Real Estate Developers

Read the real estate section of the local newspaper and follow the building and development activities in the community to gain exposure to this industry. A local librarian should also be able to refer you to books and magazines about real estate development. Sometimes a teacher or school counselor will be able to arrange for a developer or other real estate professional to visit and talk about his or her work.

You can also prepare for your career by working in the offices of the following professionals: real estate developers, lawyers practicing within the real estate industry, architects, and general contractors. Spending time in any of these offices will introduce you to the general milieu of the real estate developer's world. The early exposure can also help you decide in which of these areas you most want to develop expertise.

You can gain good experience in certain aspects of real estate development by doing public relations, publicity, or advertising work and participating in fund-raising campaigns for school and community organizations. Volunteering with a housing advocacy organization, such as Habitat for Humanity, may provide opportunities to learn about home construction, bank financing, and legal contracts. To gain confidence and develop a business sense, take on leadership roles at school and in extracurricular activities, such as the student council or the business club.