A real estate agent’s career does not just happen overnight. It requires hard work and dedication to get to where you want to be in the field of property sales. However, it is a gratifying and financially rewarding career.
If you want to learn how to become a real estate agent, then it is vital that you first understand what the job entails and what skills you need to acquire to excel within your chosen profession.
The following are steps on how to start your career as a real estate agent:
Step #1 – Get Licensed
The first thing you must do to become a real estate agent is to get your license. The licensed agent trains in all industry areas, including administrative work, ethics, law, and the marketing aspect.
You can acquire this through college courses or an online course. The College Board website offers approved online courses which you can enroll in while still working.
The state you are located in may have licensing requirements that you must meet before taking the course, so you need to check with your local real estate board first before signing up for anything. After getting your license, you must keep it current through continuing education courses.
Step #2- Find a Realtor’s Office
After you have acquired your license, the next step to start your career as a real estate agent is to find an office that will hire you. The best way to do this is by asking family or friends that may know someone within the real estate industry, like a real estate investor.
You can also do a simple search on the internet or local business website for real estate offices that will hire a new agent.
Step #3 – Get Hired
After you have located an office willing to give you a chance, it is now time to get hired. The best way to do this is by visiting the office and introducing yourself to the receptionist.
The receptionist may direct you towards the broker of the office; if not, you can ask for an application. Please fill out the application and drop it off at the office.
You may also want to include a cover letter or letter of intent with your application if you think it will help with getting hired.
If the office is not hiring, then the manager may give you some pointers on where to look for a job. Most managers would instead hire someone they know can handle the business and has a good work ethic instead of going through the trouble of training them.
Step #4 – Get Your Foot in The Door
Now that you have your license and a resume, it is time to get your foot in the door when getting hired. The best way of doing this is by picking up applications when they are available and working on them during your spare time.
Add all licenses you have acquired, employment history, references, and educational information on your resume so that you can pass it on to the broker or manager in charge.
Following these steps on how to start your career as a real estate agent will give you a better chance of landing that first job. Remember that in this field, it is not always about who has the best qualifications but who can bring in the most business and stick with the company for years to come.
Your resume should also include references that attest to your work ethic, such as previous employers and family members.
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