If you are in the market for a job in real estate, there might be some good opportunities for you on the horizon. With housing sales finally picking up, agents and other real estate professionals will soon be in demand again. In honor of the housing upturn, I am dedicated this week’s Hot Jobs post to jobs in real estate. If you want to learn more about working in this field, check out the JobMonkey’s section on Real Estate Jobs.

1. Vice President, Planning and Strategy,  Prudential Real Estate , Roseland, NJ

Prudential Real Estate’s Group Insurance organization is seeking a Vice President of Planning and Strategy to be responsible for developing and leading the implementation of yearly and longer-terms business plans.  The VP will also evaluate marketplace trends, and assess product line changes or expansions. The ideal candidate will have senior leadership experience in the financial or real estate services industry, strategic planning experience, M&A experience, and strong negotiating skills. A Bachelor’s Degree is required. Advanced degrees are preferred.

2. Senior Account Manager Corporate Services, NAI Direct , Princeton, NJ

NAI Direct is seeking a Senior Account Manager for its corporate services department. NAI is a leading international network of commercial real estate service providers. The ideal candidate for the job will have at least 5 years of professional experience and be versed in Microsoft Office suite. Applicants must also be highly organized and able to multi-task. A real estate license and experience in the industry are a plus.

3. Sales Team Lead @ GetMyHomesValue.com , Lancaster, PA

The website company, GetMyHomesValue.com, is seeking a sales team lead to be responsible for calling and following up with real estate agents to sell and close on subscriptions. The team lead must be able to identify and attract new subscribers, execute cold calling plans, design customized business solutions to fit customers’ needs, provide team leadership, and maintain a high closing percentage of cold calls and warm leads. The ideal candidate will have past experience working within an ethical cold calling environment and be a competitive, results-oriented person. Exceptional interpersonal skills is a must.

Didn’t see the job of your dreams on our Hot Jobs list today? Don’t worry: These three jobs are just a tiny of fraction of the great leads posted by JobMonkey. For more opportunities, check out the Job Center today. And good luck with your job search this week!

Dear JobMonkey,

Thanks,
Alyse in Kansas City

Dear Alyse,

Thank you so much for your letter. I’m sorry to hear about your layoff.

It sounds like you are doing some really good work to figure out your next step, including assessing your current industry and exploring other options.

Beyond job security, though, you are right to think about other factors, too. A steady paycheck is key, of course, but if you hate your job — or have no skills for it whatsoever — then you probably won’t last there long anyway!

From a skills stand-point, it sounds like real estate could be a good fit for you. Keep in mind that the job likely would require you to be a bit more proactive than in your last career. Rather than clients coming to you, a big part a real estate agent’s job (especially in today’s economy) is to drum up business.

Bear in mind that while the housing slump has hit some areas of the country really hard, other areas are still much more stable. Prices are down across the board, but in Florida, Nevada, Michigan and California people are seeing a 30-60%+ cut in their home values. In places like Kansas City, however, the drop is probably closer to 10%.

Another difference between the travel and real estate industries is salary. As a real estate agent, your earnings will be strictly commission based. Your earning potential as an agent is likely higher than in your previous job, but you also have significantly less earning security.

Finally, keep in mind that some retraining will be required for a career in real estate. In addition to a real estate license, most states require you to complete some pre-licensing courses. A good place to learn about the licensing requirements in your state is the Mortgage News Daily. You might also want to check out their message boards for agents, to get a better sense of the real issues agents are facing right now.

As to whether or not this is the best time to become a real estate agent, I am of two minds. On the one hand, let’s be honest, it’s probably not the ideal time to make a move. In fact, many novice agents are getting out the field. During the housing boom (bubble), the field became rather over-saturated.

On the other hand, top-notch agents are still making money today, because even in this economy, they know how to sell houses. It’s in their blood. But is it in yours? Ultimately that’s the question. You don’t have give up on your dreams because of the recession. You may have to be more purposeful, creative or patient to make those dreams come true — but you don’t have to abandon them altogether.

The thing is, I’m not hearing you say that this is your dream. I’m hearing you say that you think this might be a good way to transfer your skills, talents and abilities. If your attraction to real estate is only that it seems like a logical lateral move, you may want to devote some more time to finding something that really sparks your interest.

In the meantime, if recession-proofed industries are a top priority for you, check out this post from a few weeks ago about some of the hottest, most secure job fields out there these days. Maybe your dream employer is on that list? Good luck!