Struggling to find entry level positions in CRE. Just want to get my foot in the door - advice?
I'm a current college student in Finance/Accounting looking to get into CRE as real estate is my dream profession. I've applied for assistant positions, internships, etc., and I haven't had any luck. Not even any calls for interviews.

Is there any skills, experience, or any other attributes that CRE companies/investors look for? What jobs/roles would you recommend I try to apply for? Like I said, I just want to get my foot in the door in ANY entry level work I can within RE (even non-commercial is cool!)

I figured I would ask here since y'all have experience. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks so much.
[{"id": "ih56ha8", "text": "For a summer internship or a full time job? Brokerage / commissions or a salary job?", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ih56hv5", "text": "Best bet would be to intern or apply for analyst roles at the big brokerage firms. This can vary by region, but that\u2019s probably the best place to get your foot in the door", "replies": [{"id": "ih59l9h", "text": "Yep agreed. Check the career pages on their websites. That\u2019s where we get most of our entry level hires, outside personal referrals.", "replies": [{"id": "ih5mtw8", "text": "Those jobs probably get a ton of applicants because this route has never worked for me despite working in a similar industry.", "replies": [{"id": "ih5ppvj", "text": "Yeah maybe. I never really ask how many total applications there were. We generally get a batch of 8-12 folks from the hiring people, then we decide who to interview. We usually interview 2-4 of them. \n\nI\u2019d say that\u2019s the process for 90% of the entry level hires I\u2019ve been involved with over the last decade.", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ih57nc4", "text": "CRE Lender", "replies": [{"id": "ih59a9z", "text": "To expand on this one many CRE lenders have loan servicing departments that hire people with accounting degrees.  It can be a tedious and frustrating job, but it gets you in the door so that you can look around from the inside.  You may love it or you may hate it, but I guarantee you will learn more about CRE in few months than you did in four years of college.", "replies": [{"id": "ih5brnd", "text": "What's the day to day look like in such a position?", "replies": [{"id": "ih8v1um", "text": "Really depends on the lender. Some have separate duties and responsibilities from loan processing, documentation, and closing and post-servicing. Small lenders tend to do all of them which is more stressful but you learn way more and quicker", "replies": [], "depth": 4}, {"id": "ihab5o9", "text": "Loan Servicing can encompass a wide variety of duties and responsibilities which are dependent on the requirements of each lender.  Servicing departments will typically have groups for asset surveillance/review, insurance, taxes and compliance.\n\nAsset surveillance/review people spend lots of time breaking down annual or quarterly operating reports and reviewing annual property inspections.  You learn a lot about income, expenses and capital improvements for a variety of property types.  You learn that some borrowers have professional well organized I&amp;E statements, some do not and no two borrowers do it exactly the same.\n\nInsurance people spend their time reviewing new or renewal polices to make sure they conform with the lender's requirements.  Usually a specific subgroup handle insurance claims.  They speak a bizarre, strange language which I never have understood.\n\nTax people make sure that required escrows are current and sufficient to pay the taxes well before the due date.  Each state and sometimes each jurisdiction within a state will have different ways of assessing and taxing property with different payments options and due dates.  Unpaid taxes can prime almost every lien so making sure they are paid and current is major responsibility of a loan servicer.\n\nCompliance people are the uber nerds of the servicing world.  They dive deep into complex regulations regarding CMBS, securitizations, bond financing and the like.  These people are scary smart and love to talk about Master Servicers and B-Piece buyers.\n\nTLDR and I'm even boring myself now.  LSS (too late) is that if you can survive a few years in loan servicing you will have a solid foundations for a any CRE lending job.", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}, {"id": "ih5pzyr", "text": "Lender here - this is great advice.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}, {"id": "ihbukyl", "text": "Could I PM you?", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ih5duab", "text": "We\u2019re still a phone call business. Smile and dial. Someone will want you.", "replies": [{"id": "ih67zly", "text": "Not when it comes to hiring\u2026", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ih5k25z", "text": "Where are you located?", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ih5mxh4", "text": "Get your Real Estate License in your state and network within your brokerage.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ih6xie3", "text": "I currently work an entry level job in a commercial brokerage. I\u2019m an assistant/junior agent to the top team there, just consisting of two other men. \nI was already qualified as I did 2 years as a residential TC and then 3+ years as residential Realtor.\n\nThey team me everything they can, I learn just by being in the environment, they respect me and call me their partner instead of assistant, and they\u2019re okay with my continuing Residential RE in the meantime. Living the dream.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ih7bk6p", "text": "Get sales nav, find roles, call hiring managers and introduce Yourself", "replies": [{"id": "ih7bl9w", "text": "*Get sales nav, find roles,*\n\n*Call hiring managers and*\n\n*Introduce Yourself*\n\n\\- No-Emotion-7053\n\n---\n\n^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn&amp;#32;more&amp;#32;about&amp;#32;me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/)\n\n^(Opt out of replies: \"haikusbot opt out\" | Delete my comment: \"haikusbot delete\")", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ih7j0tr", "text": "Apply for research analyst roles. Firms like CBRE, JLL, Cushman, etc. are always looking to hire new researchers because the role has high turnover. Most people only stay in research for a year or two before moving on to something better.\n\nJust know that the pay won't be great (like 55-60k in a mid-tier market or 70k in NYC/SF), but it's a solid stepping stone to have on your resume, and you will develop a pretty comprehensive understanding of the market.", "replies": [{"id": "ih7tnl6", "text": "Yup this ^ \n\nI\u2019d like to add that you can always start on the property management side and move from there.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}, {"id": "ih9mric", "text": "Hey fuck you, I have been in the research department for 22 years. Jesus, what have I done with my life lol.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}, {"id": "iiwyg4e", "text": "Any idea what research analysts transition to after this role and what pay may look like? Recently offered a position and deciding over another credit analyst position at a bank.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ih7lxvb", "text": "Check out Project Destined. https://projectdestined.com \nNot sure if they are still taking applications . \n\nFHL is one I\u2019ve been working on getting an internship with as well but the next hiring season is during fall. \n Im in the same boat bud, keep trying . \n\nhttps://www.futurehousingleaders.com", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ih80v3r", "text": "I got lucky I applied for an acquisitions analyst role on LinkedIn with 3 months of credit analyst experience out of college. Had the interviews and got the job. Total comp will be 140k+ this year. In SF", "replies": [{"id": "ihgelxe", "text": "How much of it in stocks", "replies": [{"id": "ihgghj7", "text": "None it\u2019s a small company", "replies": [{"id": "ihgh2ci", "text": "That\u2019s very good offer, but being a small company, you might need to wear many hats. Idk. Mine is total 70 k in SoCal as a finance &amp; operation analyst for a REIT. Work is specific but a bit repetitive.", "replies": [{"id": "ihghd93", "text": "Oh yeah I definitely am. I went to college down in SoCal in irvine, I wonder how much acquisitions analysts are getting there because I hate living in SF", "replies": [{"id": "ihgq1e8", "text": "I\u2019d image around 70k -100k, with a few yrs experience. I was tempted to move to SF for that 6 figure, but I guess best would be working remotely for them.", "replies": [{"id": "ihj1cfu", "text": "Cant work remotely but it\u2019s fine", "replies": [], "depth": 7}], "depth": 6}], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "iipibb2", "text": "Important technical skills are Microsoft Office especially excel. Bonus for any real estate software like Argus, Yardi, etc. Be personable, likeable, show intelligence and maturity, and a reason why you want the role and to work for the company. GPA is important for your first job out of school and relevant coursework, but it isn't the end all be all. GOod luck!", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]