Career coaches suggest examining your skills and strengths, interests and values.
After a (hopefully) relaxing and fun-filled summer break, the time has come for us all to put away the shorts and thongs and head back to work for another year.
And while it may not always be rainbows and sunshine on Monday mornings, for those who enjoy their careers, the start of a new year offers the opportunity to do more, reach higher and achieve new goals.
But for those who find Mondays downright depressing, or don’t feel personally rewarded for their efforts, 2019 may be the time to take stock and consider:
Is this really the right career for me?
Research tells us that the average person changes careers 5-7 times in their working life, endeavouring to find the perfect role that offers a unique balance of challenge, reward, hard work, and R&R.
Career coaches suggest examining your skills and strengths, interests and values as a tool for uncovering what you would really like to do. For example, if you’re great at networking, love the outdoors and value flexible working, a 9-5 desk job probably isn’t going to inspire you.
From the outside in, life as a real estate agent seems like a pretty good gig – getting out and about every day, meeting new people, developing a personal brand, and being financially rewarded for your initiative and efforts.
To get the inside scoop, Region Media spoke with two local real estate agents to find out what a career in real estate is really like.
Nick Huang and Eliana Rojas-Terry. Photos: Daniella Jukic.
Having worked in retail and hospitality for most of his life (even owning his own fast food restaurant), it was a desire for change that motivated Nick Huang to leave it all behind for a new career in real estate.
“I was working in hospitality, and day in day out it was the same work every day with long hours. I needed a change and a challenge, and wanted a profession that offered the potential to do more, achieve more and get rewarded accordingly. I also wanted to grow personally, within myself.”
Nick applied for and landed a job with Independent Property Group and says he’s learned so much since starting his new career.
“I really enjoy building relationships with people because in my previous work in retail the customers come and go very quickly; there’s no time to make lasting connections. Starting a new career has also allowed me to learn a whole new industry which is exciting. Real estate isn’t just about networking. You need to understand property, the local market, the regulations, and much more.”
A self-confessed introvert, Nick says some aspects of working in real estate are a challenge for him, and he is continually working on his personal development.
Nick works at the Independent Property Group Woden office.
“I’m taking the time to understand my services and products, build my knowledge, and learn how to network. Every career change is a challenge, and real estate is no exception, but it is also very rewarding.”
Nick chose Independent to launch his career because he had dealt with their agents when renting and buying houses in the past.
“I could see how professional they are and that they really focussed on client experience. That’s why I wanted to work with them – I wanted to be part of that culture. The office is fun and energetic, so it’s a great place to turn up to work on a Monday. If you’re thinking about a career in real estate, I would say just do it!”
For Eliana Rojas-Terry, a career in real estate was all she ever wanted to do. As a teenager, she worked in an administration role in a real estate agency in her hometown, before studying to get her real estate licence.
“Working part-time in a real estate agency as a teenager, I found the industry really exciting. So I studied for 18 months to get my full qualifications, and then moved from Braidwood to Canberra and joined Independent. I had interviewed with a few different agencies, but Independent stood out because they’re innovative and not just about real estate – the focus is helping people achieve their goals. And that’s exactly what I wanted to do.”
Eliana works at the Independent Property Group Tuggeranong office.
Eliana, who has been with Independent for almost 4 years now, says that a career in real estate is a long term commitment to building relationships. You need to be hungry and able to cope with rejection, but if you are authentic, motivated and have good systems in place, you can build a very successful career.
“When you’re reaching out to so many people on a daily basis, not everyone is going to need your services then and there. But it’s about making those connections so that when someone does need your services – even if it’s 4 years down the track – they know they can come to you.
“Even though there are great financial rewards in real estate, if we do a good job we can also create financial freedom for our clients which I really enjoy. It’s about helping your clients, and you have to be passionate about what you do.”
To learn more about launching a career in real estate, including insights into life as a real estate agent, visit Independent careers.
This is a sponsored article, though all opinions are the author’s own. For more information on paid content, see our sponsored content policy.
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