How to Apply to CBRE Group

9 min read Last updated March 7, 2026 53 open positions
Blake Crosley
Blake Crosley Researched using publicly available information, hiring data, and ATS analysis.

Key Takeaways

  • Identify whether your target role sits within Advisory Services, GWS, or REI before applying — then tailor every application material to that specific division's language and priorities
  • Quantify everything on your resume using commercial real estate metrics: square footage, transaction value, budget size, occupancy rates, and client satisfaction scores
  • Complete your Avature profile thoroughly and set up job alerts — CBRE's talent acquisition team uses Avature's CRM features to build talent pools for future openings, so even a 'not now' can become a 'later'
  • Prepare for behavioral interviews by developing 5-7 STAR stories focused on client service delivery, stakeholder management, crisis response, and measurable operational improvements
  • Research the specific CBRE account or client site associated with your target role — demonstrating knowledge of the client's industry signals the embedded-service readiness CBRE prizes
  • Pursue or highlight relevant certifications (CPM, PMP, LEED AP, CFM) — these serve as credibility shorthand in a credential-conscious industry and can differentiate your application at the screening stage
  • Connect with CBRE employees on LinkedIn and engage with the company's content before applying — CBRE actively promotes its employer brand and employee referrals commonly carry weight in the hiring process

About CBRE Group

CBRE Group is the world's largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, a Fortune 500 powerhouse consistently ranked #1 in its sector by the Lipsey Company for over two decades. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, CBRE operates across more than 100 countries with approximately 130,000 employees delivering an extraordinary breadth of services — from property and facilities management to investment advisory, project management, valuations, and workplace strategy consulting. The company's client base spans institutional investors, Fortune 500 corporations, healthcare systems, governments, and private owners, giving employees exposure to landmark properties and complex, high-stakes transactions. CBRE's culture is anchored in its RISE values: Respect, Integrity, Service, and Excellence. The company has made significant investments in technology and data analytics, positioning itself not just as a traditional brokerage but as a tech-forward real estate platform. Employees frequently cite the scale of opportunity as a primary draw — the sheer variety of business lines means lateral moves, global mobility, and career pivots are realistic, not aspirational. CBRE has earned recognition on Fortune's 'Most Admired Companies' list and has been lauded for its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, including consistent rankings on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. People want to work at CBRE because it offers the stability of a $30B+ revenue enterprise with the dynamism of an industry undergoing rapid digital transformation. Whether you're a commercial broker, a sustainability consultant, a data engineer, or a facilities coordinator, CBRE provides a platform where real estate expertise intersects with global business strategy.

Application Process

  1. 1
    Explore Roles on CBRE's Careers Portal

    Visit careers.cbre.com and use the search filters to narrow opportunities by business line (Advisory Services, Global Workplace Solutions, Real Estate Investments), location, and experience level. CBRE's job architecture is complex — roles in facilities management differ dramatically from transaction advisory, so read descriptions carefully. With approximately 17 active postings at any given time in certain markets, targeted searching is essential to identify the right fit.

  2. 2
    Create Your Avature Profile

    CBRE uses Avature as its applicant tracking system, which allows you to build a candidate profile that persists across multiple applications. Upload your resume, complete all profile fields including commercial real estate certifications (if applicable), and ensure your contact details and work authorization status are accurate. Avature profiles at CBRE commonly allow you to set job alerts, so configure these for your target business lines.

  3. 3
    Submit a Tailored Application

    For each role, customize your resume and any supplementary materials to mirror the language in the job description. CBRE postings typically specify whether the role sits within Advisory & Transaction Services, Global Workplace Solutions (GWS), or Real Estate Investments (REI) — reference the correct division. If a cover letter upload field is available, use it to explain your specific interest in CBRE's platform and how your background aligns with their RISE values.

  4. 4
    Recruiter Screening Call

    If your application passes initial review, a CBRE talent acquisition specialist will typically schedule a 20-30 minute phone or video screening. Expect questions about your relevant industry experience, salary expectations, willingness to relocate or work on-site (many CBRE roles are client-embedded), and your understanding of the specific business line. This is also where the recruiter assesses cultural alignment and communication skills.

  5. 5
    Hiring Manager Interview

    The next round commonly involves a deeper conversation with the hiring manager, often conducted via Microsoft Teams or in person at a CBRE office or client site. For operational roles like facilities or project management, expect scenario-based questions about managing client relationships, vendor oversight, and budget management. For advisory roles, be prepared to discuss market knowledge, deal experience, and business development capabilities.

  6. 6
    Panel or Cross-Functional Interview

    Senior or specialized positions frequently include a panel interview with stakeholders from adjacent teams or client-facing leadership. At CBRE, where many employees are embedded at client locations, you may meet representatives from the client organization as well. This round evaluates your ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments — a core competency in CBRE's service-delivery model.

  7. 7
    Background Check, Offer, and Onboarding

    CBRE conducts thorough background checks, which for certain roles may include verification of real estate licenses, certifications (CPM, RPA, LEED, PMP), and financial credentials. Offers typically include details about CBRE's benefits package, which commonly features competitive compensation, 401(k) matching, tuition reimbursement, and wellness programs. Onboarding is structured and often includes orientation to CBRE's proprietary technology platforms like CBRE 360 and Host.

Resume Tips for CBRE Group

critical

Mirror CBRE's Business Line Terminology

CBRE organizes its operations into distinct segments — Advisory Services, Global Workplace Solutions (GWS), and Real Estate Investments (REI). Your resume should use the exact terminology from the job posting. If you're applying to a GWS role, frame your experience around 'integrated facilities management,' 'workplace experience,' or 'occupier outsourcing' rather than generic 'property management.' This signals industry literacy and helps Avature's parsing algorithms match your profile to the requisition.

critical

Quantify Portfolio Scale and Financial Impact

Commercial real estate is a numbers-driven industry. Include the square footage of properties managed, transaction volume closed, capital expenditure budgets overseen, and occupancy rates achieved. For example, 'Managed a 2.4M SF Class A office portfolio across 12 properties with a combined operating budget of $18M' is far more compelling than 'Managed multiple commercial properties.' CBRE's recruiters are trained to evaluate candidates by the scale and complexity of their portfolios.

critical

Highlight Client Relationship and Embedded Experience

A significant portion of CBRE's workforce is embedded at client sites, delivering services as an extension of the client's organization. If you have experience working in outsourced or managed-services environments — whether in real estate, FM, or corporate services — emphasize this prominently. Describe how you navigated dual reporting structures, met client SLAs and KPIs, and maintained service excellence while representing your employer's brand.

recommended

Feature Relevant Certifications and Licenses

CBRE values professional credentials that validate expertise. Prominently list certifications such as CPM (Certified Property Manager), RPA (Real Property Administrator), LEED AP, PMP, CFM (Certified Facility Manager), CCIM, or active real estate broker/salesperson licenses with the issuing state. Place these in a dedicated 'Certifications & Licenses' section near the top of your resume, as Avature can parse these fields and recruiters often use them as screening criteria.

recommended

Showcase Technology Platform Proficiency

CBRE is investing heavily in proptech and data analytics. Reference experience with industry platforms like Yardi, MRI Software, Angus Anywhere, Corrigo, Salesforce, or building management systems (BMS). If you have experience with data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI) or IWMS platforms, include these as well. CBRE's digital transformation strategy means tech fluency is increasingly non-negotiable even for traditionally non-technical roles.

recommended

Demonstrate Safety and Compliance Awareness

For facilities management and engineering roles, CBRE places significant emphasis on safety culture and regulatory compliance. Include any OSHA certifications, EPA compliance experience, or safety program leadership. Mentioning specific metrics like 'maintained zero lost-time incidents across a 500-person managed facility for 24 consecutive months' directly addresses a key CBRE operational priority.

recommended

Use Clean Formatting Compatible with Avature Parsing

Avature handles modern resume formats reasonably well, but avoid tables, multi-column layouts, headers/footers containing critical information, and embedded images. Use standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications) so the parser can correctly categorize your content. Submit in PDF or .docx format, and ensure your file name is professional — ideally 'FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf.'

nice_to_have

Align Experience with CBRE's RISE Values

CBRE's core values — Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence — aren't just wall art. Weave evidence of these qualities into your bullet points. 'Service' might manifest as a client satisfaction score you achieved; 'Excellence' could be a process improvement that reduced operating costs by a measurable percentage. Recruiters at values-driven organizations like CBRE actively scan for behavioral evidence of cultural fit, even on resumes.

ATS System: Avature

Avature is an enterprise-grade ATS and CRM platform used by CBRE to manage its global talent acquisition pipeline. Unlike simpler ATS platforms, Avature offers sophisticated candidate relationship management, allowing CBRE recruiters to build talent pools, nurture passive candidates, and track applicants across multiple requisitions. Its parsing engine extracts structured data from resumes to populate candidate profiles, which recruiters then search using keyword and criteria-based filters.

  • Complete every field in your Avature candidate profile — CBRE recruiters can filter by incomplete profiles, and missing information may deprioritize your application
  • Use standard resume section headers (Professional Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications) to ensure Avature's parser correctly categorizes your content
  • Incorporate exact keywords from the job description naturally throughout your resume — Avature supports keyword-based search and scoring by recruiters
  • Avoid tables, columns, text boxes, and graphics that can confuse Avature's parsing engine and result in garbled profile data
  • Upload your resume as a .docx or clean PDF — these formats parse most reliably in Avature compared to scanned documents or image-heavy PDFs
  • If applying to multiple CBRE roles, tailor each application rather than relying on a single generic profile — Avature tracks application-level customization and recruiters notice
  • Set up job alerts through the Avature-powered careers portal to receive notifications when new CBRE positions matching your criteria are posted

Complete Avature Resume Guide →

Interview Culture

CBRE's interview process reflects its identity as a client-service organization operating at global scale.

Expect a structured but personable experience that evaluates both technical competency and client-facing readiness. The company typically conducts two to four interview rounds depending on seniority, with the process spanning two to four weeks for most roles. The initial recruiter screen is conversational but purposeful — talent acquisition professionals at CBRE are well-versed in the commercial real estate industry and will probe your understanding of the specific business line you're applying to. They'll also assess logistical fit: many CBRE roles require on-site presence at client facilities, so flexibility and commute tolerance are genuine screening factors. Hiring manager interviews tend to be behavioral and situational. Expect STAR-format questions rooted in real-world scenarios: 'Describe a time you managed a critical building system failure during business hours,' or 'Walk me through how you'd onboard a new client account in the first 90 days.' For advisory and brokerage roles, you may be asked to present a market analysis or pitch a hypothetical property investment thesis. CBRE values candidates who can think commercially, not just operationally. Panel interviews, common for mid-to-senior positions, may include cross-functional stakeholders and occasionally client representatives. This is distinctive to CBRE's embedded service model — they need to know you'll represent the company well in complex stakeholder environments. Culture fit signals that CBRE interviewers look for include service orientation, intellectual curiosity about the built environment, collaborative instincts, and a bias toward action. The company prizes 'enterprise thinking' — the ability to see beyond your individual role and understand how your work connects to CBRE's broader platform. Dress code for interviews typically aligns with business professional, reflecting the company's corporate client base. Come prepared with thoughtful questions about the specific account, business line growth strategy, or technology investments — this signals the long-term, strategic thinking CBRE values.

What CBRE Group Looks For

  • Client-service orientation with a track record of managing complex stakeholder relationships and meeting or exceeding service-level agreements
  • Commercial real estate industry knowledge, including familiarity with market dynamics, property types, lease structures, and real estate financial analysis
  • Quantifiable operational results — portfolio size managed, transaction volume, cost savings achieved, or occupancy improvements delivered
  • Professional certifications relevant to the role (CPM, RPA, LEED AP, PMP, CCIM, CFM, or active real estate license)
  • Technology fluency, especially with industry platforms (Yardi, MRI, Corrigo) and data analytics tools, reflecting CBRE's digital transformation priorities
  • Enterprise mindset — the ability to think beyond a single property or account and understand how your role fits into CBRE's integrated service platform
  • Adaptability and cultural intelligence, essential for employees who work embedded at diverse client organizations across industries and geographies
  • Safety-first mentality for operational roles, with evidence of compliance leadership and incident-reduction outcomes

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does CBRE's hiring process typically take from application to offer?
Based on common applicant reports, CBRE's hiring timeline typically ranges from two to five weeks, depending on the role's seniority and whether client approval is needed. Entry-level and facilities roles may move faster, while advisory or leadership positions involving panel interviews and client stakeholder input tend to take longer. You'll typically hear from a recruiter within one to two weeks if your application advances past initial screening. Following up with your recruiter contact after each round is appropriate and generally welcomed at CBRE.
Does CBRE require a cover letter with applications?
CBRE's Avature application portal does not always require a cover letter, but many postings include an optional upload field for one. Submitting a targeted cover letter is strongly recommended, particularly for advisory, consulting, and leadership roles where communication skills are heavily weighted. Use the cover letter to explain why you're drawn to CBRE specifically — referencing their RISE values, a particular business line's growth trajectory, or a recent company initiative demonstrates genuine interest that a resume alone cannot convey. Keep it to one page and address the hiring team rather than a generic salutation.
What format should my resume be in when applying to CBRE through Avature?
Submit your resume as a .docx or clean PDF file for optimal parsing in Avature. Avoid scanned image PDFs, as these don't parse well and your profile information may not populate correctly. Use a single-column layout with standard section headings, and ensure all critical information is in the body text — not in headers, footers, or text boxes that Avature's parser may skip. Name your file professionally (e.g., 'Jane_Smith_Resume.pdf') and keep the total length to one or two pages unless you're a senior executive with 20+ years of directly relevant experience.
Does CBRE offer remote or hybrid work arrangements?
CBRE's work model varies significantly by role and business line. Corporate functions in areas like finance, marketing, HR, and technology may offer hybrid or remote flexibility, particularly at the company's Dallas headquarters and major office hubs. However, a large portion of CBRE's workforce operates in on-site roles — facilities managers, building engineers, and property managers need to be physically present at client locations. Advisory and brokerage professionals also typically work from CBRE offices to facilitate collaboration. Always check the specific job posting for location requirements, and ask about flexibility during your recruiter screening call.
Can I apply to CBRE with no prior commercial real estate experience?
Yes, CBRE hires across a wide spectrum of experience levels and backgrounds. The Global Workplace Solutions (GWS) division, in particular, employs professionals from hospitality, military, corporate services, and general management backgrounds for roles in facilities management and workplace experience. CBRE also has structured early-career programs and internships. If you're transitioning into CRE, emphasize transferable skills like client relationship management, budget oversight, vendor management, and operational problem-solving. Frame your non-real-estate experience using language that resonates with the industry — 'managed a 200,000 SF corporate campus' translates well even if it wasn't technically a CRE role.
What should I research before a CBRE interview?
Go beyond reading the company's About page. Understand which of CBRE's three main business segments your role falls under and be able to articulate what that segment does. Review CBRE's most recent earnings call or annual report for insights into strategic priorities — recent years have emphasized technology investment, sustainability services, and flexible workplace solutions. If your role is tied to a specific client account, research that client's industry and recent real estate decisions. Familiarize yourself with CBRE's RISE values and prepare examples from your career that demonstrate each one. Finally, review CBRE's LinkedIn and news mentions for recent deal announcements, leadership hires, or thought leadership that you can reference in conversation.
How important are professional certifications for getting hired at CBRE?
Professional certifications are highly valued at CBRE and can meaningfully differentiate your candidacy, particularly for mid-career and senior roles. For property and facilities management, CPM, RPA, and CFM designations signal industry commitment. For project management roles, PMP certification is often listed as preferred or required. LEED AP credentials are increasingly important as CBRE expands its sustainability consulting practice. For brokerage and investment roles, CCIM or CFA designations carry weight. While certifications alone won't guarantee an interview, they serve as credibility indicators that CBRE recruiters commonly use as filtering criteria in Avature.
Does CBRE have employee referral programs, and should I try to get a referral?
CBRE, like most large professional services firms, commonly maintains an employee referral program that incentivizes current employees to recommend qualified candidates. A referral can be meaningfully advantageous — referred candidates often receive faster recruiter attention and may bypass some initial screening steps. To pursue a referral, connect with CBRE employees through LinkedIn, alumni networks, or professional associations like BOMA, IFMA, or CCIM Institute. When reaching out, be specific about the role you're targeting and articulate clearly why you're a strong fit. A warm introduction backed by a tailored application is the most effective combination.
What is CBRE's interview process like for facilities management roles?
Facilities management roles at CBRE — one of the company's highest-volume hiring areas within Global Workplace Solutions — typically involve two to three interview rounds. After a recruiter phone screen, you'll meet with the account or facility director for a behavioral interview heavy on operational scenarios: emergency response, vendor management conflicts, budget trade-offs, and client escalation handling. For senior FM roles, a third round with the client stakeholder or regional leader is common. Technical knowledge of building systems (HVAC, fire life safety, BMS platforms) is assessed alongside soft skills like communication and composure under pressure. Arrive ready with specific examples of managing critical incidents, achieving cost savings, and delivering measurable improvements in tenant or occupant satisfaction.

Open Positions

CBRE Group currently has 53 open positions.

Check Your Resume Before Applying → View 53 open positions at CBRE Group

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Sources

  1. CBRE Careers — Explore Opportunities — CBRE Group
  2. CBRE About Us — Company Overview and Values — CBRE Group
  3. CBRE Group Company Reviews and Interview Insights — Glassdoor
  4. CBRE 2023 Annual Report and Strategic Priorities — CBRE Group Investor Relations