Working mothers - a new avenue to explore

It always amazes me how little interest there is from employers in a rather large and important group of the working public, that being returning mothers.

From accounts to sales, from admin to management, these women make up a category of talented professionals that are often overlooked because of either the length of time they have chosen to be out of work, their perceived lack of commitment or the alternative hours they prefer to work. Suddenly, their value halves in terms of salary, and they are left wondering what went wrong?

Interestingly, a forward-thinking industry has taken an active interest in this large and diverse group – that being the Real Estate industry.

Traditionally, Estate Agency has not enjoyed the best reputation, due in part to the struggling economy, but also because of the perceived difficulty of the industry and high drop out ratio of agents themselves. However, with new regulations being enforced throughout the industry and the economy taking a deep breath and struggling to its feet, the road is now paved for success in this rewarding field.

A great advantage when considering training as an Estate Agent is that it doesn’t matter what your background is. Although many view its as a ‘sales’ role, some of the most successful people have come from backgrounds as diverse as nursing, teaching and customer services. Principals are looking for a personality type, not so much a skill set.

Therefore, those mothers who are feeling a little unsure of their rusty computer skills, or are nervous of jumping back into a high-pressure management role, have the opportunity to do a complete about turn and embrace a position which allows them unlimited earning potential as well as flexibility and on the job training.

Further benefits include creating a property portfolio, management and the likelihood of owning your own franchise.

This is a very exciting time, and to those women who are hesitant to dip their toes in the working pond, perhaps it’s time to open yourselves to new possibilities within Real Estate.

If you would like more information on joining a reputable and stable Estate Agency please drop us a line and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Angelique Swain of First Interview has teamed up with Morag Liebenberg of ML Consulting to provide a specialist recruitment service for the Real Estate industry with a view to changing public perception and injecting fresh new blood.