Hutt Cooke (left) of Matthews Real Estate Investment Services discusses career opportunities with Ole Miss business students at the recent Real Estate Fall Forum. Photo by Thomas Graning/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services

OXFORD, Miss – More than 60 students at the University of Mississippi recently had the opportunity to meet with a group of different real estate companies to expand their network within the industry.

At the Real Estate Fall Forum, sponsored by the UM School of Business Administration, 11 companies gathered on campus to speak with students interested in a career in real estate. The event was held on October 21st at the Johnson Commons East Ballroom.

It was held for the second time this year, and attracted the attention of many students and companies. Sergio Garate, an assistant professor of finance, felt that real estate companies weren’t represented enough at college job fairs, so he set out to create an event for job opportunities in the field.

“We decided to do something more focused on real estate,” Galate said. “When I started talking to all the employers, they said they wanted to talk to our students about their companies and the opportunities they have to offer.”

Representative firms included Dallas-based BBG Real Estate Services. BBG’s Jackson His Office Clients His Relations His Director Allison Johnson enjoyed his experience at the forum.

“I love being connected to the University of Mississippi and meeting new students,” she said. “We are always excited to get our name out there, find new talent, and connect with people for future opportunities.

“We can learn about our students and what they do in school, but they can also learn about who we are, what we do and how we are organized. It gives them a comprehensive view of what the real estate industry looks like.”

Companies participating in the forum want more than just finding new employees, Garate said. They want to educate students about the many opportunities in real estate.

Among the students who took advantage of the opportunity was Chapman Bryant, a senior in Richmond Hill, Georgia. Bryant, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management Finance and Real Estate, found the forum useful for himself and others pursuing a career in the real estate industry.

“I encourage other students to attend these career fairs as well, as it gives them the opportunity to learn a lot about the industry and ask questions from industry experts,” he said.

“I really enjoyed having the opportunity to speak one-on-one with these professionals and learn about the various career opportunities in real estate.”

This year, Galate presented a panel of real estate professionals to discuss their unique career paths and provide insights for students. The panel consisted of Tracy Wofford of her Cushman & Wakefield in Madison. Brian Estes of The Estes Group of Ridgeland. Brian Phillips of Randall Commercial Group in Oxford.

“I believe that going forward, virtual interviews should be offered because some employers cannot attend in person,” Galate said.

“After graduation, 90% to 95% of our students find employment in the real estate industry, so I think this experience will be of great help to our students. My goal is to prepare them to succeed in this industry.” to confirm.”