ekqunx9", "text": "Would you mind taking a look at my resume? I have been getting decent traction from companies I've applied to but would love to hear your input.", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ekod558", "text": "Have you checked with your school to see if they offer a discount? My program offered it for a few hundred bucks", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]