“Exciting,” “rewarding,” and “fulfilling,” –are some of the adjectives real estate agents use when describing their first year in the industry. However, in addition to these descriptors, some agents describe their first year as “challenging,” “unpredictable,” and “hectic.”
Key Takeaways
- Real Estate Career Outlook: The first year in real estate can be both exciting and challenging, with new agents describing their experiences as rewarding yet hectic and unpredictable.
- Initial Strategies (Months 1-4): New agents should prioritize finding a brokerage, building their brand, networking with peers, and developing their skills during the early stages of their career.
- Career Development (Months 5-8): Agents focus on setting up productivity-enhancing technology, networking with industry professionals, and consistently seeking new leads as they become more comfortable in the profession.
- Continued Growth (Months 9-12): The later months involve trial and error in marketing efforts and niche pursuits, emphasizing the need for a positive mindset and continuous learning to avoid discouragement.
- Support and Resources: The Arizona School of Real Estate & Business (ASREB) offers ongoing support, resources, and continuing education to help new agents succeed, including guides and state-approved courses for first-year success.
Early Strategies for Real Estate Agents
The real estate licensing process in Arizona is very straightforward. You take a pre-licensing course and pass an exam to earn your license. However, once you have your license and can legally work as a real estate agent, you may become overwhelmed by all you need to do. The good news is that if you partner with a high-quality real estate school, you will still receive guidance and enjoy resources after you have completed your course.
Months 1-4: Early Career Strategies
How do you spend your first weeks as a real estate agent? If you haven’t found a brokerage, this should become your highest priority.
But there are additional tasks you’ll need to juggle during these early stages of your career, including:
- Building your brand
- Networking with peers
- Developing your skills
Help is available! Learn how to get started as a real estate agent with this helpful guide.
Months 5-8: Career Development
It takes time, but eventually, you’ll grow comfortable in the profession. Some of you will get your “sea legs” earlier than others, but with a positive mindset and hard work, success is available to everyone.
For many new agents, months five through eight are spent setting up technology to enhance productivity and networking with other industry professionals while (constantly) working for leads.
Consider these career development strategies designed for first-year real estate agents.
Months 9-12: Continued Growth
Like running any company, operating a real estate business is a series of trials and errors. Some of your marketing efforts will work, and others will fall short. You’ll pursue a niche that you assume will be highly lucrative, only to find stumbling blocks along the way. It can be easy to become discouraged in the industry if you don’t have a roadmap to success.
Arizona School of Real Estate & Business (ASREB) has resources and continuing education options to help you during your first year as an agent.
Download our free guide, Comprehensive Playbook for First-Year Success, and enroll in ASREB’s state-approved
continuing education courses. The Arizona School of Real Estate & Business is dedicated to the industry – and our students’ success.
