Currently in prep-mode to make the jump into brokerage from independent day-trading. Given the vast amounts of industry know-how, I've been hesitant to commence the application process due to an overwhelming case of imposter syndrome. Just how extensive does my knowledge need to be for interviews?
As my question states, I have been kind of psyching myself out and delaying my job search due to some confusion with the expected level of industry knowledge I must have to pass the interview process.

It seems the more I research similar question's and other information regarding this career path, the more overwhelmed and uncertain I become.

That is not to say I am naive to the vast and ongoing educational requirements this profession demands, but rather how my strive for perfection has created such a broad list of advice from various threads/vids that I feel I have lost sight on what is truly important and needed from me to land a gig. Certainly I don't need to know it all.

I suppose asking this will net me even more answers, but I am hoping one of ya can tell it to me straight(er)!

\*\*If needed:

|Background info|

\- 29 y.o. w/ a Business Degree from Cal State Fullerton and a CA RE Salesperson License.

\- Been day-trading stocks/options/crypto for the past 5 years.

\- Other past work experience includes B2B SaaS sales, tech support, and investment advising for two unicorn start-ups in the FinTech and CRM space.

\- Have taken roughly 600 course work hours of college level RE classes (Probably irrelevant because I don't remember much as most were taken many years ago)

\- Finances in order to stay afloat for many years of no income.

\- Confident I have the personality, grit, integrity, and communication fit.

&amp;#x200B;

|How I am Currently Preparing|

\- Currently enrolled in REFM bootcamp levels 1-3.

\- Taking notes/studying each chapter of Peter Linneman's RE Finance &amp; Investments textbook.

\- Subscribed to various forums/publications that I read when bored

\- Created a CRE Instagram to post about local CRE news &amp; to mainly keep me engaged

\- Reading some popular RE books (2 down, many to go)

\- Compiled list of people I know of who work in the industry (only 2) that I will call when I am confident I can carry on a RE related conversation.

\- I plan to start attending local CRE meet ups (Any recommendations for Orange County, CA area?)

\- Need to start reading/familiarizing myself with local market reports.

\- Educating myself further on the functions of each role in the industry.

&amp;#x200B;

|What I am Trying to Do|

\- Feel comfortable with interview questions (and at what level of knowledge I need so I can stop beating around the bush and to just go for it) and land a job for an entry-level role on the brokerage side at any firm (M&amp;M is a last resort) (Follow-up question I am also confused about: Do most places \[other than top firms\] require you to become an analyst first? Would rather just jump in and go commission only)

Let me know if I am missing anything, if/how I am going about things the wrong way, or how long you prepped for/what you knew going into your first successful interview.
[{"id": "hjw38sg", "text": "So I owned my own real estate company from the beginning of 2020 till a little over a month ago. I only wholesaled homes in my city and surrounding areas and went after only multi-family/sf rentals. Did pretty well for myself and learned a lot, but I wanted more. Took my test and passed after a few attempts (5 lol). Went to the largest and highest producing commercial firm in my town and got accepted during my interview. \n\nFirst week in I meet a coworker who is also a new hire but has had no prior real estate background, other than taking and passing the exam. I feel bad for him because our firm has 0 training for newbies. All of the brokers in my office are 40+ years old, so they haven\u2019t had to train anyone for years. I\u2019m specializing in multi family but am also getting a lot of other work given to me by the other brokers in my firm.\n\n- What I\u2019m trying to say is don\u2019t be afraid of the interviews. I randomly walked into a residential Coldwell Banker office before even signing up for my class and was told I\u2019d have a desk available once I passed my exam.\n\n- Ask the firm or firms you interview at about the training they have.\n\n- I work 100% commission but having the last year and a half already in the industry has helped. You sound like you\u2019re ready to go head first so just do it!\n\n- if it makes you feel better I\u2019m a college dropout who learned everything from books, YouTube and just throwing myself into real estate. My closing attorney I used when I first began still pokes fun at me for how I knew absolutely nothing for the first year and a half.\n\n- try and specialize in something right off the get go. Having my background in multi family All of the brokers in my office have been in real estate for almost 30+ years. So, they\u2019re able to take on multiple million $+ listings that are anywhere from multi family, flex, shopping centers to even restaurants and leases. Just pick one or even two and learn everything you can about it.\n\n- You already know that their is ALOT to learn about real estate and the class/exam doesn\u2019t even begin to scratch the surface. Especially if you\u2019re going into commercial. So don\u2019t try and learn every thing right off the bat. Take it slow, find good mentors in your firm and work your ass off! I remember my first little closing I made $5,000 off of and it was one of the most satisfying days of my entire life.\n\nAlso, the firm I work for is one of the top performing in a sub market of Atlanta, GA. Not nation wide, just been around since the 40\u2019s. Thought I\u2019d throw that in there.", "replies": [{"id": "hjw4bld", "text": "*Forgot to mention the day after I passed my exam I went to a firm in town that I had my eyes on the whole time while taking my exam. I walked in and got an interview. Was told I would\u2019ve had a position if I came 3 months prior because the hiring broker/owner of the firm just hired his daughter as an agent and so her desk is in his office. This threw a massive wrench in my game plan because I told myself I only wanted to work with them. The hiring broker told me about the hiring broker for my current firm and how they\u2019re great and would possibly take me on. I gave them a call and had an interview hours later that same day. \n\nI\u2019m glad I was turned down from the first firm as my current one produces the most listings and closings in town and I don\u2019t think the other brokers at the first firm would\u2019ve had the time to help me out as they were all younger (mid to early 30s). \n\n25yr old btw", "replies": [{"id": "hjwpqch", "text": "Appreciate you taking the time to write that out and respond to my post. Means a lot.\n\nI admire how you just threw yourself out there with not only jumping in head first into the game of real estate investing, but also into the interview process with the top firm you hide mind -- no offense, but you failed the exam four times, timing didn't work in your favor and you didn't pull through the first time (although you actually, technically did)... but how impressed I am as you let none of that get into your head. Truly a spectacular display of not giving a single fuck... For that, it definitely inspires me to do the same and to just grip it and rip it like you did... The best thing I could probably do for myself is to just experience and view the interview process as practice, especially given the fact I haven't had to interview with someone in over 7 years...\n\nGreat post and lesson. I wish you luck on your journey! Shake n' bake, baby!", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hjxx7n4", "text": "What? You are going to be cold calling and doing bitch work for the first three years servicing the senior brokers existing clients. \n\nWhat property type you working, what market, what firms you applying to?", "replies": [{"id": "hk1h7la", "text": "Hey, I responded to your comment, but forgot to reply under your comment. Appreciate your words.", "replies": [{"id": "hkdb8z0", "text": "OK, investment sales is going to be very different then agency leasing. \n\nInvestment sales is like Marcus &amp; Millichap or Matthews group, which is boiler room calling people to sell their NNN or MF property. This is easier to break into as you are just cold calling people. \n\nAgency leasing is a bit harder in that it is very region specific, and if you are in OC there is really only the Irvine Company so just apply there. Add those people to your linkedin and see about joining ULI and go to some Irvine City Council meetings on zoom to get an idea of how everything works.\n\nSo figure out which path you are taking. The investment sales path will take most anyone and that is 100% commission based. The runner position is usually a token salary with a portion of whatever you bring into the senior broker. \n\nIn both cases getting your CA salesperson license is the first step.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hk1h2p2", "text": "Yeah, I understand for the most part that I am going to be a lil bitch for some time, but that also intrigues me to some degree, as dealing with nice &amp; fussy people, pickin up the phone, getting shut down, etc, is my forte. Gotta start somewhere, and I am all for uphill battle. If there is one thing I am good at, its\u2019 knowing how to understand and maneuver myself through people and there, at times, bullshit. \n\nI am looking to apply for a associate/analyst role on the investment sales/leasing side of brokerage in Orange County, CA market.\n\nEdit: This is in response to user: fuck_your_downvotes", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]