Careers in real estate don’t always follow a traditional path, from different salaries to working hours, and having no fixed office. This doesn’t mean your resume should suffer though, and you should always keep it in great shape and frequently updated. Here are some suggestions for having an effective real estate agent resume.
Keep it High Level and Professional
Real estate brokers already know why you want a job, but it’s your job to convince them why they should hire you. By having a professional profile and avoiding a career objective, you’ll show them that it’s worth reading through your entire resume. A professional profile will have in the first line the most critical information: that you are licensed and experienced.
By putting this from the very start, you’re setting yourself apart and above beginners exploring the market, and you’ve also indicated the types of sales you have experience in. This means that you should also only be applying for sales positions that fit your interest and experience. After this line, add some information about what your strengths are, your skills, and notable achievements and awards.
Use an Active Voice
Your resume should be using active verbs to show strength and determination and self-confidence. Using a passive voice will not draw in potential employers and they will overlook your resume for more self-assured options. Use verbs like advise, conduct, evaluate, close, negotiate, sell, generate, and more. These denote action and shows that you are a go-getter in the industry.
Use Concrete Numbers
A real estate agent is at their core a salesperson, and what they’re good at is making deals. As a real estate agent, the expectation is that you will close deals and earn your company some money, and the best way you can showcase that on your resume is by providing actual numbers. This includes using quantitative information like “closed on average 20 transactions every year”, and it means you’re giving your potential employer an idea of your abilities.
You can also use numbers to show more than completed transactions but also how you maximize earnings for the firm. According to George MacLennan, a recruiter at Academized and Ox Essays, “this can include raw data showing by what percentage you increased average selling prices from the initial appraisal, for example. Quantitative data should also include all of the training, leadership and mentorship you were a part of, such as the frequency of training sessions you organized, or how many seminars your firm entrusted you to lead to train new agents.”
Optimize the Additional Skills Section
Even though you mentioned that you are licensed at the beginning of your professional profile, the additional skills section should indicate where you’re licensed and when you received it. You should also include here all notable clubs or organizations that you are a member of. This is also the place to indicate any relevant skills that you have, like computer applications for research, or marketing certifications. A lot of your time is spent communicating, marketing, and researching with your buyers and sellers, so these are critical things to indicate.
Additionally, you should have many skills and traits listed that real estate employers will look for, such as the ability to negotiate, interpersonal communication, math skills, knowledge of real estate laws, marketing techniques, customer service experience, flexibility, trustworthiness, resourcefulness, and good networking skills. You should also show that you’re actively involved in the real estate community so you can demonstrate your dedication to the industry.
Keep it Concise
Your resume should be brief, kept to one page if possible. You only need to list the last two or three positions as anything older is not relevant. Use bullet points to make the information more readable and concise. If you need some help with the drafting, consult these online tools:
- Study demic and Academ advisor are excellent online writing guides.
- Australian Help and State of Writing are the websites to go to for editing assistance.
- Simple Grad and Via Writing will run grammar checks on your resume.
- Big Assignments is a highly reviewed proofreading tool at Best Australian Writers.
- My Writing Way and Writing Populist will help you with action words, subheadings, keywords, and more.
- Paper Fellows and Elite Assignment Help will guide you through the formatting process.
Prioritize your Contact Information
It may be evident, but it’s worth mentioning that your name and contact information should be very visible so they remember your name. Time and again, resumes will have this information only in small font at the top, but you should choose a large, attractive font for this information at the top of the resume. Use a different color for your name, something subtle that will draw the eye to it, and prospective employers will be sure to remember it.
By following these tips, you’re sure to make your resume stand out from others in the real estate industry.