Real estate agent: How to sucessfully make the career change

Why is it worthwhile to become a real estate agent?

You may be wondering whether a career as a real estate agent is the right thing for you. If, in addition to a general interest in real estate, you have the desire to work in an almost crisis-proof industry in which you are responsible for your own success and in which there is basically no limit to your earnings, then this already speaks strongly in favour of a career change. For example, the real estate industry has suffered comparatively little from the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic: property prices have remained stable in most locations during the Corona crisis, or in some cases even continued to rise. Moreover, since as an estate agent you draw your salary from your agent's commission, the more successful sales you make as a career changer, the higher your earnings will be.

Real estate agent career change: These are the qualifications you need

The professional requirements for becoming a real estate agent vary from country to country, sometimes even from region to region. In countries such as the USA, France, Spain and Italy, marketing real estate is only allowed with relevant training and a valid licence. To obtain it, applicants usually have to take various tests and pass a character test. In other countries, such as Germany, Great Britain or Poland, professional training to become an estate agent is not regulated by law. Instead, there are private organisations, institutes and associations that offer corresponding courses and certificates for career changers. Some only certify companies, others also individuals. In Germany, a trade licence is required to work as an estate agent.

The situation is somewhat different in the case of training as a real estate agent. In Germany, this is considered a classic training occupation and the educational path is clearly defined. The apprenticeship usually lasts 3 years.

How do I acquire market knowledge as a newcomer to the sector?

Of course, it is not only certificates and credentials that are important for a successful career as a real estate agent. Many real estate agencies around the world place just as much importance on the previous experience of an applicant. In this context, it is of secondary importance in which field you have been active so far, as long as you can show that you have already dealt in depth with real estate-related. As a former property manager, for example, you know all about property maintenance. Former investors, lawyers or buyers, meanwhile, are proficient in value analyses and alternative forms of financing. Thus, a business degree provides the ideal basis for a career as a real estate agent, and alternative professions for lawyers in the real estate sector are available. Those who have previously worked in the technology industry, on the other hand, can score points with information about current proptech trends. All that matters is how you, as a career changer, apply your accumulated knowledge to the sale of real estate.

At Engel & Völkers, you have a decisive advantage when starting out as a real estate agent. Before you start out in the industry with us, you undergo a thorough and comprehensive training course at our in-house Engel & Völkers Academy. Here we not only prepare you for the usual market practices. We will also show you how to successfully acquire and present properties and explain the latest aspects of the law. Later on in your career as a career changer, you will continue to benefit from seminars and courses that will give you a unique advantage over your competitors.

What social skills do I need to change jobs?

Another important core competence you should have for your job change as an estate agent is empathy. Social empathy, along with a comprehensive knowledge of the market, is important for a successful real estate agent career change. After all, brokering residential and commercial properties such as single-family homes, condominiums and rental flats is not just about data, facts and building substance. The purchase or sale of a property is always an emotional decision for the buyer or owner. The successful conclusion therefore stands and falls with the interpersonal contact, and not only for career changers.

Only those who succeed in responding to customers, understanding their needs and finding the right property for them will succeed in this industry and in their job as an estate agent. A quick grasp of customer wishes is therefore the be-all and end-all for career changers who want to successfully broker real estate. The necessary skills can be learned in sales, regardless of the industry. However, the best training for the job is and remains the daily, direct contact with customers.

How do I market my career as an estate agent?

Equally important for success as a real estate agent is the right marketing. This includes not only marketing your properties but also marketing yourself. Many career changers in the real estate industry come from the creative sector. A good eye for promising properties is indeed often worth its weight in gold when selling real estate. But even if you come from a less marketing-oriented industry, this does not fundamentally prevent your successful job change. At Engel & Völkers, in addition to your comprehensive training in our in-house Academy, you will receive all the marketing tools and knowledge you need to stage yourself and your properties.

Jobs for career changers in the real estate industry

Do you have negotiating skills, empathy and an affinity for the intricacies of the real estate industry? Then you basically have everything you need for your career as a real estate agent. Of course, lateral entry into the industry is constantly evolving. New technological developments and current market trends for real estate need to be kept up to date on a regular basis. However, those who continue their education and develop strategies will always have a decisive advantage over their competitors, even as a career changers in real estate.

Are you curious about what the real estate industry has in store for you? Then visit our global job market now, discover our vacancies and take the first step on your new career path. We look forward to hearing from you!