It is thought to be one of the biggest alternative asset management firms in the world. Brookfield is a Canadian company.
The firm specializes in direct control investments in renewable power, credit, infrastructure, private equity, and real estate. They invest in distressed securities via Oaktree Capital which they acquired back in 2019.
It was started by Frederick Stark Pearson and William Mackenzie in 1899 as the São Paulo Tramway, Light and Power Company. It operated in the management and construction of transport electrical infrastructure in Brazil.
The company has main offices in Toronto and also has locations in Sydney, Dubai, Shanghai, Mumbai, São Paulo, London, and New York City.
According to Brookfield’s publicly available data, the firm has over $850 billion in assets under management.
Interviewing at Brookfield Properties can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience. As one of the largest commercial real estate companies in the world, Brookfield has high standards when hiring candidates. With thorough preparation and insight into the types of questions you’ll be asked, you can enter your Brookfield interview with confidence.
In this article, we’ll cover the following aspects of preparing for a Brookfield Properties interview:
- Background on Brookfield Properties
- Brookfield’s Core Values
- Common Interview Formats
- Most Frequently Asked Questions
- Tips for Acing the Brookfield Interview
About Brookfield Properties
Brookfield Properties is the real estate subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management a leading global alternative asset manager with over $625 billion in assets under management. Brookfield Properties develops owns, and operates premier real estate assets across virtually every major market in the world. The company’s portfolio encompasses over 150 million square feet of high-quality office properties, luxury retail centers, and multifamily developments.
Brookfield has a strong focus on sustainability and responsible growth. It aims to develop spaces that foster productivity and healthy lifestyles while minimizing environmental impact. The company’s core values emphasize integrity, passion, accountability, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Understanding Brookfield’s business, culture, and values will help you craft thoughtful responses during your interview. Convey your alignment with the company’s principles and showcase how your background and skills can contribute to Brookfield’s goals.
Brookfield’s Core Values
During the interview process Brookfield assesses how well candidates exhibit the company’s core values
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Integrity: Brookfield seeks team members who are honest, ethical, and committed to doing the right thing. You’ll want to demonstrate transparency and high moral character.
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Passion: The company wants people who are excited about their work. Show your enthusiasm for real estate and eagerness to take on new challenges.
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Accountability: Employees must be willing to take ownership of their responsibilities. Highlight times when you held yourself accountable for results.
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Entrepreneurial Spirit: Brookfield looks for innovative, proactive team members. Share examples of when you brought new ideas to the table or drove initiatives autonomously.
Conveying these values through real-life examples will help you stand out during the interview process.
Common Brookfield Interview Formats
Brookfield utilizes a variety of interview formats depending on the role you are applying for. Here are some of the most common:
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One-on-one interviews: You’ll likely have multiple one-on-one interviews with potential managers and cross-functional leaders. Use this time to showcase your qualifications and determine if the role aligns with your goals.
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Panel interviews: Interviewing with a group of Brookfield team members is common. Stay poised and focused when responding to questions from multiple people.
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Case interviews: For strategy and analytical roles, you may be given a business scenario and asked to walk through your approach. Structure your thought process using frameworks like SWOT or Porter’s Five Forces.
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Technical interviews: IT and engineering candidates often complete assessments to showcase technical proficiency. Brush up on programming languages,excel modeling skills, financial modeling skills or other technical capabilities required for the role.
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** presentations:** Some applicants are asked to deliver a presentation on a relevant topic. Use strong data visualization and public speaking skills to drive home key insights.
Understanding the formats you’ll encounter will prevent surprises on interview day.
Most Frequently Asked Brookfield Interview Questions
Let’s review some of the most common Brookfield interview questions and high-quality responses:
Tell me about yourself.
The interviewer wants a brief yet compelling summary of your background and capabilities. Focus on your most relevant experiences and accomplishments. For example:
“I’m an accomplished financial analyst with over seven years of experience in commercial real estate finance and investment analysis. In my current role at XYZ Capital, I underwrite large-scale acquisitions across office, retail, industrial, and multifamily asset classes to drive informed investment decisions. My technical skills in Excel, Argus, and data analysis combined with my strong communication abilities enable me to synthesize complex information into actionable insights for senior leaders. I’m now exploring a Senior Analyst role at Brookfield to take on expanded modeling and valuation responsibilities for higher-profile real estate transactions.”
Why do you want to work for Brookfield?
Highlight your passion for Brookfield’s business and how the company’s values align with your own. For example:
“I’ve followed Brookfield’s growth trajectory closely over the past several years and have been thoroughly impressed by the strategic vision of its leadership team. Brookfield’s focus on sustainability and creating vibrant communities reflects my own values. I’m drawn to the company’s global scale and diverse array of real estate asset classes, which provide tremendous learning opportunities. The entrepreneurial culture where ideas are valued excites me. I’m confident my skills would enable me to contribute to Brookfield’s continued success.”
What unique value would you bring to this role?
Summarize how your strengths, experiences, and work style would add unique value. Focus on one or two key differentiators. For example:
“Beyond my background in real estate finance, I believe my proactive communication abilities would bring substantial value in this role. I’ve consistently received praise for transforming complex financial models into clear executive summaries and presentations. This ability to synthesize information into compelling takeaways would help ensure analytic findings translate into smart investment decisions.”
How would you approach a challenging client negotiation?
Demonstrate your problem-solving process. For example:
“First, I would make sure I thoroughly understood our objectives and any constraints around the deal terms through consultation with internal stakeholders. I’d research the client’s negotiation history and style and identify potential points of leverage. During negotiations, I’d remain solutions-oriented, aiming to understand the root causes of any contentious issues from the client’s perspective. If tensions escalated, I’d call for a break or suggest tabling the issue temporarily. My goal would be crafting creative options that satisfy both parties. I recognize that preserving long-term relationships is key.”
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Share your vision for professional growth while conveying your long-term interest in remaining with Brookfield. For example:
“I see myself taking on increased responsibilities and ownership over key client relationships and investment transactions. With Brookfield’s matrix structure, I’m also excited about potential opportunities to work across different real estate sectors as I develop deeper domain expertise. I aim to establish myself as a trusted advisor known for creative problem-solving and executive-level communication abilities. While challenging myself with new opportunities, I plan to remain at Brookfield to continue advancing within the company’s meritocratic culture.”
Tips for Acing the Brookfield Interview
Below are some key strategies for standing out during the Brookfield recruitment process:
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Demonstrate passion for the business. Convey genuine enthusiasm for real estate markets and working with a growth-oriented company like Brookfield.
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Do your research. Understand Brookfield’s business segments, leadership team, culture, recent deals, and strategic priorities. Visit Brookfield’s properties and offices if possible.
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Align with core values. Reflect Brookfield’s values like integrity and entrepreneurship in your responses. Provide real examples.
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Exhibit professionalism. From your interview attire to prompt correspondence, make a polished impression.
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Ask thoughtful questions. Inquire about leadership development programs, company culture, or the interviewer’s own career path.
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Send thank you notes. Follow up within 24 hours thanking the interviewer and reiterating your interest.
With diligent preparation and a genuine interest in Brookfield, you can put your best foot forward in the interview process. Do your research, practice responding to likely questions, and convey the unique experience you would bring to the company. By adopting these tips, you can impress your Brookfield interviewers and potentially land your dream job with an industry-leading real estate firm.
Brookfield Salary & Compensation
Glassdoor says that Brookfield pays its Analysts between $103,800 and $133,611 a year on average. Keep in mind that experience, education, and skillset can affect these figures.
From other public data, recent analysts & associates have earned salaries of $110,000 and $150,000 per year, respectively.
Brookfield Interview Process & Questions
Investment firms can make changes with their interview process. However, you’ll notice some consistencies when you interview at Brookfield (or similar firms) such as:
- Interviews consist of 4 to 6 rounds
- Junior investment professionals oversee the first rounds, while more experienced staff handle the rounds that follow.
- The whole process could take a few weeks if it’s not “on-campus” or “on-cycle” recruiting.
Expect to receive a combination of behavioral, fit, and technical / investing questions when you interview at Brookfield.
If you’re looking for help with your interview preparation, my Growth Equity Interview Guide is right for you.
The most common question you’ll encounter during interviews is the “Why this firm” question.
If you’ve done any networking, now is your chance to talk about the people you’ve met at the company and how they’ve impressed you.
You should also learn more about the company so you can give a better answer to this question. One way to do this is to listen to interviews with the firm’s founders, investors, and management team.
For example, here’s an interview with Bruce Flatt, Brookfield Asset Management CEO:
Case studies almost always show up when you interview at firms like Brookfield. Firms use case studies to assess the level of communication skill and technical knowledge of each candidate.
Investment recommendations and financial modeling are the usual focus of case studies during interviews. However, for junior roles, a cold calling case study may be needed as well.
For more resources on case studies, check out my Growth Equity Interview Guide.
