Hey all, any tips for someone looking to break into the development analysis/acquisitions side of the industry?
So, I currently work as a Planner for a team of brokers at a large CRE brokerage in Toronto, analysing the current/potential future use for potential properties our team attempts to list for clients. I realize that there's probably a lot more opportunities for someone like me on the development analysis/site acquisition side of the business vs the (urban) planning side. Reeducation has been on the table, but in the short term, are there any courses like REFM or ULI or CCIM that any of you recommend dabbling in that people will respect in an interview?

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After losing out on a couple of openings at a few Capital Investment firms in the past year I realize that I should take a bit more initiative to compete a bit more with the guys that are strictly quants. The planning side has gotten me into the room a few times but I haven't been able to seal the deal.

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Can't wait to hear from y'all!
[{"id": "etpbw2q", "text": "Leverage your experience in market/demographics  research you use as a planner, and make sure you know the basics of underwriting from the investment side (how to model different debt scenarios, equity splits, etc.).\n\nIt\u2019s a tough side of  the business to get into without underwriting experience, but the job market is hot right now.", "replies": [{"id": "etpdfy1", "text": "Noted. I've taken a couple of feasibility classes but that was back in my undergrad and I'm extremely rusty. Really wished I came into this company through the valuations dept but was intimidated at first which was a feeling i regret looking back.\n\n&amp;#x200B;\n\nLet's say I'm in the room selling my skill set during an interview, Do you think it'd be valuable to a VP if I told them I was learning about how to underwrite online and understood the process/applied what I've learned to my current job (despite the limited amount of time that I'd have applied those skills to my job), or would it be more respectable if I learned them on my own through say, an MRED or MBA?\n\n&amp;#x200B;\n\nAnd I agree, especially in our region. Trying to take advantage of that! Thank you for the feedback by the way.", "replies": [{"id": "etpendi", "text": "You\u2019d prob have to come in at an analyst level. I personally learned underwriting on YouTube. Found a small (4 person company) developer who was willing to give me a shot. An MRED/MBA would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and take years, so that\u2019s up to you. I\u2019d probably spend a few months job searching before making that kind of investment. If you do get an MBA or MRED, you\u2019d still prob have to come in as an analyst anyway.", "replies": [{"id": "etprdz3", "text": "You're right, and I've been searching for a few months now, I've narrowed it down to analyst-type roles that will set me up and give me the foundation to shift my career towards the acquisitions side of the industry in the mid to long-term future.\n\nAlternatively, there are other roles at developers that I'm better suited for (e.g. development coordination/planning) and there are a TON of builders within the city that are always looking. I figure it might make more sense to get my foot in the door that way, learn the skills I need on my own (that you've mentioned), and then go for those positions down the road once I've built some rapport. I'm just impatient lol\n\nAre you enjoying where you're at now?  Autodidacticism says a lot more about your work ethic too compared to just getting a degree these days, so it's great to hear you've had success.", "replies": [{"id": "etpre9t", "text": "Especially these days", "replies": [], "depth": 5}, {"id": "etps17x", "text": "Yes, I\u2019m on the private equity side now and enjoy it. I think targeting developer would be a good move for you, they require less underwriting/excel skills (prob 10% of the job) and need people who know how to orchestrate design, permits, project timelines, community engagement, etc.", "replies": [{"id": "etptez2", "text": "That's the dream! I'm currently entertaining two opportunities right now with some larger developers, I just know that I wouldn't want to stay in those roles long-term. The finance side of the industry seems to have more growth potential long-term.\n\nAlso, what are your thoughts on getting a CFA? I know you wouldn't be getting experience out of the designation but I'm assuming you'd learn about underwriting throughout one of the levels at some point. If someone were applying to a finance related role in your side of the industry, would you consider it as valuable as someone that has a postgrad degree in RE?", "replies": [{"id": "etpwz6x", "text": "In short, I have not found CFAs to be valuable unless you want to work on the accounting side of these companies (hint: you don\u2019t)", "replies": [{"id": "etpy37i", "text": "That's one route crossed off the list. Again, thank you for the input!", "replies": [], "depth": 8}], "depth": 7}], "depth": 6}], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}, {"id": "etpt7u4", "text": "Have you looked at any real estate finance graduate certificate options offered by nearby or online universities?  This may be the way to go.  Get a piece of paper from a reputable institution by taking usually only 4 or so courses.  many of them you don't have to be enrolled in a full time program, you just have to have a bachelor's degree.", "replies": [{"id": "etpvi18", "text": "Definitely, one that seemed appealing was this diploma offered by [UBC](https://www.sauder.ubc.ca/programs/real-estate/credit-programs/diploma-urban-land-economics) but it requires much more than four courses. Some of my courses might overlap from my bachelor's degree too, but it's a long program. I've heard people locally talk about how good it is though.", "replies": [{"id": "etpxfky", "text": "Yeah, for example I think the one Cornell does only requires 6 courses.", "replies": [{"id": "etpym15", "text": "Just signed up for an info session. Thank you for the suggestion!", "replies": [], "depth": 6}], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "etpc363", "text": "- Expand your network. Ask anyone externally for coffee with someone who might know someone in the industry that could get you a foot in the door. Go network at those \u201cyoung leaders\u201d events where other CRE/developers might be, Toronto has many including ULI, NAIOP, CREW, etc - that\u2019s an awesome way to meet like minded people. There\u2019s also a P3 group that does lots of developing/young leader events that attracts smart people across the industry (don\u2019t recall the exact name of the group but it\u2019s like pppp or something).\n\n- Since you say you work for a big company, guessing CBRE or Colliers or Brookfield like, ask them to pay for training/re-education, lots of conferences have them. \n\n- Schulich School of Business also has an MBA program with many real estate finance courses. Take the MBA part time or see if you can just attend their courses and/or networking events that they hold.", "replies": [{"id": "etpeamf", "text": "I do that religiously now, always connecting with people through LinkedIn and at ULI events etc to find the next lead, I've gotten lucky a few times and it's helped to show people that I care. I've made some great friendships because of that as well. Spot on with the brokerage point by the way.\n\n&amp;#x200B;\n\nSchulich has a great MBA and MRED program although the cost of either is.. pricey, Still have to research some part-time programs aside from theirs but I'm wondering if those programs are as valuable as learning technical skills on my own when selling my skills in an interview. Thoughts?  \n\n\nI've actually discussed piggybacking at some of their events if I do go back to school, I've heard that half of the value of an MBA is the network you leave your program with.\n\n&amp;#x200B;\n\nThanks for the feedback!", "replies": [{"id": "etps7t1", "text": "Don't give up hope! They say one out of ten coffee chats will lead to a new opportunity", "replies": [{"id": "etptinu", "text": "Thank you for the encouragement! What do you do in the industry?", "replies": [{"id": "etpvjis", "text": "Just starting out as well. I am an acquisitions intern at a small multifamily private equity shop.", "replies": [{"id": "etpxrx7", "text": "Nice! Hope you're learning a lot", "replies": [], "depth": 6}], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "etpyxz4", "text": "How much do you like to work? I work at a very large development company as a sr analyst and I work 60-80hr work weeks, fly every other weekend to visit projects/prospects, and generally live for work it seems.\n\nLittle time for my wife let alone seeing family and friends. I love mt biking and only get to it maybe 1x week since starting with the company.\n\nMaybe other firms are different, but after being hired I was told this line of work is a lifestyle not a job.\n\nMaybe that is fine for you, but it is something I wish I would have known. I have learned a ton, but this is a young mans game. This is a career switch for me as I spent 10 years in banking and wanted out. If I was early 20s it would be much easier.", "replies": [{"id": "etpzpx1", "text": "I enjoy working a lot if I see some sort of tangible result once my work is complete, the work I do now is relatively superficial and because I'm relatively new and not a sales rep I don't get opportunities to get as involved. It definitely depends on the role you're right, because I've heard the same thing from people, even those in my office and on my team. \n\nI'm still young though (mid twenties) with no dependents or S/Os lol, so I can afford to dedicate more time to work without it impacting my relationships. I'd rather work my ass off now than later, but I can't do that yet until I get the skills to get the job I want, which would help me afford the lifestyle I'm looking for (and the time savings that come with it, right now I'm commuting 2 hours to work and 2 hours home which basically adds 20 hours of time related to work that I have to give up each week.)", "replies": [{"id": "etq134h", "text": "Holy crap that commute is killing you. But yes, I wish I would have known to kill it during my 20s so that I could coast in my 30s. Now, in my mid 30s I am trying to kill it and it isn\u2019t working.", "replies": [{"id": "etq4pbf", "text": "It's brutal, living in the Greater Toronto Area is damn near impossible these days.\n\n&amp;#x200B;\n\nPace yourself man! do you work in a larger market with other developers that emphasize a decent work-live balance and all of that good stuff compared to what you've got now? It seems riskier to burnout with a family and the responsibilities you've got, and there's definitely a lot more corporations that push that sort of lifestyle nowadays.", "replies": [{"id": "etq4plz", "text": "Especially these days", "replies": [], "depth": 5}, {"id": "etq5yvt", "text": "The one perk is that I make *almost* primary market wages and live in a low cost area.", "replies": [{"id": "etrmtnt", "text": "Agreed, that travelling sounds just as brutal too. I'm hoping you find some sort of happy medium by the time your child comes along though. Sounds like you're a high performer with a good resume, you should leverage that to get the time off/balance you need.", "replies": [], "depth": 6}], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}]