Estate agents are in charge of arranging real estate transactions. A high school diploma is usually required for becoming an estate agent trainee, and some employers prefer to hire college graduates for these positions. Aside from hiring people with specific academic qualifications, some real estate firms prefer to hire people with prior sales or customer service experience. In the United Kingdom and a few other Commonwealth countries, the term “estate agent” is commonly used. People who work in these positions are commonly referred to as real estate agent trainees or trainee brokers in other parts of the country.
Few colleges offer undergraduate degree programs that prepare students for careers as real estate agents. However, anyone interested in becoming an estate agent trainee should enroll in a degree program that is related to the real estate industry in some way. Many trainees earn bachelor’s degrees in finance, sales management, or business administration. Some prospective trainees complete law degrees because real estate transactions involve contractual negotiations.
During a real estate transaction, experienced estate agents represent the interests of either the buyer or the seller. These individuals attempt to obtain the best possible deal for their clients, and in many cases, agents are compensated in part or entirely through sales commissions. While trainees are not actively involved in the sales process, real estate companies try to hire people who have the skills to advance to permanent sales positions. As a result, anyone interested in becoming an estate agent trainee should gain some sales experience; many trainees begin their careers working in retail stores, where they can hone their customer service and sales skills.
Because trainees are not actively involved in the sale process, they spend much of their time filling out paperwork on behalf of a fully trained agent. Trainees are responsible for preparing real estate contracts, sending e-mails and letters to clients, and taking messages for agents. As a result, anyone interested in becoming a trainee estate agent must be familiar with common software applications as well as office equipment such as fax machines and communications systems. While working in other clerical positions, some trainees gain experience with software and office equipment. In other cases, prospective employees enroll in short-term community college training courses to learn basic administrative skills.
While many real estate firms hire graduates or entry-level employees, others hire experienced professionals who have worked in the real estate industry. As a result, someone interested in becoming an estate agent trainee might benefit from working for a mortgage firm or bank. Some firms also hire people who have worked as legal assistants or court clerks in the local courthouse because they are familiar with contracts and real estate transactions.