Real Estate Operations Internships
Real estate operations internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience in property management, asset oversight, and portfolio analysis, mentorship from working real estate operations professionals, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Roles cover {{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 Operations Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Real Estate Operations Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer internships
Large real estate firms and institutional employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing cohorts before spring semester begins. Smaller operators and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so listings appear year-round. Starting your search early puts you in front of the competitive structured programs before they fill.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Real estate operations intern hiring teams expect limited work history, so your portfolio does the heavy lifting. Document two or three complete projects, such as a property analysis, lease abstraction, or market comparison, noting the tools you used and what the output was. A linked or attached sample gives recruiters something concrete to assess.
Work campus resources alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured real estate programs tied to your university, and recruiters there often move faster for students they meet in person. Professors and career center staff frequently know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you can reach.
Practice the real estate operations interview format out loud
Real estate operations intern screens typically involve a case or analytical exercise, such as reviewing a property pro forma, walking through a lease scenario, or discussing how you would prioritize competing maintenance issues. Practice explaining your reasoning step by step, since interviewers weigh how you think through a problem as much as the final answer you reach.
Target structured rotational and university programs early
Larger real estate investment trusts, asset managers, and property management companies run cohort or rotational internship programs built to train people new to the field. These programs recruit early and fill fast. Identify the ones that recruit from your school or region and apply in their first application wave rather than waiting for general postings.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 38% of the real estate operations internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you search, then filter by location and work type so you are not sorting through roles that do not fit your situation. Migrate Mate's work-type filter lets you narrow to remote, hybrid, or on-site listings immediately.
Real Estate Operations Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a real estate operations internship?
Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. The concrete artifact that matters here is a documented project, whether a property analysis, lease abstraction exercise, or market research report, showing the tools and methods you used. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where real estate recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a real estate operations 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 work assignments, whether the team has open headcount at the end of the summer, and how early you signal interest in returning. Position yourself by delivering consistently on every project without counting on an offer to materialize automatically.
When should I apply for real estate operations internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large real estate firms and institutional employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, sometimes as early as August or September. Smaller companies, regional operators, and co-op programs post closer to their actual start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly rather than waiting for a single recruiting season gives you the widest window.
Are real estate operations internships paid?
Most professional real estate operations internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry segment, and location, and listings show it where the employer chooses to disclose it. Unpaid internships exist but are far less common at established firms. Reading each listing carefully tells you what a specific employer is offering before you apply.
What should a real estate operations internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Document two or three complete projects with the tools you used, such as Excel models, Argus analyses, or lease comparison exercises, and link to or reference where the work can be seen. Add relevant coursework in real estate, finance, or operations. Keep it to one page, since hiring teams at this level spend seconds on each resume before deciding whether to read further.
Are there remote real estate operations internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 63% of the real estate operations internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts tend to fill fast because they attract applicants from across the country, so apply early once you find a role that fits. Use the work-type filter to see only remote or hybrid listings and avoid sorting through roles you cannot take.
Can international students get real estate operations 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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