You’re about to attend a technical interview in Corporate Real Estate. What should you know beforehand?

2 Understand the role

The second thing you should know is what the role of a CRE professional entails. Depending on the size and structure of the corporation, you may be responsible for various aspects of the CRE lifecycle, such as planning, acquisition, design, construction, leasing, management, disposition, and reporting. You should be able to explain how you would approach each of these tasks and what skills and tools you would use. For example, you may need to use financial modeling, project management, negotiation, communication, and analytical skills, as well as software such as Excel, Argus, CoStar, and GIS.

3 Showcase your experience

The third thing you should know is how to highlight your relevant experience and achievements in CRE. You should prepare a portfolio of your previous or current projects and showcase how you contributed to the success of the CRE strategy and objectives. You should also quantify your results and provide metrics and examples to back up your claims. For instance, you can mention how you reduced costs, increased revenues, improved efficiency, enhanced sustainability, or solved problems in your CRE projects.

4 Research the company

The fourth thing you should know is how to research the company you're applying to and tailor your answers to their specific needs and expectations. You should find out as much as you can about their mission, vision, values, culture, products, services, customers, competitors, and challenges. You should also learn about their CRE portfolio and strategy, such as what types of properties they own or lease, where they are located, how they are managed, and what their goals and plans are. You should then use this information to show how your skills and experience match their requirements and how you can add value to their CRE function.

5 Prepare for common questions

The fifth thing you should know is how to answer some of the common questions that may come up in a technical interview for CRE. These questions may test your knowledge, skills, and personality in relation to the role and the company. For instance, you might be asked how to evaluate the profitability of a CRE investment - you should explain the steps and methods you use to calculate the return on investment, such as cash flow analysis, net present value, internal rate of return, and payback period. Additionally, you should be able to manage a CRE project from start to finish by describing the phases and activities involved, as well as demonstrating your project management skills. You should also be able to negotiate a lease agreement with a tenant or landlord by outlining the key elements and terms of a lease agreement as well as showing your negotiation skills. Lastly, you should know how to handle a conflict or complaint in your CRE role by providing an example of a situation where you faced such an issue. You should explain how you handled it, what actions you took, what outcomes were achieved, and what lessons were learned. Furthermore, demonstrate your conflict resolution skills such as listening, empathizing, problem-solving, and compromising.

6 Practice and prepare

The sixth thing you should know is how to practice and prepare for your technical interview in CRE. You should review your resume and portfolio and make sure they are updated and relevant. You should also research the company and the role and prepare some questions to ask the interviewer. You should practice your answers to common questions and scenarios and get feedback from someone who has experience in CRE. You should also dress professionally, arrive on time, and bring copies of your documents and references. Finally, you should be confident, enthusiastic, and courteous during the interview and follow up with a thank-you note afterwards.