Candidate Resources

What to Expect During the Application and Interview Process

Choose Your Pathway:

Creating (or Updating) Your Resume

This is your chance to brag and celebrate all the reasons you are a good fit for New Western.

You should tailor your resume for this role.

List employers, groups, clubs, or classes that show you have the experience and/or potential to work with the best in the industry.

If you have experience that shows leadership, networking, sales/persuasion, and/or communication skills, you should include it on your resume.

Having your state real estate license is a HUGE plus and you should include this. If you have started real estate school and are pending graduation and licensing, you should include this as well. If you don’t have it, that’s ok. It isn’t required to receive a conditional offer, but you must obtain your real estate license before you can start working.

Preparing for your Interview

Since our real estate investment agent roles are unlike any other role, we look to evaluate your potential, not just your current skill level. To effectively do that, we focus on four (4) key competencies that are the essential ingredients of success at New Western.

You will likely have at least one, if not two, structured interviews focusing on competencies.

To prepare, think about a recent work or life experience where you demonstrated one of the competencies below. Be prepared to tell us your story about the experience. Your examples should include what happened, what you did, how it turned out, and what (if anything) you learned from the experience.

Here are the four (4) key competencies so you can think of examples to discuss in advance.

Drives Results

You were focused. You were goal oriented. You realized that it wasn’t good enough to just do the activity, your results mattered. You did not let the external environment create excuses for you. You found a way to get it done, no matter what.

Persuades

You had to convince others to take action. You had to negotiate while preserving the relationship. You had to convey your idea in a compelling way. You had to influence someone. You needed to win support.

Builds Networks

You had to lean on a relationship to get help with something. You had to maintain relationships with different people in different areas. You built a set of relationships and kept them active. You had to connect the dots across multiple different people to get something accomplished.

Communicates Effectively

You had to deliver messages to people in a clear and concise way. You had to listen to other viewpoints. You worked together on a team to accomplish a goal. Your difficult message was heard correctly by your audience.

Your Interview

Whether your interview is in person or virtual, please make sure you are on time. If interviewing at one of our locations, arrive for the meeting at least 10 minutes early to account for traffic and parking. If you are meeting virtually, please ensure you have a stable internet connection and are in a quiet place.

Our office environment is business casual. To make a great first impression, we encourage you to dress a step above business casual. General interview attire guidance includes no denim, no wrinkles and no sneakers – the most important thing is to look neat, polished, and put together. You should probably also have a pen and notebook with you. If you are meeting virtually please be prepared to take notes and dress the same as if you were meeting in person.

Real estate is a relationship-based career. How quickly you build rapport and earn trust in a conversation is a good indicator of how you will interact with potential clients and perform on the job. Be confident and friendly.

In addition to the competency based examples, be prepared to speak about your prior experience. This could be with an employer, club, class, or anything where you gained experience.

During the interview, keep the following in mind:

Never speak negatively about a former employer.
Be prepared to talk about why you left (or are planning to leave) positions. Don’t blame others for your departure.
Avoid being too casual – this may lead to saying something inappropriate.
Reiterate your interest and make sure your interviewer knows you are excited, and fully committed to the opportunity.

When I am talking with an agent, I look for someone who can have a good conversation with me. Someone who demonstrates problem-solving skills and the grit to get to the bottom of the situation. Of course, sales and real estate experience is a plus, but not required. If something does go wrong during the interview, roll with the punches and show me that you know how to adapt.

Kelbie G., Recruiter

When I talk to potential agents, I look for highly-motivated professionals who are confident. You should have examples of how you were successful and what you did to make it happen. You should also be on time or early and not distracted. If the interview is virtual, make sure you have strong internet connection and know how to use your camera ahead of time.

Lillian S., Recruiter

When I am interviewing a candidate, I look for two very important things. First, I want the candidate to be prepared. They should understand the basics of the job, some information about the company, and the interviewer. Second, be sure you can talk about yourself. I want to understand your background and it’s even better if you can talk about things you have done that would help you in this role.

Alex B., Recruiter

When I am interviewing potential agents, I really focus on their sales experience and if they are friendly and outgoing. As an agent, you talk to a bunch of different people and being friendly and conversational so you understand their needs is important. If you are comfortable and have experience talking with a variety of people, it will really help you in this role.

Niya D., Recruiter