Real Estate Development Internships
Real estate development internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on experience across site analysis, financial modeling, and project coordination, alongside mentorship from working developers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated in {{top_industries_phrase}}, with NOVOGRADAC & COMPANY, REAFCO, and Red Tail among the employers posting roles now.
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Real Estate Development Intern – IndustrialCompany: Hernandez Development Services
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL (Las Olas Headquarters)
Job Type: Internship (In-Person)
Pay: $25.00 per hour
Launch Your Career in Real Estate Development
Hernandez Development Services is seeking a motivated Real Estate Development Intern to join our team at our headquarters in the heart of Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale.
This is not a typical internship. You'll work directly alongside experienced developers, engineers, architects, and construction professionals on active industrial real estate projects from site selection through construction. You'll gain meaningful, hands-on experience across the full development lifecycle while contributing to real projects that shape South Florida's industrial landscape.
This opportunity is ideal for students who want to understand how industrial real estate is planned, financed, entitled, designed, and built—and who are eager to think like developers, not just designers or engineers.
What You'll Do
As a Development Intern, you'll gain exposure to every phase of the development process, including:
- Assist with site selection, feasibility studies, zoning research, and due diligence
- Review surveys, environmental reports, geotechnical reports, and utility information
- Support site planning, building layouts, and design coordination with architects and engineers
- Participate in entitlement and permitting efforts, including municipal research and application support
- Help organize bid packages, review budgets, compare contractor proposals, and track project schedules
- Attend Owner-Architect-Contractor (OAC) meetings and construction site visits
- Review RFIs, submittals, change orders, and construction progress
- Conduct market research and competitive analysis
- Participate in internal development strategy meetings and cross-functional collaboration
- Assist with reporting, project tracking, and process improvements
What You'll Learn
By the end of the internship, you'll have practical experience in:
- Evaluating development sites and identifying project risks
- Reading and interpreting construction drawings and technical documents
- Understanding entitlement, design, construction, budgeting, and scheduling
- Coordinating with consultants, contractors, and municipalities
- Applying industrial development best practices to real projects
- Making development decisions that balance cost, schedule, functionality, and long-term value
QualificationsRequired
- Currently pursuing a degree in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Real Estate Development, or a related technical discipline
- Ability to read and interpret construction plans
- Experience with AutoCAD, Revit, or similar design software
- Strong Microsoft Excel and organizational skills
- Excellent communication skills and attention to detail
- A proactive attitude with a willingness to learn
Preferred
- Experience with SketchUp or site planning software
- Familiarity with zoning, permitting, or land development processes
- Interest in industrial real estate development
What We're Looking For
We value interns who are curious, resourceful, and eager to take ownership. You'll be trusted with meaningful responsibilities, participate in real meetings, visit active job sites, and learn directly from experienced professionals. This is an opportunity to build practical skills while gaining exposure to every stage of the development process.High-performing interns may be considered for future full-time opportunities with Hernandez Development Services upon graduation.
Compensation & Location
- $25.00 per hour
- In-person internship based at our headquarters in Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Opportunities to attend project meetings and visit active development sites throughout South Florida
If you're looking for an internship where you'll make a real impact, develop technical expertise, and gain experience that sets you apart, we'd love to hear from you.
Pay: $25.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
Real Estate Development Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Real Estate Development Internship Search
Apply months before the summer start date
Large development firms and institutional investors open summer intern recruiting the preceding fall. If you wait until spring, the structured cohort programs are already closed. Identify the companies you want to work for in September and submit applications as soon as roles post.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams at the intern level weigh proof of skill over work history. Put together a discounted cash flow model, a site feasibility memo, or a market analysis and make it easy to share. A linked PDF or spreadsheet gives recruiters something concrete to evaluate when your resume has limited paid experience.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and recruiters there often move faster than through an online portal. Professors and career center staff frequently know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to firms running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach.
Practice the real estate development interview format out loud
Most real estate development intern screens involve a case conversation, a quick acquisition scenario, a back-of-envelope valuation, or a market sizing question. Practice talking through your reasoning out loud, not just reaching an answer. Interviewers weigh how you structure a problem as much as whether your numbers land correctly.
Target rotational and structured development programs early
Larger developers, REITs, and investment managers run cohort programs built to train people new to the industry, rotating interns across development, acquisitions, and asset management. These programs recruit in the fall and fill fast. Identify the ones that fit your goals and get your application in during the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 38% of the real estate development internships listed here. Decide what you can actually commit to before you start sorting listings. Filter by location and work type first so you're reviewing only roles you can take, not working backward from an offer you can't accept.
Real Estate Development Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a real estate development internship?
Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A pro forma model, a site feasibility study, or a market analysis write-up gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a real estate development internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it is performance on real project work, available headcount at the end of the program, and how early you signal your interest. Position for it by delivering on every assignment, but don't count on it as a backup plan.
When should I apply for real estate development internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large developers and investment firms recruit summer interns the preceding fall, sometimes as early as September or October. Smaller companies and co-op programs post much closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Check listings regularly rather than waiting for a single recruiting season.
Are real estate development internships paid?
Most professional real estate development internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry sector, and location, and listings show the range where the employer discloses it. Unpaid positions exist primarily at nonprofits or small community development organizations, so read each listing carefully before applying.
What should a real estate development internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three documented projects showing the tools you used, a discounted cash flow model, a market study, a zoning or land-use analysis, and link to the work where possible. Add relevant coursework in real estate finance, urban economics, or GIS. Keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote real estate development internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 63% of the real estate development internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they attract applicants nationally, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
What is a real estate development rotational internship?
Rotational internship programs place you in two or more business units during a single summer, typically covering development, acquisitions, asset management, and capital markets. They're designed for people new to the industry and recruit early in the fall recruiting cycle. Competition is high, so research which firms run them and apply in the first wave.
Can international students get real estate development internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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