With real estate jobs ranging from real estate brokers to office support, there is likely a career in real estate that is sure to fit your personality and your professional goals. Office support staff manage the phones, make appointments and keep the real estate agents and brokers on schedule. Open house hosts oversee new development open houses during off peak hours, typically during the week. These positions require people skills and basic computer skills, while real estate agents and brokers must meet educational requirements in order to become licensed to do business.

To learn more about real estate employment, talk to various real estate organizations and request job shadowing options so you can educate yourself on all real estate job opportunities. By job shadowing each career option, you get a more in-depth view of what that profession entails. To learn more about real estate jobs basics:

1. Explore real estate jobs boards.

2. Join professional organizations to network and build your career in real estate.

3. Tailor your education to your dream real estate employment opportunity.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use professional boards to find jobs in real estate

Choose a reputable real estate job listings board to learn about the positions available in the real estate industry and the average pay for real estate employment opportunities in your area. Investigate the educational requirements for each position so you can make sure you receive the training you need.

I recommend: American Real Estate Society boasts that it is the oldest real estate career board on the Internet. The site is free to use and covers everyone from the most experienced professional to those just starting out in real estate. IHireRealEstate is so sure you'll find the information you're looking for on their board that they'll guarantee your satisfaction in writing, making them a good resource in your research.

Use professional affiliations to learn about real estate positions

Make networking a priority. Join professional organizations that require ethical standards for members and offer benefits such as networking opportunities, meetings, webinars and support for its members. Use these organizations as a way to gather information on different types of real estate careers to help you narrow your choices.

I recommend: Institute of Real Estate Management is a professional organization geared toward helping real estate professionals keep up on the latest training and news regarding their chosen career field. National Association of Realtors helps real estate professionals make their voices heard in Congress and keeps you up to date on the latest news.

Educate yourself for real estate positions you desire

Evaluate the real estate career you want to build, and focus on the courses and training you need to receive in order to be successfully qualified for that position. From basic computer skills to ongoing coaching, choose the education that teaches you to be the professional you want to be.

I recommend: Real Estate Champions offers training for your real estate career and also offers ongoing coaching to keep you focused on your goals. Online-Education.net allows you to become a licensed real estate professional using distance learning methods so you can progress at your own rate.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Find a mentor in your local area who is not only successful in the real estate industry but who is also willing to help you learn the ins and outs of real estate jobs basics.

Real estate jobs can help you realize your career goals. The real estate industry has grown exponentially over the past few decades and increasingly so in recent years. Today, jobs in real estate abound. You can find real estate employment opportunities for beginners or senior-level execs.

Jobs in real estate for beginners include being a real estate salesperson, an assistant or other “starter” position in the commercial or residential market. For individuals who already have a real estate career, opportunities include owning your own real estate brokerage.

When looking for real estate employment, stop to consider the following factors:

1. Define and understand your real estate career strategies and goals.
2. Determine if the real estate career you want requires professional licensure – most do.
3. Find real estate jobs that give you on-the-job training to expand your future real estate employment opportunities.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Specialize in a particular real estate career field

The real estate industry is broad - as are the jobs in real estate. Options include working as a real estate broker, real estate appraiser jobs and property management positions.

I recommend: Start with Vault.com to learn more about the real estate industry, search for real estate jobs and find out about companies that offer jobs in real estate. Visit iHireRealEstate to search myriad real estate jobs, including real estate agent jobs, real estate broker jobs, real estate sales assistant jobs, real estate analyst jobs and more.

Search real estate jobs by location

Most real estate jobs require licensure within the state where you intend to practice real estate. This is especially true of real estate salesperson and broker jobs, but also of real estate appraisers and others. Search for jobs within the state where your license is valid.

I recommend: The RealEstateJobStore.com allows you to search real estate employment options and real estate job listings by state (or a more specific location).

Work with a trusted brokerage to launch your real estate career

If you're a real estate agent - but not a broker - the law says you must be affiliated with a broker to practice real estate. To start your real estate career as an agent, find a broker who knows the local community, has a good reputation within that community and will mentor you.

I recommend: Real-Jobs is a free service uniquely designed to serve real estate professionals and businesses that require searches for jobs or employees. Whether you’re looking for a residential real estate career or jobs in real estate and construction, visit the Lucas Group.

Use an executive search company to find executive real estate jobs

Executive search companies are great if you're looking for higher-end real estate jobs.

I recommend: At The Ladders: Real Estate Jobs, you can search executive real estate jobs that all pay at least $100k to start. Search for real estate recruiting services at Business.com.

Find tools to advance your real estate career

If you're not having any luck finding real estate employment, perhaps you need help writing your résumé, honing your skills, or getting some additional education or certification.

I recommend: Visit the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) to learn everything you need to know about real estate jobs for licensees, including educational mandates, specialty training and many other resources. Go to RealEstateBestJobs.com for some excellent real estate employment pointers, news and freebies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Learn about real estate jobs through colleagues and real estate industry newsletters and other publications.
• •  Look for real estate jobs that offer ongoing real estate educational opportunities.
• •  Search local newspapers and websites for jobs in real estate.
• •  If you're licensed as a real estate professional and considering a real estate career in another state, check on that state's 'reciprocal licensing' laws. In many cases, an already-licensed broker or salesperson only needs to meet minimum educational and other requirements to become licensed in that state.
• •  Always keep up with any required continuing professional education mandated for your real estate career - or you could lose your license.

The requirements for real estate employment can really vary from state to state, so before you consider entering the industry, you'll want to determine the state requirements for real estate positions in your area. While every state requires real estate agents, brokers and appraisers to be licensed by the state, the individual state requirements to achieve that license can vary. Futhermore, being licensed in one state does not qualify you in another state.

Contact local real estate offices to gather information on how to take real estate courses to prepare you to become a licensed real estate agent. Some offices provide such classes for free. Consult local community colleges for continuing education classes to sharpen your skills in other areas like typing, computer skills and basic mathematics.

1. Achieve your real estate license to qualify for a career in real estate.

2. Obtain the education you need for real estate employment in the broker field.

3. Train for an appraiser's license for real estate job opportunities.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Become a licensed agent to qualify for real estate job listings

Look for real estate courses that are accredited, and make sure each course is state specific. Avoid those that advertise a license good in all 50 states.

I recommend: Allied Real Estate School offers accredited real estate classes for several states, teaching state specific information to help you achieve your license as a real estate agent. The Real Estate School Online offers real estate licensing courses in all 50 states, allowing you to select the course for the state you reside in.

Get the education you need for employment opportunities in real estate and construction

Evaluate real estate broker courses to find the training you need. Make sure the courses that are being offered are going to qualify you to take the broker's license test in your state before you enroll in any specific program.

I recommend: The California Department of Real Estate offers courses to help you become a licensed real estate broker in the state of California. RealEstateExpress.com has the instructional courses you need to achieve a broker's license in several states.

Build a career in real estate by becoming a licensed appraiser

Investigate several educational options before deciding on which is best for you to become involved with. Research the professional reputation of companies offering you training in real estate appraising, and make sure you're choosing a professional company before signing up for classes.

I recommend: The eLicenseSchool offers real estate appraiser courses in all states so you can achieve the training you need for real estate employment opportunities. Careerwebschool provides appraisal classes by individual state, allowing you to select the area in which you work and reside.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Enhance your chances of success by obtaining the education you need to become licensed in more than one state, especially if you live near a neighboring state. Training for real estate jobs in both states will qualify you for more jobs in real estate.

Most people associate real estate with the buying and selling of property, but there are many other employment opportunities within this field. It's important to be aware of various job titles and what each title requires in terms of job performance and expectations in order to pursue an opportunity that matches well with your skills, talents and career goals. It will also serve you well to know all the terms as once your are working within the field. You will need to know what type of real estate professional to contact as you complete the transactions for your own job.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Land developer

Land developers basically buy a piece of land and turn it into something, such as a shopping center, strip mall, housing development, etc. Developers can work for themselves or for a land development company.

I recommend: A good overview of this component of real estate can be found at StateUniversity.com.

Licensing

Most real estate professionals are required to hold a license for their particular area. Each state has different qualifications and testing procedures in order to obtain a license.

I recommend: You can find out the specific requirements for your state on various types of licenses by visiting Allied Real Estate School.

Appraiser

An appraiser is a licensed professional who determines the value of real estate. Companies that loan money for real estate require appraisals during the qualification process to ensure that the property is worth the amount being borrowed.

I recommend: More information on training to become an appraiser can be obtained through American Investment Training.

Broker

A broker is a licensed person who handles real estate transactions for a client. A broker has earned a higher level license than a real estate agent. Typically, a real estate broker supervises real estate agents.

I recommend: The Bureau of Labor and Statistics posts qualifications, job outlooks and other current information regarding the job of real estate broker and agent.

Inspector

Inspectors are licensed professionals who investigate various property types to check for damage, repair issues, etc., that a buyer would need to be aware of prior to completing a transaction to purchase the property.

I recommend: For a description of what inspectors do in a typical day, see state-by-state standards of practice and a code of ethics for inspectors, visit the American Society of Home Inspectors.

Home stager

The demand for home stagers continues to grow. Home stagers are responsible for marketing and preparing properties for sale.

I recommend: For more details on what home stagers do and on how to become one, spend some time on Home Staging.com.