Getting Your Foot in the Door

The saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know,” can be applied to the property market, when it comes to getting a job in the property sector.

When it comes to graduate trainee positions at some of the larger firms, the competition will be fierce and your competitors will be pulling all the strings they have in order to get a job at the firm.

This doesn’t mean that you have to become best friends with the person conducting the job interview, but you should make sure that they know who you are before you go along.

If there is an option on the application form to have an informal chat with the interviewer then phone them up and make yourself known, this way you will stick in their mind.

Also phone up once you have sent your application in, to see if they have had the first round of interviews yet, as this may prompt them to ask you in for one.

Work Experience

The best way to get your foot in the door at any firm is to do work experience there. This not only shows that you like the industry so much that you are willing to do the job for free, but also gives you a chance to get to know the people at the firm, and give them chance for them to let them get to know you.

As most firms will normally start to recruit in the autumn time, then the best time to do work experience would be in the summer. Don’t just stick to one firm, spread yourself around and try to get as much competition as possible. Employers will like it if you have spent time at their competitors, because you may be able to report back as to how they operate.

Working Your Way Up

There is no better way to get your foot in the door, then good old fashioned hard work. If you can’t get a graduate trainee job with the firms that you may want to reconsider your options and go in on a lower level. You should ask them to consider for any jobs that come up in the company, even if this means aiming lower than you originally intended.

You shouldn’t have a problem finding a starting job at a property firm, if you have good qualifications and are willing to put in the work, but it is always best to keep your options open.

Building The Contacts

If you have just finished a university course and are looking for your first job, then it was worth having a word with your lecturers to ask if they know anyone that is hiring or if they know anyone at firms that are recruiting. This way they can put in a good word for you. Think about all the contacts you have made while doing your training and give them a call to let them know you are looking for a job.

When it comes to property, starting out and trying to find an opening in a firm can be a tricky business, especially if the firm you want to work for is one of the largest ones, so make yourself know, You need to be able to set yourself apart form all the other candidates that are in the market.