Online Training from Company A Conflicting with Internship from Company B
Hello, I recently received an offer for a capital markets internship at one of the larger commercial brokerages (think CBRE, JLL, C&W), for which my start date is in June 2024. However, I was also selected by a REIB (think Eastdil, JP Morgan) to participate in their virtual RE Finance academy during the second week of the job. My question is, should I focus on the job in hand, the academy through a pair of headphones at work, or both, or is doing such a thing frowned upon by managers if you are participating in educational academies outside the company? Should this go on Linkedin, or on a CV to not draw attention to the fact this could be a potential source of contention? Any advice (or criticism) would be appreciated.
Navigating the waters between an internship and an online training program simultaneously can be tricky, but it's not uncommon in the fast-paced world of finance and real estate. Here's how you might approach this situation, keeping in mind the ultimate goal of enhancing your career prospects:
Prioritize Communication: Before making any decisions, it's crucial to communicate with both parties. Reach out to the HR departments or your direct supervisors at both the commercial brokerage and the REIB offering the virtual academy. Explain your situation transparently. They might be more understanding than you expect, especially if the training enhances your skills relevant to your internship.
Evaluate the Overlap: Assess how the virtual RE Finance academy's schedule overlaps with your internship duties. If the academy offers recordings of live sessions or flexible hours, you might be able to manage both without them interfering with each other.
Consider the Value: Think about which opportunity offers more significant value to your career in the long term. The hands-on experience at a large commercial brokerage can be invaluable, but so can specialized knowledge from a prestigious REIB's finance academy. Which aligns better with your career goals?
Professional Development on LinkedIn/CV: When it comes to listing these experiences on LinkedIn or your CV, it's generally a good idea to include both, as they demonstrate your commitment to learning and professional growth. However, the way you frame them can be strategic. For the academy, you might focus on the skills and knowledge gained rather than the timing, to avoid highlighting the overlap.
Ethical Considerations: Participating in an educational academy through headphones at your internship might not be the best approach, as it could be perceived as dividing your attention. It's essential to respect the time and resources that your internship company is investing in you.
Seek Advice: Don't hesitate to seek advice from mentors or professionals within your network who have navigated similar paths. They might offer insights or solutions you hadn't considered.
In summary, while it's ambitious to want to tackle both opportunities, the key is to handle the situation with transparency, integrity, and a clear focus on your long-term career development. Balancing both could be a significant boost to your resume, but not at the expense of your performance or professional relationships.
Sources: Two virtual internships this summer. Can I do both?, Career Advice out of Undergard - Development vs Investment, What was your path to a Real Estate Private Equity job? Looking for advice
I’m also an incoming sa at one of the brokerage shops you listed and looked at the Eastdil training which you’re talking about but decided against it since I would be in week two also. It doesn’t make sense to divert your attention away from your sa role. The shit you’ll learn on the job is way more applicable and important than anything you’ll learn from the program. Underwriting a case and underwriting an actual property can be very different. The whole point of a SA role is to show your team why you’d be a good fit for ft roles and having one foot out the door in week two wouldn’t look great imo. I could def see some producers being pissed that instead of helping with a pitch while you’re on the clock, you’re on a zoom meeting with one of their competitors. I don’t fault you for trying to touch base with other firms since you should definitely shop around but I think there’s a time and place. If you really want to work at Eastdil just network your ass off near the end of summer since they open ft applications around then
Awesome man, thanks for the input and best of luck.
Nobody in the real world gives af about a virtual training program. They do care about an internship. Prioritize appropriately.
Understood and will plan accordingly.
Dude, the internship is way more important. Especially the first couple weeks, which are formative as you'll be learning a lot then. I wouldn't take any attention away from that. Good luck!
You got it. Will Implement.
This all depends. If you’re at JLL for example you’ll probably be doing absolutely nothing as an intern. Brokerages have some of the least structured internship programs from my experience because at the end of the day they’re made up of small teams. This is would be different at Eastdil. If you’re taking the Eastdil training program and you’re a senior it won’t mean anything unless you want to fluff up your linkedin or fill up your resume. You’ll likely be sitting on your hands at JLL so if you can take the class in your headphones just do it. If I were you I’d be shopping my resume around as soon as you got the internship for a better offer
In your experience why so little work? Could you share a bit more? Isn't there a final project that needs to be developed?
I think it is team dependent. I would imagine you're going to be pretty busy as an intern. I have an intern starting under me in a few and I'mma load them up real good (no later than 5pm tho). But during those 8 hours they gonna be working on live deals in week 1.
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