Suggestions on approaching a developer for an internship
/post from /realestate

&amp;#x200B;

Hello,

I  have been a retail commercial real estate agent for just under a year  and wanted to transition into an entry level position in MF development.  I have been working with a family-friend broker and have made  transactions, while also sourcing deals on the side for my family's own  retail development/owner-operator businesses. Over the last 5 years, our  family's field of business has become hyper-competitive and  over-saturated with bigger players, so the expansion has  slowed down  dramatically. So, I'm thinking of an exit plan in the case our family  business's current pipelined deals go south.  I want to dive headfirst  into a lucrative field and not spend any more time (I'm in my mid-20s  and chasing deals in my family's field unfruitfully for over 2 years)  and start to grow roots in another area of real estate.

A  family acquaintance of my father is the CEO of a Newport Beach  development firm that made headlines in recent years. Safe to say, they  are pretty high up there and I would love an opportunity to get a day in  the life. My ultimate goal is to come on (willing to take unpaid) and  get a feel for the day in the life. I'd be shadowing analysts as they  put together pitch books and run financial models. I'd start around 6  months, and if I received no offer from the firm, I'd leverage this  position into an entry-level position at another developer.

My  question for you all is what the best way I could approach this company  for the opportunity would be. Should I have my father reach out? Reach  out myself? What skills as an active agent do you feel I could highlight  and cross-qualify myself to bring value to a development firm. Is there  a better time of the year over another to approach these firms? Do developers even do these kinds of things for friends? Am I more qualified due to my family’s dev experience?

Just looking for any and all input of skills I should have brushed up, details I could highlight, and means of approach I could utilize for an interview as an intern at a MF (or any) development firm. 

Thanks a lot
[{"id": "e85kywh", "text": "As an analyst, you need to be strong in excel, finance and market research, and be a good writer.\n\nExcel and finance since you\u2019ll be making pro formas, market research to identify trends and opportunities, and writing since you\u2019ll be making OMs.  \n\nHopefully you were a business major, so you can highlight that, along with your knowledge of real estate as a broker.  You should be able to demonstrate that you know the market, which is not just vacancy and lease rate, but also current deal TIs, LCs, tenants in the market, etc.  \n\nBut it\u2019s smart that you\u2019re willing to work for free, and since the CEO is a family friend, that never hurts.  I would start by asking to learn more about what they do, ask to job shadow, and let them know you\u2019re looking for a new opportunity that is still in real estate, since you really love it.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "e86kti4", "text": "I\u2019d just give him a call and try to sit do with him for coffee or lunch.  Tell him during the call that you\u2019re looking for some career advice and his perspective would be valuable.  I wouldn\u2019t go through your dad", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ebpw168", "text": "Just sent you a chat!", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]