Real Estate: a sector with vast opportunities for career advancement

Careers in corporate real estate, advisory services, cross-industry careers and brokerage have vast opportunities for advancement. Work in a fast-paced environment, shape where and how work gets done, provide special knowledge and expertise, and learn something new every day.



There’s more to real estate than selling homes
When most people think of real estate, they think of agents who specialize in buying and selling homes. In reality, the industries involved in real estate are wide ranging and varied, including everything from agents to architects to brokers. 
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5 Things Top CRE Brokers Do Every Day
It’s no secret that commercial real estate is a competitive business. Brokers must be willing to work hard if they want to succeed, and even then there are no guarantees. Top brokers, those seemingly flooded with opportunities and referrals, cracked the code by applying a mix of hard work and smart tactics that ultimately lead to success.
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Spaces matter.
Corporate real estate professionals have strategic responsibility for billions of square feet of property globally from acquisition through development and disposition.
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Places matter.
Every corporation needs a place to conduct its business. Places for employees to work. Places for research and development. Places for manufacturing or distribution.
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Experiences matter.
The physical spaces and places where work gets done are a vital part of a corporate brand, company culture - and the employee experience.
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Realty/Brokerage

Office and industrial realtors work in a fast-pace environment, with vast opportunities for career advancement and growth potential, and diverse career options.

A real estate broker is a person who acts as an intermediary between sellers and buyers of real estate. Brokers typically receive a payment called a commission for successfully matching a seller’s real estate with a buyer, resulting in a successful sales transaction. Brokers and their salespersons who assist in marketing, selling, or leasing properties are commonly called “listing brokers” or “listing agents.” Listing brokers and agents seek to market, sell, or lease the property for the highest available price under the best available terms.

Brokers who achieve the highest levels of success and adhere to rigorous professional standards belong to the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors® (SIOR), representing the world’s elite in industrial and office brokerage.

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Corporate Real Estate

Corporate real estate professionals manage diverse real estate portfolios in multiple locations. They work in all classes of property, land and buildings, including offices, data centers, manufacturing facilities, logistics centers, corporate headquarters, distribution facilities, retail stores and hotels. Most corporate real estate professionals hold undergraduate or graduate degrees. Many have degrees other than real estate. Most training is provided after graduation by a professional association or hiring company.

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Cross-Industry Careers

A successful real estate team requires a wide variety of people with different expertise and backgrounds. People with diverse skills can discover a great career in real estate.  There is not one single career path that predicts success in this industry. For example, there are real estate companies that have their own general contracting firm which makes them capable of developing the project cost effectively while managing the project in house.  This means that people with construction, civil, mechanical, electrical and industrial engineering are involved in real estate companies. On the other side, on a development team there are architects, interior designers, financial analysts, data analysts and marketing specialists.  Real estate companies either self-manage their own assets or hire a third-party management company to provide services that meet the owner’s goals and objectives. Broadly, these job functions fall into the following categories: finance/accounting; talent development/human resources; legal/risk management/safety; sales/marketing and communication.

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Real Estate Advisory Services

A developer seeking to take a project through the entitlement process, a pension fund evaluating the performance of its real estate portfolio, or a company planning to sell an office building may turn to a consultant for advice and assistance. Real estate consultants may provide a full range of services including market analysis, feasibility analysis, real estate research, site selection, environmental impact studies, and so forth. A number specialize in a particular product category, such as apartments or retail. Clients value consultants because they maintain extensive market databases and provide special knowledge or expertise than can be used to develop more business, reduce costs, improve the performance of investment portfolios, or achieve other business and investment goals.

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Explore Career News & Insights

Realty/Brokerage, Corporate Real Estate, Cross-Industry Careers & Real Estate Advisory Services

IREM’s Student Leaders Program
Become an IREM Student Leader and kickstart your career in real estate management.
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CREW Scholarships
Get a head start on your #CRE career with CREW. Apply to be considered for a $5,000 (undergraduate) or $10,000 (graduate) USD scholarship.
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The Promise of AI: Transforming the Construction Industry
Does AI have the power to transform commercial real estate?
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2023 Connect Media Women in Real Estate Awards
Twenty-four CREW Network members have been recognized as 2023 Women in Real Estate by Connect Media for their achievements, influence, and leadership in the commercial real estate industry.
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Narrative Design: The Latest Innovation That’s Driving the Return to Office
With many employees still preferring to work from home, along with a competitive labor market, both office owners and employers must incorporate amenities and features into their office design that create compelling environments and rival the comforts and conveniences of home.
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Real Estate Degree Programs
Interested in real estate but don’t know what schools offer the right degree programs? Check out NAIOP’s  comprehensive database of accredited degree programs in Real Estate and closely affiliated fields.
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How to Prep for Your Interview
You’ve landed an interview and now what? Go through this checklist to ensure you’re prepared for the important day.
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Skills Most Important to CRE Development
Finding, training and retaining talent has grown more challenging for commercial real estate development firms in recent years.
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Corporate Real Estate: Compensation and Guidance
What kind of salary can I expect from a career in corporate real estate? Click here for profiles and compensation research.
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Developing Leaders Spotlight: Championing Future Leaders
When he first joined NAIOP, Nicholas Kitaeff, a recipient of the 2022 Developing Leaders Award, was eager to connect with and learn from fellow professionals in commercial real estate.
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Corporate Real Estate Stories
There are many paths into careers in Corporate Real Estate, and each contributes a strand to the great tapestry that makes the profession so challenging, so rewarding, and makes being a member so much fun. Check out these profiles and stories.
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Career Networking at Real Estate Industry Events: 15 Tips Everyone Can Use
If the three keys to real estate value are location, location, location, then surely the three keys to career advancement or securing a great new position are networking, networking, networking.
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Things You Can Do to Advance Your Career

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Virtual Career Fair: Careers in Property Management
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ABC to Congress: College Degrees Do Not Define Career Success
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