Name: Bryce Grandison

Position: Real Estate Intern

Company: Waterford Property Company

Degree: M.S. in Real Estate ’23

Hello! My name is Bryce Grandison, class of 2023 MSRE candidate and Real Estate Intern at Waterford Property Company. As a Master of Science in Real Estate Candidate, it has been my goal/pursuit to obtain an internship position in the Real Estate industry to finally get my feet wet in the industry I really wanted to be in. 

What excites you about this company/internship?

Waterford is an awesome company from top to bottom. As a smaller company, yet still having over $2 billion worth of assets under management, I truly get hands-on teaching, learning, and development opportunities. That’s something I’m really thankful for within my experience. Here at Waterford, I get one-on-one teaching opportunities from a variety of different people within the office ranging from both of our Co-Founders to each Data Analyst. To be able to couple learning from an internship position like this in the daytime and then being able to take that learning to my classes/program in the evening has accelerated my growth process a ton. 

How did you strategize landing this internship/job?

In our program, we had the pleasure of having one of the Co-Founders at Waterford Property Company, John Drachman, be a guest speaker and share a bit about himself, his journey through the real estate industry, and Waterford as a whole. I was hooked by his experience and the vision of Waterford. That night, I made sure to ask meaningful questions, connect with John after his presentation 1-on-1, and then followed up on LinkedIn with him about how thankful I was for his time. 

Next thing you know, our Career Advancement team at the Argyros School sent us an email that Waterford was hiring interns; so I jumped at the opportunity. I put my best foot forward in every aspect of the process; from following up with the hiring team, having already had an updated resume, showing up early to the interview, and just being prepared. When an opportunity like this presented itself, I was ready.

Give students some career advice for anyone looking for an internship/job in this market (based on what you did)?

Three things: Put yourself out there, do your homework and be prepared, and lastly, be confident. 

Putting yourself out there and networking is so crucial. Too often times people say it’s about “who you know” but someone once told me “it’s more about who knows you.” If nobody knows you in the industry you’re looking to get into, it’s hard for anyone to vouch for you, promote you, or have you on their mind when opportunities arise. Network through LinkedIn, join industry-specific clubs, join intentional virtual meet-up groups, and so on and so forth. 

Doing your homework on the people you are meeting is so important. Find a key fact about them that you both have in common or that piques your interest. Having something to say and showing intentional interest in their career can go a long way. I was a college athlete and film study was crucial for us when preparing to win each week. I feel the same way about my preparation professionally, I do my homework in order to be most confident going into any room that I’m in. 

Lastly, be confident in yourself! This means you have to know who you are and what value you bring to the table. Know the things that make you stand out and own those whenever you walk into a room. This doesn’t mean be loud or boisterous but rather having a confident sense of who you are, what your story is, and what your goals are will be huge for you! Being able to clearly express yourself and the desires for your career will allow people to get straight to the chase on the advice they can give you and/or how they can help you.