Finance major Audrey Davis is a senior in the Honors College and is double-minoring in marketing and real estate. Davis, who is originally from Asheville, North Carolina, was drawn to the College of Charleston due to her love for the city, a draw to a campus in an urban setting, and her desire to pursue more than a “typical college experience.” This summer Davis is interning at Handsome Properties, a premier luxury real estate firm located in Charleston.
How did you identify your internship and how would you describe your responsibilities?
I found my internship with Handsome Properties through the Career Center Handshake platform. I had heard of Handsome Properties because of its close proximity to our campus, and because I had seen their signs and advertising on some of the beautiful historic homes downtown during my first three years at the College. I work under the marketing team at Handsome Properties, so my responsibilities range from writing blog posts, creating social media content, assisting in photo shoots, as well as just being creative about how to better market our beautiful listings! Handsome Properties also has two sister companies; Handsome Properties International, which specializes in real estate all over the world, and Handsome Homes which is a full-service property management company, which I also help work on.
What experiences at the College stand out as having prepared you for this internship?
One thing that helped me feel more prepared for this internship is my prior experience with internships, as well as my marketing and real estate courses at the College of Charleston. My first internship was the summer after my freshman year at a Keller Williams real estate office. This was where I began to feel confident in my interest in the field and gained some initial insight into how a successful real estate office works. I have also performed internships with Cameron Stewart Design, an interior designer, and AYCO, a financial planning company owned by Goldman Sachs, to explore my interest in those fields.
Internships are emphasized at College of Charleston, and specifically within the Honors College, that internships are the best way to gain practical experience in your field while still in school. Because College of Charleston is located in an urban environment, there are endless internship opportunities to take advantage of in Charleston both during the school year and during the summer.
What kind of clients does your company serve?
As the premier representative for luxury homes in the Charleston area, Handsome Properties serves discerning clients looking for assistance in navigating the intricacies of the Lowcountry’s marketplace. Handsome Properties’ global reach coupled with innovative marketing strategies and cutting-edge technology allows for maximum exposure while providing sophistication and refinement. Most of the clients we serve are drawn towards Charleston for the luxury Lowcountry lifestyle. The ability to be near the beach and yet still have such a vibrant urban culture with amazing restaurants and rich history is really what makes Charleston stand out.
What draws you to real estate as a career path? What influence does Charleston have on that draw?
My initial interest in real estate came from moving around a lot as a kid. Being able to help someone with one of their biggest decisions, at least from a financial standpoint, is really what attracts me to the industry. Living in Charleston for the past three years has caused my interest in the industry to grow. The Charleston real estate market is one of the best in the country due to all the amenities our city has to offer.
What advice would you offer students interested in pursuing an internship opportunity similar to yours?
I would tell students to use Handshake – the Career Center’s job and internship search platform. I would also advise students to pursue as many internships as possible while at College of Charleston in as many different fields that you’re interested in for as much exposure as possible.
How has this experience helped you move toward your long-term career goals?
I came to the College of Charleston with a wide area of interests, so internships have helped me to narrow those interests down to give me a better idea of what I want to do post-grad. This internship specifically, has given me insight into all the work that happens behind the scenes at a successful real estate firm. This information will be valuable as I start the process of looking for and applying to marketing or public relations positions at real estate firms in the near future.
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