August 2026 | RETS Associates
For our Analyst Advice Series, we asked professionals working in CRE what advice they would give to someone starting their career today. From breaking into the industry without a traditional real estate background to making the most of your first few years on the job, here’s what they had to say.
Real Estate Private Equity Associate | The Carlyle Group
“Be a sponge. Take as many classes as possible across different topics, speak to as many coworkers as possible, and always be open to new things. Don’t ignore the small stuff. There will be plenty of tasks that seem menial or annoying, but knocking those out efficiently and doing them well goes a long way.”
The Takeaway:
Early in your career, every assignment is an opportunity to learn and build trust. Take advantage of the people and resources around you, look for exposure to different areas of the business, and don’t overlook the smaller tasks. Doing the basics well can lead to more responsibility over time.
Real Estate Private Equity Associate | The Carlyle Group
“As I was positioning myself to enter the CRE industry, I first focused on sharpening my financial modeling and technical skills. I did this by completing online modeling courses, reviewing technical guides, following industry news, and asking questions in college / early in my career.
My goal was to build a foundation that I could use to network with professionals and ask meaningful questions. I then used my resources to connect with people in the industry to see how the technical skills are applied on a day-to-day basis and understand what I still needed to learn or improve on.
One of the best aspects of CRE is that you’ll never stop learning. There will be times when you encounter a situation that you haven’t seen before. Use your resources to come up with a solution, but don’t be afraid to ask others for advice. It’s a great way to learn how others think and helps you build a network going forward.”
The Takeaway:
Build your technical foundation, but don’t expect to learn everything on your own. Use your skills to ask better questions, learn from the people around you, and understand how what you’ve learned applies to real world CRE. The industry will continue to present new challenges, so knowing when to use your resources and ask for advice is just as important as what you already know.
Financial Analyst | Novare Group
“Coming from a non-traditional CRE background, I positioned myself by focusing on the skills I had already developed that could translate well to real estate, while being upfront about what I still needed to learn. My background gave me a strong foundation in financial analysis, modeling, and evaluating investments, but I knew there was a different language and set of fundamentals specific to CRE. I tried to show that while I may not have had the traditional real estate experience, I had the foundation and, more importantly, the willingness to learn quickly and put in the work to close that gap.
If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to not be afraid to ask questions when you don’t know something.”
The Takeaway:
There isn’t one path into CRE. If you’re coming from another industry, focus on the skills that transfer and be upfront about what you still need to learn. A strong foundation can get you started, but being willing to ask questions and put in the work to close the gaps can help you make the transition successfully.
⭐More to come as we continue sharing perspectives from across the CRE industry.
