A new year is upon us, and with it, new opportunities. Whether 2023 was a kind, challenging, fun, or chaotic year for your professional life, January is the perfect time to ask yourself, “How can I build a real estate career that I love?”
This month, we’re taking a deep dive into helping you find meaning (and joy!) in the work that you do as a real estate assistant. There’s nothing better than showing up to a job that makes you feel whole.
Look at the Big Picture
Where do you want to be one year from now? What about in five years – or even ten? By zooming out, you can start to create a trajectory for your career that aligns with your dreams and goals. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What do I want my job title to be?
- What skills do I want to learn?
- How do I envision my workday?
- What does my personal life look like, and how does my career support it?
- Who do I work with and where am I living?
- What are the hurdles between me and achieving these goals?
When you get honest with yourself and make space to dream, you might notice that there are changes you’d like to implement, or opportunities you’d like to explore. For example, is there a course you could take in your free time to further your education? Are there areas of real estate you’d like to learn more about?
This is a fact-finding mission. Grab a journal and see what comes up.
Next, Zoom In
Now that you’ve gotten more familiar with your long-term goals, it’s time to zoom in and look carefully at the hurdles that might prevent you from reaching them. Don’t be surprised – as this is often the case – if some of the roadblocks are YOU!
Create a list of the things that might be standing in your way. It might look something like this:
- “I don’t have enough time.”
- “I don’t know where to start.”
- “I don’t have the experience.”
Once you begin to see these challenges more clearly, you might realize that there are solutions to these problems – especially if you reach out to your boss or someone on your team.
Now Speak Up
When it comes down to it, many real estate assistants struggle with advocating for themselves. In fact – almost everyone in the world has had trouble expressing their wants and needs from time to time! If you find that you are worried about discussing your long-term goals with your boss, it’s time to step up to the plate and go to bat for your dreams.
You might be surprised at the lengths they’ll go to support you and help you cultivate a real estate career you love.
Want to learn more about how you can jump-start your career as a real estate assistant? Click here to our online courses designed for new and experienced REAs.