Should I look at being a CRE Agent as basically my first position in the industry or start out as an analyst?
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[{"id": "hursc12", "text": "If you have enough cash saved up to live for a year and start out then jump right in.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "huryed8", "text": "The brokerage route is an excellent launching pad. Similar to investment banking for general finance, the brokerage route allows you to develop a skill set (building offering memos, developing argus/excel models, understanding what makes particular buildings/markets attractive) that is sought after by various firms in the commercial real estate world (e.g., the firm I work for, a real estate private equity fund, looks to hire people who have worked at a major brokerage for at least a couple of years - instead of hiring directly out of college - to mitigate some of the learning curve). The larger/more well-known the brokerage (CBRE, JLL, etc) the better in terms of exit opportunities. Of course, you can also make a career on the brokerage side.", "replies": [{"id": "hus1d9o", "text": "Any secrets to getting one? Was looking the other day at a JLL analyst position in my metro and it had like 40+ applicants", "replies": [{"id": "hus4z0r", "text": "No magic bullet. Those are highly competitive positions, often acquired via school/family ties, internships, networking, etc. Could try shadowing a broker/team - some sort of externship - to get your foot in the door. Taking the initiative to get argus certified could potentially help you stand out (but I believe that is relatively expensive). There are companies like (ACG Professionals) who will provide extensive training (financial modeling and due diligence) and have connections to various firms in CRE/help with placement after the training program.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}]