Whether you passed the state exam or you are still studying, you might have thought about the brokerage interview process.
It deserves a moment of recognition before you trudge onward in your path to become a real estate agent.
After passing the state exam, you’re given your real estate license but nowhere to hang it. That’s why you have to sign with a brokerage.
Signing with a brokerage is the final step to becoming a real estate agent.
Also known as “hanging your license,” signing with a brokerage contractually employs you. Every agent signs with a brokerage.
People will often become timid or nervous before their big interview.
Those feelings are natural, but you should know there’s nothing to fear. Real estate agents don’t need previous experience or a flourishing work portfolio to impress the hiring team.
When you interview at a real estate brokerage, there are 4 tips you should remember:
- Feel the Brokerage Culture
- Prepare for the Interview Questions
- Ask Questions
- Dress Well for the Environment
Now, let's explore what each one of these tips means in more detail.
#1. Feel the Brokerage Culture
From the moment you walk in the front door, look around the brokerage office. Feel the environment, meet the people, and look at the decor.
What kind of coffee do they have in stock? Is the office pet-friendly? Are people genuinely disgruntled to be there at the start of the week?
These are simple questions and observations to feel the office culture.
Little do most newbie agents know, but the office culture is among the most important parts of the interview process.
The brokerage should help you grow and become a professional, so being stuck in an environment that doesn’t fit your culture will stiffen your development.
Feel the brokerage culture. If you like what you see and hear, then the brokerage will be a good fit for you.
Don’t settle for the first brokerage you interview with. You have all the power to find the best place to hang your license.
#2. Prepare for the Interview Questions
When you interview with a brokerage, you will be meeting the team that dictates the business’s direction. During your interview, they will ask you questions to learn more about you.
What they are looking for is your passion behind your career.
Questions like “Why are you interested in us,” “Why real estate,” or “Where do you see yourself in 5-years” are common questions that come up in an interview because they help vent the applicants.
Brokerages seek people who have the drive to excel in their careers and help generate revenue.
You don’t need the experience to show them passion.
Becoming your authentic self by answering these questions honestly will help them understand who you are, which is the goal of the interview.
Don’t be afraid to show them your personality and who you are – so long as you remain professional.
#3. Ask Questions (Questions Added!)
Most interview applicants will forget to ask questions. Asking questions is the best way to show passion, drive, and enthusiasm.
Questions pertaining to the brokerage’s goals, success, and environment are helpful to ask.
But, the two important ones to bring up are:
- What type of training do you offer?
- What type of commission do you offer?
Brokerages serve you, the real estate agent, just as much as you serve them.
They should provide you resources to develop professionally and grow as an agent.
If you feel like you won’t have access to these resources, then you should critically assess if you want to work with this brokerage.
Interviews are two-way streets. Use this opportunity to ask questions and figure out if the brokerage is the right fit for you.
This won’t seem interrogative from the broker’s perspective, because it will show off your passion.
#4. Dress Well for the Environment
Dressing well for the environment will always show the brokerage that you match the culture and you’re a professional.
Showing up in clothes that match the office culture will reduce the barriers you place between yourself and the interviewer.
Finding out the brokerage dress style can be done with a little research on their website.
They might have images posted that will give you clues on how the office dresses.
The worst-case scenario: dress professionally with a splash of color. You’re a professional, but more importantly, you have a personality.
Final Thoughts on Brokerage Interview Tips
Brokerages hire real estate agents who will represent their brand well.
They don’t want to hire someone who is unprofessional and will tarnish their reputation.
Showing up to the interview and with a warm, friendly personality will go further than you might think.
You don’t need the experience to become a real estate agent, so showing the brokerage that you’re able to abide by the brokerage style, culture, and values will help you pass the interview.
Brokerages take responsibility for the agent’s actions.
During the interview, the broker will be vetting you to make sure you will properly represent the business.
If you can show them that you will always be professional and have the best interest of the brokerage and your professional development, then you can do no wrong.
We want to hear what’s on your mind before an upcoming interview.
