How to become an Estate Agent
So you want to be an estate agent? Good news! It’s a very rewarding career that has the potential to be very lucrative. In addition, it doesn’t require you to sit behind a desk all day, gets you out meeting lots of very different people, requires few to no qualifications and provides the chance for real progression.
This is all especially true in today’s world. People will always want to buy and sell their homes, with the added bonus that even during bust periods when sales may drop, the lettings business takes the slack. This makes for a resilient industry that isn’t about to enter the doldrums any time soon.
So what next, then, for those who want to make their first steps towards becoming an estate agent? Well there are plenty of things to consider beforehand.
Think about it. A lot.
All of the above makes it easy to see just why becoming an agent is a very popular career choice indeed. This popularity does mean though that competition is rife and only the best succeed.
Not only that, a sometimes fluctuating wage, potential for stress and occasional unsocial hours can combine to make it a role that’s not suited to everyone’s taste. As such, it’s worth considering the option very carefully before deciding to take the plunge once and for all.
Before writing a single word on the CV, it’s helpful to take a long hard look at all the pros and cons as outlined above. Some people thrive within this environment, earning themselves a great deal of money in the process. They can then rise up the ladder remarkably quickly, going to senior salesperson to manager and even then opening their own business.
At the other end of the spectrum, others flake under pressure and can end up losing their job for not bringing in enough sales or deals. High risk, high reward.
As a prospective agent you will need to give all this your full consideration before making even one application. The last thing an interviewer needs to see is doubt, so weigh up the decision and make it in good faith. Then, if you come to the decision that it is something you want to try, stick with it and be strong in your conviction.
Do your research
As noted above, many people want to become an estate agent. However, when pressed further on this, few actually manage to articulate exactly why this career path is so appealing.
Think about how this would look at interview stage. Estate agents are meant to be personable, knowledgeable, bright and eloquent, something which certainly won’t come across among those who don’t attack an interview with the same drive and passion as their competitors.
Research doesn’t just start and end looking inwardly though. Interviewees will promote the best possible image of themselves if they go armed with more information than anyone that has also applied for the job. Therefore, equip yourself with knowledge of local markets, the property selling process and just what transferable skills you could bring to the role.
If this information isn’t particularly easy to come by, speak with others already working in the industry. If you have friends or family that work as estate agents, then get advice from them. Failing that, there’s a bank of information online about what the job will really entail on a day-to-day basis.
Focus
Casting your net far and wide can open up a range of different career opportunities, but it is important to remember that estate agency is viewed as a career, not just a job. Interviewers want to see genuine commitment, not a short-term mindset, and those who succeed in this sector tend to be the ones who are fully focused on long-term growth.
We also suggest that you restrict your job search to within a reasonable distance of where you live and, even if you are struggling to find something in your area, we do not recommend widening your search geographically. Whilst a long commute may seem achievable in the first instance, experience tells us that after a while this will almost certainly become an issue for you and will almost certainly put you at a disadvantage as local area knowledge is a key asset in estate agency.
If your job search doesn’t yield results right away, consider taking on Saturday work or a temporary contract. This demonstrates not only a willingness to work the less desirable hours of an estate agent, but also a strong commitment to the role. While it may not be the most appealing option, it can enhance your reputation both within the company and with potential future employers.
Another smart strategy is to work with a specialist recruiter. Their industry expertise can provide valuable insights during the application and interview process. They also have access to job opportunities that may not yet be advertised, giving you a competitive edge.
Be enthusiastic
Many of the above points can be boiled down into one word: enthusiasm. This should come as no surprise; enthusiasm sells houses, so it should also be deployed to sell yourself.
This is no place for being reserved or playing hard ball, throw yourself into the application and make it impossible for the interviewer to think you’ll give anything less than 100 per cent.
Whilst you don’t want to come across as being arrogant or cocky, you should aim to exude a reassuring air of confidence. You can even, if you feel up to it, ask at the end of an interview: “How did I do?” or “What did you think?” After all, you will hopefully be asking similar probing questions at the end of a viewing, so why not in this situation?
Some common considerations
Aside from all this, there are also the typical job interview tips that may not be specifically catered to estate agency but are still just as important. For example, don’t just create a ‘one size fits all’ CV that you plan to spam out to all companies.
This makes them feel like a number and gives the impression of someone that takes little to no pride in their work. Not just that, it probably won’t even save you the time you think it might, as you’ll end up having to continually search high and low for new roles, instead of initially spending a bit of time selecting only those roles that appear to be the right fit for you.
Next, make sure you are appropriately dressed for the interview. Estate agents are invariably well presented as they are working in a customer-facing job, so remember to replicate this for your interview. Check out the company’s website and their ‘Meet the Team’ page if they have one. This should give you a good feel about their culture, and how best to present yourself.
Also, arrive promptly. Speculative buyers won’t wait for hours at a house viewing, so why should an interviewer do the same. Promptness and professionalism are natural bedfellows, so set that alarm nice and early, and make sure you plan your journey in advance!
Hopefully, the above points have provided a suitable introduction to those thinking of becoming an estate agent. You should now be more up to speed with the pros and cons of such a career, what is needed before hitting the job trail and how best to secure that dream position at the end of it all.
If you are interested in applying for a job then please view our jobs in Estate Agency.
