Breaking Into Commercial Real Estate: Starting Out With Uncertainty
I'm based in Honolulu and I just passed my state real estate exam, but do not plan to apply for my license until the end of the year.  So...now what?  I had planned to enter and start in sales/leasing with a brokerage firm, but i'm realizing that i'm basically unskilled in the industry.  The only prior knowledge I have is based on learning through osmosis from my Father who's been in the industry for nearly 40 years.  But I have no technical knowledge or skills in tools like excel.  I only have a bachelor's degree in communication; nothing really business-related per se.

So what do I do?  Are there brokerage firms with training programs and mentorships, or are there other courses or SOMETHING I can/should do at this point?

I'm feeling stuck and in a lull and unsure what my next steps should be.  For anyone experienced, what do you suggest?  Am I alone in my struggle here?

Thank you in advance for any and all thoughts.
[{"id": "i599rmo", "text": "Why aren't you using your dad and his connections to get a position?   With 40 years in the industry, and also coming from Honolulu, it's a small market, and you should be able to leverage his contacts.", "replies": [{"id": "i59aqgx", "text": "My father always gives snippets of advice and knowledge, but he's terrible at explaining things (he says so himself), and his connections aren't in positions to provide jobs.  There's also a legal issue currently going on that has strained his relationship with his prior broker (the cause is neither of their fault).  As an effective means of moving in and up in the industry, that's not really an option at this time.", "replies": [{"id": "i59bu5u", "text": "That's terrible, because real estate is all about relationships.  If you can't use him, then you need to sell yourself to other brokers.  And when I said use his connections, it doesn't necessarily mean for a job, it could be mentorship, introductions, or just getting coffee.\n\nYou sound like you think very linearly, and by that I mean you are thinking in the box if you will.  It's not just can your dad's connections give you a job, can they give advice, introduce you, identify some other opportunity, real estate is about being able to find solutions where others don't, and it starts with yourself.\n\nYou should be researching every brokerage firm on the island, and trying to connect with all the senior brokers, and saying that you're a recent grad, and that you wanted to take them out for coffee to ask them about their job.  Don't mention that you're looking, only that you're thinking about it and want to learn more.  This takes away the thought that if they don't have a job they can say no.  \n\nThat's just one suggestion, but if you can't sell yourself, you're going to have a hard time in real estate.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "i59c91z", "text": "I knew nothing about commercial real estate when I was hired. Some firms do have comprehensive training that you will pay a little for when you get your first commission. Or try to get hired as an assistant or as a paid intern and accumulate knowledge. If you want to do it and put in the hours, just dive in!", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "i59f370", "text": "This isn't an academic field or a meritocracy.\n\nYou have the most valuable resource, an old male working in real estate, the rest is easy.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "i5ppxng", "text": "You plan to start in January. As of now you have a license and don\u2019t know much. What do you do have is 8 months to differentiate yourself. Take CCIM classes, learn how to financial model, read real estate books, read research and business articles. Try your best to educate yourself to the point to when you actually start learning you will be able to grasp and connect dots almost instantly", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]