The Property Podcast with Wards Estate Agent

S02E05: A Career In Estate Agency

Episode Summary

Welcome to Series 2, Episode 5 of the Property Podcast with Wards. This week’s episode dives into what it takes to build a career in estate agency. Our special guests are Claire Goodenough, Head of Recruitment, and Alice McDonald, Recruitment Marketing Consultant at Wards.

Episode Notes

THE PROPERTY PODCAST with WARDS ESTATE AGENT SERIES 2  

Episode 5 - A Career In Estate Agency

🏡 Key Topics Discussed

📞 The Importance of Great Conversations

• The phone as an agent's best friend.
• Building relationships through meaningful conversations.
• Seeing customer support as a privilege.

👩‍💼 Career Paths in Estate Agency

• Suitable backgrounds for aspiring estate agents.
• Traits that make successful professionals:
  • Passion for property.
  • Excellent telephone manner.
  • Empathy and resilience.

💼 Transferable Skills & Training

• Importance of great customer service skills.
• Continuous training from day one; classroom and field training included.

🌟 Values & Company Culture

• Honesty, integrity, respect – core values lived daily by employees.
• Community involvement through charity work like climbing Snowdon or walking the Seven Sisters.

🏆 Competitions & Rewards

• Fun competitions within the company offering trips to New York or Europe based on performance metrics like customer experience points.

🌐 Technology & Social Media in Recruitment

Alice McDonald discusses how technology plays a crucial role:

• Use of social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) to showcase company culture and vacancies.
• Positive reviews on Glassdoor and Indeed help attract potential candidates.

🚀 Day-to-Day Life as an Estate Agent

A typical day includes:

• Morning meetings with coffee discussing previous days’ business.
• Booking appointments and liaising with mortgage advisers.
• Viewing properties or hosting open house events in the afternoon.

🤝 Interview Process Insights

Claire Goodenough explains what applicants can expect:

• Fast response times (within 24 hours).
• Initial Teams meeting interview lasting about 20–30 minutes focused on getting to know you as a person.

💬 Final Thoughts: People Over Property?

Being people-oriented is more important than just having expertise in property when it comes to succeeding in this industry.