Wordsmithing your Commercial Real Estate Resume (Updated Aug 2024)
Are you questioning what’s on your commercial real estate resume? Don’t overlook the tip I discuss below to help land the interview.
The goal of your resume is to get an interview. So, if you are sending a bunch of resumes out, but not receiving interview requests, keep reading.
Before getting into the post I’ll say that, last month alone, 17 of our candidates got interviews with companies we are working with. So if you are looking for a job, do us a favor and fill out our CRE Career Connections form here. And, if your background fits with our clients, you’ll get a call from our team! We also host webinars with companies to help you learn more about who is hiring.
How most people create their Commercial Real Estate resume
Most ALL candidates who are applying for CRE Jobs do the exact same thing.
They put their resume together (with little to no help… maybe they get their parents’ advice on it), go on LinkedIn/Handshake, and apply. There is no strategy involved. If that’s you, I don’t blame you! What I’ve learned looking at thousands of resumes is that they need to be personalized to each company where you’re applying.
Identify your target company before drafting your Commercial Real Estate resume
First, you’ll need to identify commercial real estate companies you want to work for.
Our team at Adventures in CRE has done the heavy lifting on that for you. Go here to download a company list of 2,000 commercial real estate companies that are organized by geography, job function, and company size.
Consider using key commercial real estate terms that match the job description
Secondly, you’ll need to get past what I call “the eye test.”
When a hiring manager or recruiter posts their job description online (in today’s market) they will receive hundreds of resumes. While going through those resumes, hiring managers and recruiters look for key commercial real estate words in your resume prior to determining if you are a good fit to interview.
For example, there is a commercial real estate candidate named Sam. Sam wants to transition away from his current role into a commercial real estate analyst role. Sam went to our CRE Company Database Tool that he downloaded here and clicked on a Brookfield Properties career website page where he found a role for Sr. Asset Management Analyst.
What does Sam need to make sure he includes on his resume to get past “the eye test?”
Sam wants his resume to reflect that he would be a good candidate for the role; therefore, Sam needs to model the wording on his resume to reflect the job description he is applying for.
For this example, I’ve listed a few words, as an example that I found from the job description above: Portfolio, Budget, Business Plan, Decision Making, Presentations, Communication, and Reports.
As a recruiter, if I saw this on Sam’s resume, I would look at his resume deeper and consider interviewing him for this role.
Conclusion
Adventures in CRE is here to help you not only find a job in CRE but be able to get past the interview process! There should be no doubt in the hiring manager’s mind that you are the best candidate. Your confidence will come from the preparation you put in.
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
Frequently Asked Questions about Wordsmithing Your Commercial Real Estate Resume
Why is it important to personalize your commercial real estate resume?
According to the post, most candidates submit generic resumes without tailoring them. “They put their resume together… and apply. There is no strategy involved.” Personalizing your resume shows alignment with the company and role, increasing the chances of passing the “eye test” and landing interviews.
What is the "eye test" in resume screening?
The “eye test” refers to recruiters quickly scanning resumes for keywords that match the job description. “Hiring managers and recruiters look for key commercial real estate words in your resume prior to determining if you are a good fit to interview.”
How can I identify which words to include in my resume?
You should review the job description and mirror its language. For example, in a Brookfield Properties Sr. Asset Management Analyst job, useful words included: “Portfolio, Budget, Business Plan, Decision Making, Presentations, Communication, and Reports.”
Where can I find commercial real estate companies to target?
A.CRE provides a downloadable list of 2,000 commercial real estate companies, organized by geography, job function, and company size. This helps streamline your job search and targeting strategy.
What is the main goal of a commercial real estate resume?
The goal is to land an interview. As stated: “The goal of your resume is to get an interview. So, if you are sending a bunch of resumes out, but not receiving interview requests, keep reading.”
What tools does A.CRE offer to improve resumes and job applications?
A.CRE offers a Cover Letter Composer GPT, a Real Estate Interview Prep Guide with ChatGPT-4, and curated job boards. These tools help applicants tailor their application materials and practice interview strategies to improve hiring outcomes.
How can I get help with job placement through A.CRE?
You can fill out the CRE Career Connections form. If your background matches client needs, A.CRE’s team will contact you directly. “Last month alone, 17 of our candidates got interviews with companies we are working with.”
