Looking to break into real estate development!

[Henry L.]

Hello fellow BiggerPockets members. 

I recently graduated from university and am looking to break into real estate development either for myself or working for a developer. My background is entrepreneurial. I started two small businesses while enrolled in college. Being that I am not coming from a top university with any real estate recruiting I have failed to even get the opportunity to interview with any real estate developers. I have been cold emailing and trying to network into interviews. This strategy did work for an internship which I did at a commercial real estate brokerage. Do you have any advice for getting in contact with developers? I am in the Chicago area. 

Another option would be doing this myself. I have a high credit score, no debt and about 10k of play money I am not worried about risking, I am saving as much money as possible right now to reinvest and cooking meals myself, staying with roommates, etc. to cut costs. No stable income though as I just graduated college which is the major issue in getting traditional financing. 

I would really like to work for a developer as an assistant project manager or really any role to get some knowledge of the business.