CBRE Data Analyst Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

CBRE is the global leader in commercial real estate services, recognized for its excellence and commitment to providing innovative solutions to clients across various sectors.

As a Data Analyst at CBRE, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the research team, focusing on the analysis of real estate market trends and the impact of economic, social, and political changes. Key responsibilities include collecting and analyzing data related to industry pricing, sales, and marketing methodologies, as well as drafting surveys and other data collection tools. You will be expected to deliver reports and presentations summarizing your findings, track market conditions, identify trends, and make informed recommendations based on your research.

Success in this role requires strong analytical skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office products, particularly Excel, and an inquisitive mindset. A Bachelor’s degree with relevant experience is preferred, although a combination of education and practical experience may also be acceptable. As a Data Analyst at CBRE, embodying the company’s values of respect, integrity, service, and excellence is essential in your daily operations and interactions with colleagues.

This guide will help you prepare effectively for your interview, providing you with insights into the types of questions you may encounter and the skills that are highly valued by the company. By understanding the expectations of the role and the company culture, you will be better equipped to demonstrate your fit for the position.

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Data Analyst interview at CBRE. The interview process will likely focus on your analytical skills, understanding of market trends, and ability to communicate findings effectively. Be prepared to discuss your past experiences, technical skills, and how you can contribute to the team.

Experience and Background

1. Can you walk me through your resume and highlight your relevant experience?

This question allows you to showcase your background and how it aligns with the role at CBRE.

How to Answer

Summarize your professional journey, focusing on experiences that relate to data analysis and real estate. Highlight specific projects or roles that demonstrate your analytical skills and understanding of market trends.

Example

“I graduated with a degree in Economics and have spent the last two years working as a data analyst at XYZ Company, where I focused on market research and data visualization. I led a project that analyzed regional real estate trends, which helped our team make informed decisions on property investments.”

Market Trends and Real Estate Knowledge

2. What current market trends are you aware of in the commercial real estate sector?

This question assesses your knowledge of the industry and your ability to stay informed.

How to Answer

Discuss specific trends you’ve researched or observed, such as shifts in demand for office space, the impact of remote work, or changes in rental prices. Relate these trends to how they might affect CBRE’s operations.

Example

“I’ve noticed a significant increase in demand for flexible office spaces due to the rise of remote work. Additionally, I’ve been following the trend of urbanization, where more people are moving to city centers, which is driving up rental prices in those areas.”

3. How do you stay updated on market conditions and trends?

This question evaluates your commitment to continuous learning and industry awareness.

How to Answer

Mention specific resources you use, such as industry reports, news articles, or professional networks. Highlight any subscriptions to relevant publications or participation in industry events.

Example

“I subscribe to several real estate newsletters and regularly read reports from organizations like CBRE and JLL. I also attend webinars and industry conferences to network and learn from experts in the field.”

Technical Skills and Data Analysis

4. Can you describe your experience with data analysis tools and software?

This question focuses on your technical proficiency, which is crucial for a data analyst role.

How to Answer

List the tools you are familiar with, such as Excel, SQL, Tableau, or any programming languages. Provide examples of how you’ve used these tools in past projects.

Example

“I am proficient in Excel for data manipulation and analysis, and I have experience using SQL for querying databases. In my previous role, I created dashboards in Tableau to visualize sales trends, which helped the management team make data-driven decisions.”

5. Describe a time when you improved a process through data analysis.

This question assesses your problem-solving skills and ability to drive efficiency.

How to Answer

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response. Focus on the impact your analysis had on the organization.

Example

“At my last job, I noticed that our reporting process was taking too long. I analyzed the data flow and identified bottlenecks. By automating certain data collection tasks using Excel macros, I reduced the reporting time by 30%, allowing the team to focus on more strategic initiatives.”

Behavioral Questions

6. How would your previous employer describe your work ethic?

This question aims to understand your professional demeanor and reliability.

How to Answer

Reflect on feedback you’ve received from past employers or colleagues. Emphasize qualities such as diligence, teamwork, and adaptability.

Example

“My previous employer often described me as detail-oriented and proactive. I consistently sought feedback on my work and was always willing to help my colleagues, which fostered a collaborative environment.”

7. Why do you want to work at CBRE?

This question gauges your motivation and alignment with the company’s values.

How to Answer

Discuss what attracts you to CBRE, such as its reputation in the industry, commitment to innovation, or specific projects that resonate with you.

Example

“I admire CBRE’s leadership in the commercial real estate sector and its commitment to leveraging data for strategic decision-making. I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to a company that values integrity and excellence, and I believe my skills align well with your mission.”

Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.

Understand the Role and Its Impact

Before your interview, take the time to thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Data Analyst at CBRE. Familiarize yourself with how the role contributes to forecasting real estate market trends and assessing the impact of various changes. This knowledge will allow you to articulate how your skills and experiences align with the company's objectives and demonstrate your genuine interest in the position.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

CBRE's interview process often includes behavioral questions that assess your past experiences and how they relate to the role. Prepare specific examples that showcase your problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and adaptability. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, ensuring you highlight your contributions and the outcomes of your actions.

Stay Informed on Market Trends

Given the nature of the role, it's crucial to be well-versed in current market trends, especially in commercial real estate. Research recent developments in the industry and be prepared to discuss how these trends could impact CBRE and its clients. This will not only demonstrate your knowledge but also your proactive approach to staying informed.

Showcase Your Technical Skills

While the interview may focus more on behavioral aspects, be ready to discuss your technical skills, particularly in Microsoft Office products and any relevant data analysis tools. If you have experience with SQL or data visualization tools, be prepared to provide examples of how you've used these skills in past projects. Highlighting your technical proficiency will reinforce your capability to handle the analytical demands of the role.

Emphasize Cultural Fit

CBRE values respect, integrity, service, and excellence. During your interview, reflect these values in your responses and demeanor. Show enthusiasm for the company's mission and culture, and be prepared to discuss how you embody these values in your professional life. This alignment will help you stand out as a candidate who not only has the skills but also fits well within the company culture.

Ask Insightful Questions

Prepare thoughtful questions to ask your interviewers. Inquire about the team dynamics, the types of projects you would be working on, and how success is measured in the role. This not only shows your interest in the position but also gives you valuable insights into whether the role and company are the right fit for you.

Follow Up Professionally

After your interview, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview. Reiterate your interest in the position and briefly mention a key point from the interview that resonated with you. This follow-up can leave a positive impression and keep you top of mind as they make their decision.

By following these tips, you'll be well-prepared to make a strong impression during your interview with CBRE. Good luck!

The interview process for a Data Analyst position at CBRE is structured yet flexible, designed to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the organization. Here’s a breakdown of the typical steps involved:

1. Initial Phone Screen

The process usually begins with a phone screening conducted by a recruiter. This initial conversation lasts about 30 minutes and focuses on your background, work experience, and understanding of the role. The recruiter will also gauge your interest in CBRE and the specific position, as well as discuss the company culture and values.

2. Technical and Behavioral Interviews

Following the phone screen, candidates typically participate in one or more interviews with team members or managers. These interviews can be conducted via video conferencing platforms like Zoom. Expect a mix of technical and behavioral questions. Technical assessments may include case studies or practical exercises, such as Excel or SQL tests, to evaluate your analytical skills and problem-solving abilities. Behavioral questions will focus on your past experiences, teamwork, and how you handle challenges.

3. Panel Interview

In some cases, candidates may face a panel interview, which consists of multiple interviewers from different departments. This format allows the team to assess how well you communicate and collaborate with various stakeholders. Questions may revolve around your understanding of market trends, your analytical approach, and how you can contribute to the team’s goals.

4. Final Interview

The final stage often involves a conversation with a senior manager or director. This interview is more in-depth and may cover strategic thinking, your long-term career aspirations, and how you align with CBRE’s mission and values. You may also be asked to present findings from a previous project or discuss how you would approach a hypothetical scenario relevant to the role.

5. Additional Assessments

Depending on the specific position, there may be additional assessments, such as personality quizzes or written tests, to further evaluate your fit for the role and the company culture. These assessments help ensure that candidates not only possess the necessary skills but also align with CBRE’s core values.

As you prepare for your interview, consider the types of questions that may arise during this process.

1. What considerations should be made when testing hundreds of hypotheses with many t-tests?

When conducting multiple t-tests, you need to consider the risk of Type I errors due to multiple comparisons. How would you control for this, and what statistical methods would you use to adjust for multiple testing?

2. How would you explain what a p-value is to someone who is not technical?

Explain the concept of a p-value in simple terms to someone without a technical background.

3. How should you handle a right-skewed distribution when predicting real estate home prices?

If home prices in a city are skewed to the right, should you take any action? If so, what steps should you take? Bonus: How would you handle a heavily left-skewed target distribution?

4. Write a SQL query to select the 2nd highest salary in the engineering department.

Write a SQL query to select the 2nd highest salary in the engineering department. If more than one person shares the highest salary, the query should select the next highest salary.

5. Create a function precision_recall to calculate precision and recall metrics from a 2-D matrix.

Given a 2-D matrix P of predicted values and actual values, write a function precision_recall to calculate precision and recall metrics. Return the ordered pair (precision, recall).

6. Select the top 3 departments with at least ten employees and rank them by the percentage of employees making over 100K.

Given employees and departments tables, select the top 3 departments with at least ten employees and rank them according to the percentage of their employees making over 100K in salary.

7. Write a function traverse_count to determine the number of paths in an (n\times n) grid.

Given an integer (n), write a function traverse_count to determine the number of paths from the top left corner of an (n\times n) grid to the bottom right. You may only move right or down.

8. Develop a function is_subsequence to check if one string is a subsequence of another.

Given two strings, string1 and string2, write a function is_subsequence to find out if string1 is a subsequence of string2. A subsequence can be derived by deleting some elements without changing the order of the remaining elements.

9. How does random forest generate the forest and why use it over logistic regression?

Explain how random forest generates multiple decision trees and why it might be preferred over logistic regression for certain tasks.

10. How do we handle missing square footage data in housing price prediction models?

You have 100K sold listings with 20% missing square footage data. Describe methods to handle this missing data to construct a reliable model.

11. How would you combat overfitting in tree-based classification models?

When training a classification model, particularly tree-based models, explain strategies to prevent overfitting.

12. Does increasing the number of trees in a random forest always improve accuracy?

Discuss whether sequentially increasing the number of trees in a random forest model will continuously improve its accuracy.

13. How to implement k-means clustering algorithm in Python from scratch?

Given a two-dimensional NumPy array data_points, number of clusters k, and initial centroids initial_centroids, implement the k-means clustering algorithm to return the cluster of each point.

A few tips for acing your CBRE interview include:

1. Understand the Data Environment: CBRE’s data analyst position may require knowledge of PowerBI, PowerApps, SQL, or Tableau. Brush up on your knowledge and practice using these tools.

2. Know the Industry: Familiarize yourself with the commercial real estate market, as questions regarding this field often come up.

3. Presentation Skills: Be ready to present your past projects and demonstrate your expertise in storytelling with data.

What is the average salary for a Data Analyst at Cbre?

What kind of technical skills are required for a Data Analyst at CBRE?

To succeed as a Data Analyst at CBRE, you’ll need experience in programming/development and data visualization. Familiarity with tools like Microsoft Power Platform, Dataverse, PowerBI, PowerApps, SQL, or Tableau is crucial. You should also be capable of analyzing large datasets and resolving data quality issues.

What can I expect in terms of work environment and responsibilities?

The Data Analyst role at CBRE is remote and supports mostly Pacific Time. You’ll be responsible for maintaining data integrity, asset management, and resolving data issues. Additional tasks include coordinating data aggregation, performing strategic reviews of data, and developing ad-hoc reports. The role requires a balance of technical abilities and customer-facing skills.

Why should I consider working at CBRE?

CBRE offers comprehensive benefits, including health, vision, and life insurance, 401k plans, and personal time off starting on the first of the month. The company values diversity, provides equal employment opportunities, and promotes a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

At CBRE, you can expect a supportive environment where teamwork and collaboration are highly valued. The role offers a variety of engaging responsibilities, from maintaining data integrity to developing sophisticated business intelligence insights. With robust support for professional development, CBRE is an excellent place for data analysts who are eager to apply their skills and contribute to meaningful projects.

If you want more insights about the company, check out our main CBRE Interview Guide, where we have covered many interview questions that could be asked. We’ve also created interview guides for other roles, such as software engineer and data analyst, where you can learn more about CBRE’s interview process for different positions.

You can also check out all our company interview guides for better preparation, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Good luck with your interview!