Career Options
Working to make real estate a first-choice careerWhen Melissa Fernandez traded in a job in retail for a career in real estate, she was breaking fairly new territory. Not only was she younger than most of her counterparts, real estate was also her first-choice career. LINDA WHITE |
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 [ 2006-11-08 ] |
"Our industry draws a lot of people who end up in real estate, rather than plan for a career in real estate," reports Doug Baird, chair of the Century 21 GTA Broker Council's recruiter committee. It's a trend he would like to change through his recruitment work. "Our industry offers a whole lot to potential agents."
Economics can be a bit of a deterrent, particularly to those just starting out, because income is generated through commissions. "You have to have some means of paying your living expenses," Baird says. "You don't have to be wealthy, but you do need to invest in your business. Agents are independent contractors generating their own business within the framework of a brokerage."
Interviewing brokers is an important step. Real estate agents turn the table on tradition, giving candidates the opportunity to ask questions. "If you have a license, (an agency) will hire you. I don't know a company that won't take you on," Baird says. "You should be asking things like what they, as a company, are going to do to help you succeed."
Century 21, for example, offers the Create 21 training program, a live, interactive, computer-based program moderated by a professional real estate trainer. It also offers one-on-one in-office training.
You'll also want to ask about commission, which can vary from one agency to another and can be complicated, as well as office culture. "The size of the company has no real bearing on success. It's the assistance a company provides," says Baird, owner/broker of Century 21 Infinity Realty Inc. in Oshawa.
For Fernandez, now in her mid-20s, the interview was instrumental in her decision to sign on as an agent with Baird's agency two years ago. "I interviewed major real estate agencies and not all took me seriously," she says. "I liked Century 21's commitment to training."
Think you've got what it takes to succeed? You should be self-motivated, customer-service oriented, self-disciplined and honest, Baird says. You should also have a desire to succeed, a strong work ethic and be prepared for evening and weekend work. Continuing education is required.
Math, communication, time management and technical skills are also beneficial. According to the Ontario Real Estate Association, today's leading salespeople rely on integrated databases, hand-held computers, global positioning systems and virtual house tours that can be e-mailed to clients.
The career has been demanding, but rewarding for Fernandez. "It's not as easy as I expected. You have to get your own clients, so it can be pretty frustrating at first. Only now am I getting more clients," she says. "I like working with people. Probably because of my age, I'm working with a lot of first-time buyers, which is very fulfilling."
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HOW TO BECOME A REAL ESTATE AGENT
The first step to becoming a real estate agent is to successfully complete a three-phase pre-registration program offered by the Ontario Real Estate Association College (www.orea.com).
You must then become registered through the Real Estate Council of Ontario (www.reco.on.ca), which administers the Real Estate & Business Brokers Act on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Consumer & Business Services.
Would you ever work for a social or charitable enterprise in the third sector?