How to Start a Career in Real Estate Before Graduation
Amanda Clifford ’26 works at her desk at the Residences on Madison in Worcester, Mass.
Are you interested in a career in real estate but unsure which path might be right for you?
Recent UNH Paul College alum Amanda Clifford made her way into the profession by focusing on entrepreneurial studies and pairing it with the real estate finance and investments minor.
During her final semester, Clifford interned with CP Management. When the company learned she would be moving back home to Shrewsbury, Mass., after graduation, an opportunity emerged at a nearby property. Before graduating, Clifford had accepted a full-time position as leasing manager at the Residences on Madison, a new property managed by CP Management in Worcester.
“Entrepreneurial studies complemented the real estate finance and investments minor because it taught me to look at real estate from more than just one perspective. The minor gave me more of the technical and industry-specific knowledge, while my major taught me how to recognize opportunities, think creatively, solve problems, and understand what goes into running and growing a business,” Clifford says. "I think that combination has shaped how I look at my career. Rather than feeling like I have to follow one specific path within real estate, I’m interested in gaining experience in different areas of the industry and eventually using what I learn to create opportunities for myself.”
Clifford discusses how her UNH experience and internship helped launch her career in real estate and shape where she hopes to take it next.
What were some of your main responsibilities when you were an intern?
I helped the company internally by updating files in its shared drive, developing marketing ideas for specific properties, and conducting market research. I also worked on-site at one of the properties the company managed. There, I mainly helped with administrative tasks, but I was able to watch the leasing process from start to finish, which was helpful when I started my current job.
What did you learn during your internship that has been valuable as you transition into your career?
I was able to watch real estate professionals do their jobs and see how they interact and what goes into being a property manager. I learned how to communicate with residents, vendors, and coworkers, how to handle problems as they come up, and how much goes into keeping a property running day to day. I also had the opportunity to attend networking events and see a different side of the industry.
What does your full-time role as a leasing manager involve?
My job is to bring in prospective residents, give tours, review applications, and get leases signed. I also run the company's social media accounts. Once someone moves in and becomes a resident, they work with the property manager. Anything before that is my responsibility.
How did your UNH experience prepare you for your internship and career?
Taking the Real Estate Finance course was beneficial. I learned a lot about how the real estate industry works, including how to conduct market research and property analyses and build pro formas. Taking classes before starting my internship helped me understand that real estate is about much more than buying and selling houses.
Watching property managers in action and attending networking events during my internship showed me how many facets there are to the industry and how many different career opportunities there are to explore.
What drew you to pursue the real estate finance and investments minor?
I've always been interested in real estate because of the freedom and flexibility it can provide, both financially and in terms of different career paths. I've always seen myself working in real estate, whether full time, on the side, or something I pick up later in life.
When I saw the new minor, I realized I had already taken many of the required courses and knew it would be beneficial to me in some capacity. The experience helped me narrow down my future plans and goals in ways I didn't realize I needed.
I genuinely don't know where I'd be right now had I not pursued the minor and internship. I certainly wouldn't have as clear an idea of where I want to take the next five years or where I want to be in my career. I had no idea it would help provide me with the opportunity to have a full-time job lined up before graduating!
Where do you hope to be five years down the road?
I don’t necessarily have one specific position or path that I’m set on, and I think that’s partly because there are so many different directions I could take within real estate.
My biggest goal is to keep gaining experience, learn as much as I can, and become financially stable enough to have more freedom in the choices I make. I also hope to have started taking steps toward working for myself in some capacity, whether that’s through real estate, entrepreneurship, or a combination of the two. I know ultimately, I want to build a business of my own.