An impressive real estate resume makes landing your new career home a breeze(way). Job hunting, like property hunting, can be frustrating and time consuming, but if you do it right, you will find yourself in the environment that perfectly suits you.
With writing guides and resume examples for 300+ professions, Resume.io is designed for job seekers in all fields and at all levels of experience. This guide, along with the corresponding real estate resume example will cover the following topics:
- What does a real estate professional do?
- How to write a real estate professional resume (tips and tricks)
- The best format for a a real estate professional resume
- Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
- Professional resume layout and design hints.
What does a real estate professional do?
Real estate professionals work with clients to buy, sell or manage property or to facilitate the buying, selling and management of property. Real estate professionals must know the area in which they work very well and keep up-to-date on the shifts in the market.
Some real estate professionals inspect properties, others appraise them and still others focus on title insurance and other contractual aspects of real estate transactions.
Real Estate Express lists 30 different careers that fall within the industry. Some work in commercial real estate and others in residential. As a real estate professional, you can choose to work with office or home rental properties as a leasing agent or as an agent who helps others buy and sell apartment complexes. You may choose to specialize in single-family homes, storefronts or office buildings.
Not a salesperson but have an interest in real estate? Here are some options for you.
- Property manager
- Transaction coordinator
- Inspector
- Appraiser
- Escrow officer
- Loan officer
- Photographer
- Home stager
Our resume samples for real estate careers will give you more ideas on how you can create a winning real estate resume, view them here below.
- Realtor resume sample
- Property Manager resume sample
- New Home Sales Consultant resume sample
- Title Examiner resume sample
- Title Insurance Coordinator resume sample
- Interior Designer resume sample
- Real Estate Agent resume sample
- Real Estate Coordinator resume sample
- Architect resume sample
- Real Estate Assistant resume sample
- Interior Decorator resume sample
How to write a real estate resume
The first thing you need to know to write a real estate resume that resounds with recruiters is what it contains. Here are the sections your CV should include:
- The resume header
- The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The resume skills section
- The education section
Working with clients means adjusting your tone and message and taking the time to understand exactly what is important to them and how to fulfill their needs. The same is true when you write your real estate resume.
You can ensure that you are hitting your target by researching the real estate agency you wish to work for. Find out the area it serves, the types of sellers and buyers and the types of people it employs. If you can, learn the names of the hiring manager and your prospective supervisor and do a little research on them, too. Maybe you used to sell in the same neighborhood or have worked together on opposite sides of a transaction. This gives you a connection that may make all the difference in whether or not you get an interview.
A real estate resume that gets you off the ground floor:
- Communicates directly to your future employer by keeping their needs in the forefront
- Uses a clean, professional design and template that represents your style visually and makes a positive first impression
- Is optimized with keywords and phrases that will help you overcome the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) hurdle.
Get strategic to beat the ATS
If you apply online, you are likely conducting that process through an Applicant Tracking System. ATS software scans and ranks resumes using algorithms that take into account keywords and phrases relevant to the job posting. Before a human being ever has a chance of seeing the resume you worked so hard on, the ATS is judging whether your document contains the right information to get a second look.
You know how to listen to your clients and analyze what they need or want. Use those skills to help yourself overcome the ATS hurdle. Reread the job description and focus on the needs the employer lists. Take careful note of the skills and attributes within. Try to use the exact words or phrases (if they are applicable) in your resume to cue the ATS that you have what your prospective agency is looking for.
Choosing the best resume format for real estate
Your best bet here is the reverse chronological order format for two reasons:
- It is favored by the ATS
- It is favored by recruiters because a standard format makes reading resumes easier.
If you have not worked in real estate before or are completely new to the workforce, you may consider a hybrid resume format which begins with a “Skills” or “Experience” section where you can highlight transferable skills before adding related positions in a shorter Employment History section.
Unless you are a scientist or work in a highly technical field, the functional resume format should not be your first choice. It offers a means to emphasize niche or highly complex skills by expanding the skills section and reducing the employment history section in exchange.
Therefore, we recommend sticking with reverse chronological order, a format that mostly affects the employment history section of your real estate resume, as our resume sample text will show.
Resume summary example: the penthouse view
A real estate resume is a fairly formatted document where brevity is of the utmost importance. The 2-5 sentences in the summary, or profile, give you a little more leeway. It is here that you can let your creativity loose to sell your professional personality and acumen.
Start with an overview of your real estate career, followed by a sentence or two that touts your greatest success. Then, finish up with a personal touch that either explains your love of your work or why you will make a great fit for the agency you are targeting. Don’t be afraid to use strong, positive descriptors of yourself.
You can find a resume example for your summary section below.
Passionate and dedicated Real Estate Professional seeking to help sellers and buyers achieve their real estate goals through the implementation of best practices and principles. Adept in managing and overseeing all phases of the real estate process with care and ease.
Employment history sample: your career’s high-end features
Your employment history section is a listing of all relevant work experience, starting with your most current position and going back about 10 years. This is the place to craft the story of your career growth and achievements.
In the 4-5 bullet points under each role, consider your best work in the position. Ask yourself which accomplishments best show your prospective boss that you will be an asset in the job they have open. Start each item with a strong action word and follow it up with data and details that prove your point.
Create a long bullet list for each position. Then, tailor the items you choose to the job for which you are applying. Make sure your action statements address a part of the job posting.
Below you will find an adaptable employment history resume example.
Real Estate Agent, Cantaberry Realtors, New York
January 2017 - July 2021
- Worked to build strong relationships with existing clients and establish new contacts through networking.
- Utilized web-based tools to manage a database of clients.
- Responded quickly to the needs of buyers and sellers.
- Appropriately marketed properties and sold for the best possible prices and conditions.
- Interacted with customers via phone, email, and social media.
- Completed relevant training to remain informed within the current real estate market.
- Structured availability to show client's homes and attend open houses.
Real Estate Agent, Bellview Home Services, New York
August 2014 - October 2018
- Networked with customers via phone, email, and social media.
- Educated clients on the state of the real estate market and options available to them.
- Assisted potential clients with financial concerns regarding real estate sales and purchases.
- Consistently pursued and followed up on leads.
- Worked to deliver exceptional service resulting in excellent ratings and return clients.
- Effectively marketed my real estate services to the local community.
CV skills example: create your listing
The skills section of your real estate CV may be the first place a recruiter looks. Why? Because it tells them whether they should read further. You need to match the skills they seek with the ones you list and add a couple of top flight attributes that will differentiate you from the pack.
If you are customer-facing, you know you need to have exceptional communication, negotiation and time management skills. Blend your CV’s list of these soft skills with the hard knowledge you have of the business.
No matter what area of the industry you work in, you need to know the laws and regulations that apply in your state. But you also need to keep abreast of real estate market trends and new technology. You don’t want to be the agent who doesn’t know how to market on social media.
Below you will find an adaptable skills resume example.
- Customer Service
- Effective Time Management
- Ability to Multitask
- Marketing and Sales
- Ability to Work Under Pressure
- Real Estate Knowledge
Real estate education resume example
Some careers in real estate require a bachelor’s degree, while others require certification or licensing. The education section of your real estate resume is the place to list those qualifications.
If you have earned accolades such as real estate agent of the year or high flyer, you may list those here or highlight them more by creating an accolades section. If you have space, also consider including professional affiliations. After all, networking is an important part of your job.
Below you will find an education resume sample as a formatting guide.
Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Marymount Manhattan College, New York
Sep 2010 - May 2014
Resume layout and design: curb appeal
No matter how good the foundation of a building is, the drive-up impression counts. Make sure your real estate resume has instant appeal by using a professional-looking layout.
If you are in a more creative area of real estate such as interior design, you can take a bit more liberty with color and layout, but remember that your goal is clarity and legibility. To that end, stick with common fonts (they are typically more readable) and leave 1-inch margins.
Save the creativity for a standout resume header that gets your contact information noticed. To speed the resume-making process and avoid formatting errors, consider using one of our field-tested resume templates.
Key takeaways for a real estate resume
- Your sales skills and people knowledge will help you speak directly to your prospective employer.
- While the real estate industry will not grow quickly, there are still opportunities out there.
- Real estate professionals need soft skills, but their industry knowledge and technology acumen may make all the difference.
- Check out our real estate resume sample for more ideas on creating an attractive and functional header.
