Advice on Landing a Brokerage Role with CBRE, JLL, C&amp;W, etc?
I've been working with a boutique commercial brokerage for roughly 5 years now and have done well (top 3 in GCI in my office), but have wanted to join one of the larger players in the Boston market. I've applied to just about every opening I can find with JLL, Cushman, CBRE, Newmark for about a year now and have made little to no progress past the second interview.

Any advice for a younger broker looking to break into one of the larger brokerages in their respective markets?
[{"id": "htyr612", "text": "What kind of broker are you? Those firms are all very corporate with a lot of red tape that comes with the big name. Are you sure that\u2019s what you want vs a national firm with a great reputation that is leaner? Just things to think about", "replies": [{"id": "htys846", "text": "I'm in the office/medical/life science asset type, mostly tenant rep. I want to move to one of the larger firms as it would help with going after larger and more reputable accounts. Plus my current firm's leadership and overall goals don't align with what I'm looking for. I realize there's more red tape and structure with the larger companies and I'm ok with that.", "replies": [{"id": "htytfj1", "text": "That makes sense. You can find other middle tier firms too. I would recommend getting some transactions under your belt to point to during your interview and showcase that you can grow your own business while making the company money. They want brokers who are independent, malleable, and are able to take initiative and find creative solutions to problems. Figure out a way to show that you are able to do that within conversation", "replies": [], "depth": 3}, {"id": "htyxs21", "text": "Network with the brokers there", "replies": [], "depth": 3}, {"id": "htz4shq", "text": "Find a senior broker to take you on. In the end it\u2019s the broker\u2019s who specialize in medical office at the firms who end up deciding. They wont hire you to compete with them. You\u2019ll be on their team (if you\u2019re hired) &amp; if the senior/lead broker in your specialty is the one who ends up making the final decision", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "htz07bo", "text": "Know people, be tall, drive a jeep grand Cherokee.", "replies": [{"id": "htz34mi", "text": "I feel targeted", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "htz4et3", "text": "I\u2019ve personally never filled out a job application in CRE and I don\u2019t think that\u2019s the best use of your time.  At the end of the day it\u2019s a relationship business and you never really know who will be looking to hire or when.\n\nI think best thing you could do is reach out to folks with roles in your target space and simply express your goals.  The vast majority may not be hiring or ready to bring someone onto the team but you have to put yourself in a position to get lucky.  Top brokers don\u2019t necessarily go tell corporate / HR that they are looking to hire - they meet or hear of someone they think would add value to the team and make it happen organically.  \n\nThe big firms probably get thousands of applicants for every opening, so I would suggest \u201cwarm\u201d emailing or calling folks in your space and simply asking them for a few minutes of time.  Follow up with a thank you card or email.  Maybe someone who didn\u2019t even know they wanted or needed you calls back.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "htzlpm7", "text": "Find a person at one of the firms you'd like to work for.  You should like that person.  Once you introduce yourself that person should like you.  Tell that person you'd make him/her a lot of money if they hired you to be part of their team.  Wait 3 months of corporate BS to get hired, then go make some fucken money.\n\nI'm being cheeky but that's pretty much it\\*.  The online job positions are almost always pre-filled and are a corporate HR check-mark.  Watch but don't trust there is anything there.   \n\nPositive feedback: Sounds like you've got some deals going.  Leverage every single deal you do with people you might work with as a potential partnership opportunity.  Don't be shy about letting folks know your intention.  If you are indeed good, the job will come to you.  But you absolutely cannot be coy or shy about it: go get that fucken job\\*.\n\nChallenge feedback: This job is all about relationships and leverage.  If you can't leverage whatever assets you have into a job for yourself, I'm not really trusting you to put deals together for my company.  Fuck reddit armchair QBs.  \n\nI hate the hustle/grind trope that is so common here, but to get what you want you have to go get it.  Fortune favors the brave.  Show up, know what you want, be honest about what you want, ask for it, and deliver when you get your shot.\n\n\\*That's pretty much it.", "replies": [{"id": "hu01hd4", "text": "Awesome, thanks for this!", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hu09gvw", "text": "Face to face. Walk into the office and ask for the managing director.  No job posting needed.  Most brokerage firms are hungry for talent right now.", "replies": [{"id": "hu0zrvf", "text": "It\u2019s not 1980, you can\u2019t just walk into an office anymore.  Use LinkedIn to search for people in groups you\u2019re interested in. Message/email to set up a meeting. That is the best way to get face to face, especially if you don\u2019t have another way to get a foot in the door.", "replies": [{"id": "hu7a2co", "text": "100% agree with you, because if you come up looking for the MD they'll surely slap the door in front of you though. Instead I also recommend use LinkedIn to land the job.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hu163g0", "text": "Dude if you\u2019ve made it 5 years by yourself why go to a big firm and give all your money away stay put!", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hu1959k", "text": "I'm in a similar situation, I've been working at a smaller shop for 1.5 years now. Through my network (working on deals with brokers from the larger firms) I was introduced to the managing directors. Currently going through the interview process for CBRE &amp; Cush. \n\nIf you've done well at the smaller shop, I would prepare a significant/recent transaction document to showcase your work. This is a great conversation starter &amp; allows the interviewer to get a good idea if you are qualified/know what you're talking about. \n\n&amp;#x200B;\n\nGoodluck!", "replies": [{"id": "hu1q52c", "text": "Thanks for the insights! I'll put that together.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hu3ycaa", "text": "Look at eXp Commercial they are national, big referral network, some of the best software tools in the business, cloud based brokerage, free education/training if you want it, great split with discount stock buy in and a revenue share program, affordable health insurance, great corporate culture. That\u2019s where my license is in WA and FL and I love it so far", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hu5mnlm", "text": "Being at a big shop by itself isn\u2019t innately good for your career as a tenant rep. You need to be on a good team at a big shop. Otherwise you can get lost in the shuffle, and end up on the island of lost toys. The goal should be to be on a high producing team so that you have senior broker resources to help you close larger deals than you can by yourself.  \nFind the top performing 5 teams in your market at CW/JLL/Cushman. Be relentless in your pursuit of a meeting with the leading brokers of that team. Brokers like to see that you can do the job in the way you pursue the job. Leave your pride at the door and be unrelenting and you will eventually get a meeting.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]