For job seekers wanting to join the property industry, the most essential quality they need to possess is patience.

Passion & Commitment
Kitty Ip, Managing Director (Corporate) of Midland Holdings Limited, says, “Unlike selling consumer products, the sales cycle of properties is long. Property salespeople have to take time to build up relationships with potential customers.”

Ip comments that employers in the industry look for job candidates with suitable personal qualities more than academic qualifications and experience. “They need to have an outgoing personality and be interested in meeting people.” She advises job seekers to show, in job interviews, their interest and passion to join the industry. “They should also demonstrate that they are willing to commit in the field, and have good communication skills.”

Get Geared Up
It is reported that Hong Kong’s property market has been flourishing since the last quarter of 2007, and has provided lots of job opportunities to job seekers. Ip comments that the demand for both frontline staff and staff in the back office is high in the property industry. “Sales trainees and property sales are especially in high demand.”

To take advantage of the flourishing career market, job seekers who want to join the industry have to equip themselves with relevant knowledge. Ip says, “In addition to basic knowledge about the property market, job seekers are expected to possess wealth management knowledge to provide financial analysis to customers.” After all, sales of properties usually involve huge amount of money.

Although employers only expect job seekers to have form five educational standard in order to join the industry, it is common that lots of degree holders apply for positions of property sales nowadays. To engage as property salespeople, job seekers have to obtain relevant licences. Or they may apply for positions of sales trainee, and Midland will provide training to them to get licences.

Develop as High-flyers
Midland also provides training to staff with potential to get promotion. Ip says, “We have a Special Duty Unit in which those with potential to be managers will receive training in management and administration skills, sales techniques, and so on.”

Ip adds that since the development of property industry is expected to be promising, there are lots of advancement opportunities for professionals working in the industry. “It usually takes around two years from a junior property salesperson to be promoted to a supervisory position managing a branch, depending on work performance and management ability.” Ip points out that even if one wants to get to senior management level, they have to start from the very junior position because experience is essential in order to climb up the career ladder in property industry.

In the coming years, Ip anticipates lots of developments in the industry. “The Estate Agents Authority has provided guidelines and regulations to the industry. In addition, more and more people in Hong Kong have accepted and recognized the importance of property agents. All these contribute to a promising development of the industry.”