Insights

You could genuinely be working in the property industry, earning anywhere from £30,000 to £50,000 using the skills you already have!

A misconception held by many is that to succeed in the residential property industry, it is necessary to have heaps of previous experience and specialist knowledge, when in fact the principal requirement for the majority of residential property companies is to have a team that possess and can apply basic business and communication skills.

So what are the requirements for a role in the residential property industry? If you have ever been discouraged from applying for a property job because of a lack of experience or industry knowledge, you needn't be. Our clients are seeking well-rounded candidates and their wish list is not limited to how much experience a candidate has within the industry. Clients are looking beyond this and deeper into how the candidate will benefit the existing team and, more importantly, how the transferable skills that they have can add value to the business.

Nothing is more valuable to companies right now than candidates who present a fresh outlook and display a willingness to learn. Our clients are saying good riddance to humdrum CVs that they see time and again and are welcoming new blood and different skill sets with open arms. They are looking for candidates that have valuable skills from previous roles. Whether it's customer service from three years' reception experience, or sales from one year of selling cars. If you have a talent for organisation and a flair for sales, then a career in residential property could be the right path for you. Clients simply want to see a candidate's ability to provide a high level of communication and excellent customer service; skills that are applicable and desired in any field of business.

Frequently, clients approach me disheartened by the quality of candidate previously put in front of them. Candidates who have floated around the property industry for some time may not present as broad a set of skills as new candidates who display potential to evolve into a valuable team member. This is because, more often than not, experienced candidates have developed poor habits, preconceptions and regimented beliefs from their experiences from previous positions. However, in an evolving industry, candidates that can adapt and grow with the changes in the industry, who enter with an open mind and a versatile skills set, are the ones coveted by our clients.

A well-documented catch 22 of the recruitment process is that many jobs require industry experience, but if you can't get a job then how can you build up the necessary experience? Well perhaps we need to reconsider what constitutes 'necessary experience'. If you can plan and manage a corporate event, serve tea at 35,000ft whilst managing the demands of 300+ passengers on a 12 hour flight, sell a car or a holiday, then why can't you sell a house? Just because your experience doesn't currently lie in the property sector, that doesn't make it any less relevant or useful to potential employers.

The property industry brings with it many challenges, and to succeed it is vital that candidates and clients approach it with a fresh and pragmatic outlook. Open minded candidates with transferable skills can help clients achieve their goals and bring new energy to the company and the industry. If you reach out and grab those opportunities by the horns, there's no reason why you can't succeed in the industry.



If you'd like to find out more, get in touch on 020 7435 0309 or info@cpr.jobs.