Interview: Ilja on his transition from project development to real estate consulting

After a two-year traineeship at TBI, Ilja recently made the switch to Resi. Coming from a background in project development, he was looking for an environment where speed, analysis, and results come together. He is now fully involved in transactions and advisory projects. We asked him how he’s experiencing his first weeks at Resi.

“Here, you’re immediately part of the team”

Ilja grew up in Arnhem, studied in Utrecht, and now lives with his girlfriend in Amsterdam. Before joining Resi, he completed a two-year traineeship at TBI, where he worked mainly in project development and became familiar with the collaboration between the various parties involved in a development process.

The move to Resi came through a colleague he already knew. “I was looking for a field that overlaps with project development, but that also moves faster and relies more heavily on data and analysis. It’s important to me to really understand why something happens, and I get a lot of energy from seeing concrete results. That’s what immediately appealed to me about the work at Resi.”

What stood out to him most during his first few weeks was the culture within the team. “Everyone is incredibly friendly and engaged. People motivate each other, help each other move forward, and take the time to check in with one another. During the interviews, a lot of emphasis was placed on team dynamics and how important they are at Resi. Now I can say that this isn’t just something people talk about, but it’s genuinely visible in the day to day work.”

Getting involved in projects right away

From his very first day, Ilja was involved in ongoing projects. He is now helping prepare transactions and working on new-build advisory reports.

“What I really like is that you’re brought into the work right away and given responsibility quickly. I’ve already been able to work on BOPs and a stacking analysis, and I’m learning a lot about the housing market and the analyses behind certain decisions. On top of that, you get the chance early on to be in contact with clients and take on responsibility within a project.”

He also appreciates the way the team works together. “Everyone knows their role within a project, and communication is direct. As a new colleague, you’re well supported and there’s always room to ask questions. That makes you feel like part of the team quickly, and you can jump right in.”

Steep learning curve

Despite his experience in project development, Ilja has already picked up a lot of new knowledge over the past few weeks.

“What surprised me most is how the investment value of real estate is determined, and how you translate the underlying analyses into well-founded advice. I didn’t expect to learn all of that already in the first few weeks. The learning curve is pretty steep, but that’s exactly what I was looking for.”

A quality that helps him with this is his curiosity. “When I find something interesting, I can really dig into it until I truly understand it. On top of that, I’m not afraid to make mistakes and I’m open to feedback. That’s exactly how you learn the most.”

“I really like the combination of having fun and getting things done”

Looking ahead to his future at Resi, Ilja hopes to take on more independent client contact and further grow his role within projects.

“For now, I mainly want to get really good at what I do. I’m looking forward to fully mastering all the processes and eventually being able to guide a transaction independently. Maybe even land my first deal.”

For him, a successful workday is about more than just the results on paper. “If I feel like I’ve delivered good work and also had a fun day with colleagues, I go home feeling good. That combination of a good atmosphere and hard work has suited me really well so far.”

Outside of work, Ilja likes spending time with friends and family. “Whether that’s on a terrace, on the padel court, or somewhere else doesn’t really matter. I also enjoy reading and staying active. As long as I’m not sitting still for too long.”