College Experiences That Helped a Development Associate at a Real Estate Development Family Office Succeed
George attributes success in real estate development to hands-on experience gained in college working for a general contractor building ADUs, where "knowledge of construction fundamentals" like framing and concrete provided a crucial foundation. George emphasizes that each job leapfrogs one to the next, requiring a long-term vision of career goals and leveraging prior experiences.
Construction Fundamentals, Real Estate Development, Career Planning, Entry-Level, Actionable Tips
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
George Champion
Development Associate
Family Office - Real Estate Development
UC Santa Barbara
University of San Diego - Knauss school of business
History, Art History
Architecture, Construction & Design, Real Estate
Operations and Project Management
Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Gained construction fundamentals by working for a general contractor building ADUs, including framing and concrete work, which provided a strong foundation for future real estate development roles.
2. Emphasized the importance of viewing career progression as 'leapfrogging' from one job to the next, using each role to build a foundation for the subsequent one.
3. Highlighted the need for long-term career planning, focusing on the end goal and strategizing how to achieve it through each job experience.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success in your career?
In college, I worked for a local general contractor building ADUs. That knowledge of construction fundamentals, like framing and working with concrete, provided a really good foundation for my next job.
The basic understanding of how homes come together set me up for my subsequent roles. You often leapfrog from one job to the next, and the previous job lays the groundwork for the next one.
So, you have to think long-term about your end goal and how to achieve it.