Tips to Nail Your Next Commercial Real Estate Interview (Updated July 2024)
Recently, our team partnered with the Graduate Real Estate Council at Cornell University where we worked with their students in providing mock interviews with Cornell alumni. Our goal in this effort was to help these students at the beginning of the school year prepare themselves to nail their next commercial real estate interview with nothing to lose!
Each student interviewed with 2 hiring managers and was given feedback from their peers and the interviewers. After all of it was said and done, we all came back to the room together and discussed how they could come off as stronger candidates in a Commercial Real Estate interview. As a result, we shared tips to nail their next interview.
Investigate everything about the company for your commecial real estate interview
Know the mission of the organization, the team, where the interviewer went to college, what deals they are currently working on, how they fund their projects, and who their clients are. By being able to showcase knowledge of the company you are interviewing with, you’ll far surpass the other candidates.
A good quote that I live by is: “How you do one thing is how you do everything.” By being the most “in the know candidate,” the interviewer will know you care more than the other candidates; therefore, they can trust you that you will be prepared on the job as well.
You can get this information by reading up about the company, talking to current/former employees/clients, and looking at their website.
Back up your answers up with facts
When you are talking with the interviewer about certain skills you have obtained in school or on the job, talk about specific examples. This also needs to be on your resume.
Words and phases like:
- For example…
- Let me tell you about a story when I…
Smile & laugh to nail your next commercial real estate interview
By smiling and laughing you will come off as someone likeable! Someone positive! Everyone wants to be around happy people.
Interviews can be scary, and anxiety-ridden, but they don’t have to be. Think about the interview as if you are talking with a friend.
Be personable and ask questions
There is a stigma in interviews that the interviewer should do the asking, and you, the interviewee, should do the talking. WRONG! You should treat it like a conversation. You are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you so ask follow up questions.
One interviewer said, “Would you pass the airplane test?” Which means if the airplane was stuck in the air, would you rather push them off the plane or could you talk with them and become friends?
Create a background suitable for success
If you are interviewing for a position online, make sure there are no noises in the background, phone/Skype/Teams notifications are off, you have good lighting, and you aren’t looking down on the camera. It should be an eye level or a bit above.
Keep Practicing to develop this skill
If luck = preparation + opportunity, you need to give yourself many chances of preparing. You prepare by having multiple networking calls per week and reaching out to people in the industry to learn more about them. All this will enable you to tell your story more often, which will give you more confidence when in front of an interviewer.
If you’d like to learn more about how to network with others in the industry, you can review our LinkedIn 101 series that highlights how to go about this, who to reach out to, how to find them, and what kind of questions to ask.
We also have a variety of other career and education resources here at A.CRE that we’ve found valuable as we’ve blazed our own career paths (see below). Moreover, for those ready to actively pursue new opportunities, consider using our Cover Letter Composer tool. We designed this custom GPT to help you craft compelling cover letters tailored to various roles in commercial real estate, enhancing your applications and improving your chances of landing an interview in this competitive field. We also have a guide for Real Estate Interview Prep With Chatgpt-4 that outline how to use comprehensive interview simulation prompts with ChatGPT to help you practice and prepare for your upcoming commercial real estate interview. Utilizing resources like this can be a significant step towards advancing your career in CRE.
CAREER RESOURCES AT A.CRE
- A.CRE Commercial Real Estate Job Board
- Day in the Life Series
- General Content on Careers in CRE
- Help with CRE Interviews
EDUCATION RESOURCES AT A.CRE
- A.CRE 101
- Deep Dive Series
- Glossary of CRE Terms
- Series on Graduate Programs (MBA and Masters) in Real Estate
- Learn real estate financial modeling with the A.CRE Accelerator
Are you looking to get a job in Commercial Real Estate? Sign up for Career Connections so we can match you with top companies that are looking to hire.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nailing a Commercial Real Estate Interview
What is the most important step to prepare for a CRE interview?
Investigate everything about the company: its mission, team, current deals, funding methods, and client base. “By being the most ‘in the know candidate,’ the interviewer will know you care more than the other candidates.”
How can I make my answers more compelling in an interview?
Back up your answers with real-world examples. Use phrases like “For example…” or “Let me tell you about a story when I…” and ensure those experiences are also reflected on your resume.
Why is smiling and laughing encouraged during an interview?
It helps you appear likeable and positive. “Everyone wants to be around happy people.” Treat the interview like a conversation with a friend to reduce anxiety and create rapport.
Should I ask questions during the interview?
Absolutely. “You are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you.” Asking thoughtful follow-ups shows interest and helps assess cultural fit.
What is the “airplane test” in CRE interviews?
It’s a cultural fit test: “If the airplane was stuck in the air, would you rather push them off or could you talk with them and become friends?” Interviewers assess whether you’re someone they’d enjoy working with.
What are best practices for virtual interviews?
Ensure a quiet environment, turn off notifications, use good lighting, and position your camera at eye level. These elements create a professional and engaging setup.
How can I build confidence before the interview?
Practice regularly by taking networking calls and telling your story often. “All this will enable you to tell your story more often, which will give you more confidence when in front of an interviewer.”
Are there tools to help prepare for CRE interviews?
Yes. A.CRE offers a Cover Letter Composer GPT, a LinkedIn 101 series, and a “Real Estate Interview Prep With ChatGPT-4” guide that includes interview simulation prompts for practice.
