Career Development and Mentoring

A critical component of the MRED program is informal learning, career development and mentoring, which is curated by MRED’s career coach.

Unparalleled Opportunities

Our graduates enter the real estate field with state-of-the-art knowledge, skills and connections to make an immediate, lasting impact. Students will emerge prepared for positions around the world in:

  • Private industry, including development, management and investment
  • The nonprofit sphere, including affordable housing projects, land acquisition and financing
  • The public sector, including strategic planning, community development and asset management

Leading industry experts are deeply involved in training MRED students and teach 70% of the courses. Beyond-the-classroom learning is also a key component of students’ educational experience, including the following informal learning opportunities:

  • Field trips and site visits
  • Guest lectures and panel discussions
  • Mentorship opportunities
  • Industry networking events
  • Real estate competitions
  • Mock interviews
  • Practice pro forma interview tests
  • Engagement with the UCLA Real Estate Alumni Group (REAG)

Mentorship

Our mentorship and networking program connects our MRED students to prominent real estate industry leaders. These influential executive-level professionals provide students with industry-specific guidance on preparing for a career in real estate, an expanded professional network, access to professional convenings, and opportunities to apply, synthesize and critique the classroom learnings to the real world.

1:1 Mentorship

Each MRED student will be matched with a mentor to provide tailored expertise. Each fellow-mentee relationship is different, as each mentee’s needs differ. However, some sample activities include:

  • Discussing the fellow’s career path/informational interview
  • Shadowing the fellow at work/committee meetings or conferences
  • Seeking career development advice on resume, cover letter, job search, elevator pitch, interviewing and negotiating
  • Discussing leadership, management and influence approach
  • Discussing their professional response to current events and how that may differ from their personal response
  • Meeting additional contacts in the Senior Fellows network

Group Mentorship

Group mentoring provides a unique opportunity to discuss relevant issues in the real estate industry with peers and established real estate industry leaders in a confidential and intimate setting. Groups will share and discuss issues that real estate professionals and related industry professionals face daily, including experiences gained, mistakes made and lessons learned.

Topics will include career enrichment, guidance on next steps, career advice, balancing professional and private life, engagement, exposure to various professionals in the real estate community, and networking.

Workshops

A series of “soft” skill-building workshops will ensure that students are strong placement candidates. Workshops include:

  • Communications: public speaking
  • Communications: interviewing
  • Negotiation
  • Leadership
  • Collaboration
  • Community engagement
  • Argus Enterprise mini-course