Careers : Tips

CAREERS IN REAL ESTATE

Real Estate can be one of the most satisfying and rewarding careers available. Housing is one of peoples basic and fundamental needs and assisting their important decisions whether it be to buy, sell, lease or invest requires a multitude of skills and ongoing commitment to people and real estate education.

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• Property Management.
• Property Sales.
• Property Sales Assistant.
• Administration.
• Reception.
• Auctioneer.
• Business Brokerage.
• Valuer.
• Rural Stock Agent.
• Management.

If you are not a current agents representative or fully licensed agent one of the first steps in Victoria is to undertake the compulsory real estate education Agents Representatives course to become accredited. Once employed you may be eligible for a Traineeship.

In real estate sales you are a business within a business. You usually will be expected to work most weekends and many evenings but the compensation should be sensible flexible hours. The opportunity to see your children or their sports day or visit an uncrowded gym.

As a property manager your role could vary from counsellor, maintenance provider, rent collector, or new business developer.

Once you have decided on the relevant career path do your research

• Research the Industry.
• Research the Education Requirements (go to Training).
• Research the Job Requirements.
• Research the Company.
• Attend Career Nights.
• Attend Auctions and Open for Inspections.

This may be in direct response to an advertisement or you may target selected companies in the area you wish to work.

Find out as much about the company as you can

• The agents internet site can be a great help.
• Are they independent, part of a franchise or marketing group?
• What can they offer you and in turn what benefit will this allow you to offer future customers?
• Is the company on a growth path?
• Are they stable and do they have a fine reputation?
• What real estate training do they offer?
• What is their staff turnover like?
• Research the company via their internet and local papers.

You could also attend their open houses or auctions and see what their professionalism, expertise and company morale is like.

Have an honest written statement of your achievements and education, qualifications, background expectations and how you can add value to the company. Prepare a summary page of key facts and support it with relevant data.

Create a quality relevant resume that can be submitted on hard copy and electronically. Have it in a popular format such as Microsoft Word. Make sure there is plenty of white space when formatting and use a good size and easy to read font type. Relevant business references are often helpful.

Finally, triple check for any "typos" and make use of quality paper. Run it by family or friends for ideas and if you are still struggling, engage a professional resume writer.

Attitude is critical.

FREE Persistence download.
FREE Self Assessment Profile download.
More FREE Downloads.

Practice Responses To Likely Questions

Place yourself in the interviewer chair. What would you like to know about the candidate? Consider attitudes, background, goals, expectations, hypothetical case studies, creativity, health and wellbeing, why you are leaving another company and so forth.

Practice questions you would like to know about your future employer.

• Explain How You Can Add Value To The Organisation.
• Try and get "inside" the role by visualising yourself in that role.
• Be Yourself And Be Professional.
• Ensure You Dress Appropriately.
• Try to match the expectations and culture of the company.
• Be Extremely Punctual.
• Make allowances for traffic and parking.

Remember :

• Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance

Starting Out in Sales
Employment Opportunities

Good luck!
Geoff Buck