Senior Financial Analyst 

How did you get your current job?
Met the CFO on an airplane

What was the application process?
Submitted resume, brief questionaire, phone interview, in house interview

Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
Yes. There was a 1-hour phone interview followed by a 3-hour in-house interview where I met with the CFO, COO, Office Manager, and various employees of the company.

If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
Several brain teasers. One good question was how would I underwrite a deal if I was just given a photo of the site with a location. Other questions like long term goals, my opinion of the capital markets and how they are affecting real estate, what I want to get out of a job, etc.

Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
Yes. He told me it would be brain damage and although it was more than I expected, I knew what to expect.

Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
None. Everything was on the job training.

Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
Yes. I was an economics major and the theory of supply and demand is always applicable in real estate.

If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
N/A

If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
Given the current market, submitting their resume (whether directly or indirectly through a job search site) will not be effective. They need to network with people they know or don’t know. They need to brainstorm and come up with contacts who i) are in the industry whether directly or indirectly, ii) know people in the industry, and iii) went to the same college as they did, etc. Networking is the key to finding a job in this market.

What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
Social skills is a must. There are too many people who look the same on paper. Also, patience is a must. Getting frustrated will cause them to rush through their cover letters, interviews, etc. Make sure they brush up on their technical skills, specifically with regards to MS Excel, Argus, and other real estate cosftware. These days, employers may have potential canidates run sample models.

Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
NO

What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Get ready for the most frustrating, challenging, and fast paced environent you will ever be a part of. Real Estate Development is sometimes like war: long periods of silence followed by surprise fire drills where you always need to be on your toes. Nonetheless, the intangible reward you get when a job gets done is absolutely pricessless. Its not a question of “will the hard work payoff?” but its a question of “when will the hard work payoff?”