Breaking into real estate is competitive, particularly at the entry level, where agencies often receive dozens of applications for a single role.
For many aspiring agents, the challenge is not a lack of ambition or work ethic, but knowing how to present their experience on a CV when they have never worked in property before.
The good news is that agencies are not only hiring people with real estate backgrounds.
In fact, many principals actively look for candidates with transferable skills from other industries, provided those skills are clearly articulated.
What agencies really want to see
Despite the stereotypes, real estate is not primarily a sales career. At its core, it is a people-focused profession built on trust, communication and follow-through.
According to industry bodies such as the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ), agencies consistently prioritise attitude, reliability and interpersonal skills over direct property experience when hiring new entrants.
A strong CV, therefore, is less about listing job titles and more about demonstrating how your existing skills translate into day-to-day agency life.
The traits that matter most in real estate
Many successful agents come from careers that, at first glance, appear unrelated to property.
Hospitality, healthcare, administration, retail and small business ownership are all common starting points.
What these roles often share are the core traits agencies value most.
Customer-facing roles such as nursing, hospitality or retail teach one fundamental lesson: outcomes matter to people.
Real estate agents must balance the needs of buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants, often simultaneously.
Showing that you understand how to manage expectations and deliver outcomes for multiple parties is a strong signal to employers.
Clear and confident communication
Communication sits at the centre of every real estate transaction. Agents spend their days calling clients, negotiating with other agents, following up enquiries and explaining complex processes in simple terms. If your background required constant client communication, it should be front and centre on your CV.
Attention to detail
Contracts, compliance documents and marketing materials leave little room for error.
Roles that required accuracy, documentation or coordination, such as administration or travel services, translate directly into real estate and should be framed that way.
Proactive problem-solving
No transaction runs perfectly. From finance delays to inspection issues, agents are expected to find solutions quickly.
Demonstrating initiative, adaptability and creative problem-solving shows agencies you can handle pressure.
Work ethic and resilience
Real estate rewards consistency and persistence. Candidates with small business, commission-based or self-directed work experience often stand out because they understand accountability, time management and long hours.
These skills, highlighted by the REIQ as common traits among successful agents, form the backbone of a strong entry-level application.
How to structure a real estate CV
While content matters most, structure still plays a role. A cluttered or generic CV can be overlooked quickly.
Recruitment platforms such as SEEK recommend keeping resumes concise, well-organised and tailored specifically to the role.
For aspiring real estate agents, that means prioritising skills and achievements over job descriptions.
A well-structured CV should clearly include:
- A short professional summary explaining why you are pursuing real estate
- Key transferable skills relevant to agency work
- Employment history framed around outcomes and responsibilities
- Any current or completed real estate training
- Availability for inspections, weekends and after-hours work
SEEK provides role-specific resume templates for real estate agents, which can help applicants align their experience with industry expectations and recruiter scanning habits.
What to include if you have no real estate experience
Lack of direct experience is not always a problem if you’re trying to get into the industry.
Instead of listing previous roles generically, applicants should explain how those roles prepared them for real estate.
Managing customer complaints becomes negotiation experience.
Meeting sales targets becomes performance accountability. Coordinating bookings becomes workflow management.
Agencies want to see effort, intent and self-awareness.
Common CV mistakes to avoid
One of the most common errors is submitting a generic CV used for multiple industries.
Real estate principals can spot this immediately.
Another is focusing too heavily on long-term career goals rather than immediate value.
Entry-level candidates are hired to support teams, manage enquiries and build trust with clients, not to outline where they want to be in five years.
Finally, failing to mention availability for weekend work can raise red flags.
Real estate is not a nine-to-five profession, and agencies expect candidates to understand that reality.
Why the right CV matters
A real estate CV is often the first indication of how a candidate communicates, presents themselves and understands the industry.
For aspiring agents, it is not about having the perfect background.
It is about showing that you understand the role, respect the profession and already possess the skills required to succeed.
Getting your CV right does not guarantee a job, but it does give you the foot in the door that every real estate career starts with.
