Thread: Looking for some help!

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum and it looks like there's a lot of people that know a lot about real estate, so I figured I'd give this a try...

I'm a junior in college, and I'm looking for a summer internship in commercial real estate investing and development. I've always found investing in and developing properties to be interesting, so I want to get some experience as it may be a potential career someday (note: I'm not looking for a position as a real estate agent).

I've spent a ridiculous amount of time contacting commercial real estate firms that I found on the web, but I have not gotten a positive response from anyone. Can anyone give me any leads? Does anyone know of any firms (big or small) with internship programs, paid or unpaid? Anyone want to take me in as cheap or even free labor???

I'm pretty flexible with location, but I'd prefer to be in the Northeast (NYC, Boston, Philly, PA, NJ). Any information is helpful; the internship search process is so frustrating.

I just haven't heard any real mention of intern programs in this industry, even less on the commercial side. I think that people may be afraid of someone revealing things to the competition. You may have a hard road ahead. Good Luck!

Not to mention the conversion rate for an intern becoming a future associate is so low, the free labor just isn't worth the effort on the company's part to teach you things.

How are you approaching them?

I think part of the problem is they're extremely busy. Having an "intern" follow them around or be around in the office might just be a pain in the rear to them.

Keep trying though. If that's what you want to do, keep plugging away. When you get a "no" - treat it as a stepping-stone to your next YES.

Prove to yourself that you can do it. If you turn up with no results, try something different. You can visit getrealrei dot com.You can join the website and can get the real estate strategies to investors of all different levels. Do not give up. See how she turned her self from a housewife to a millionaire.

The commercial real estate industry is a very hard industry to get into as an intern. Just like the other posts say, it is more of a pain to teach a new person, especially since you do not even want to be an agent. There is nothing in it for them.

They are not that willing to share their 'secrets' in this industry.
Also, in these firms, the new hires are the ones that they will be helping.

Never give up, though, no matter how tough it may be, if this is something you really want you will figure out a creative way to get in.

You may just try finding a Robert Kyosaki seminar somewhere and go to the seminar. You will learn alot more that way.
You may offer to be an intern for a commercial developer instead of an agency or broker.
There are other avenues to get this education that may be much more beneficial to your goals.

Have you used any CRM software ? If you do, please any recommendations?

Originally Posted by KaterinaGasset

The commercial real estate industry is a very hard industry to get into as an intern. Just like the other posts say, it is more of a pain to teach a new person, especially since you do not even want to be an agent. There is nothing in it for them.

They are not that willing to share their 'secrets' in this industry.
Also, in these firms, the new hires are the ones that they will be helping.

Never give up, though, no matter how tough it may be, if this is something you really want you will figure out a creative way to get in.

You may just try finding a Robert Kyosaki seminar somewhere and go to the seminar. You will learn alot more that way.
You may offer to be an intern for a commercial developer instead of an agency or broker.
There are other avenues to get this education that may be much more beneficial to your goals.

During my searching of Comm. RE jobs here in CA. for a few weeks I came across one posting on the internet for an internship that caught my eye. It was for a recent college graduate too intern with a med. sized co. That was the only one I have ever seen. Since I need a paying job and have been out of college a few years I passed. My advice to you would be get your RE license while in school, then once out get a job with a small to med. Comm. RE co. and gain some experience with different aspects (ie. Prop.mgmt. leasing, dealing with tenants, etc.) Then jump in feet first. A large co. would like your experience early on. Finding an internship may be long and futile right now.

Originally Posted by Paulo_Fernandes

Have you used any CRM software ? If you do, please any recommendations?

No, we have used a software for landlords for our property management division. We closed that division down, it was a pain in the you know what.

For our commercial properties, we use the old fashioned calculators right now.

I know that in Boston you could intern easily. The Northeast is still pretty busy. There is no way that someone eager to learn could ever be a burden. Have you thought about obtaining your license? I heard its a brief course.