4 Professional Development Opportunities for Real Estate Agents

You love your job, and you know that if you want to stay on top, you need to keep up with your professional development. Not only do you have to fulfill certain annual requirements, but the industry is constantly evolving. And professional development helps you keep up with the latest market laws, regulations, and trends — so you can provide your clients with topnotch service and stay competitive.

But finding the time to do it is another story. How can you squeeze more hours into your day? Sometimes it can be as simple as rearranging your schedule a bit. Listen to a real estate podcast while you do more mundane tasks, such as filing. Or try reading a trade magazine or screen a webinar as you wait for calls or sit at a slow open house. 

Another option is to set aside a couple of hours each week dedicated to professional development activities. Knowing that you’ve allocated time solely for learning will encourage you to put in the effort to focus, and you may even get more out of your professional development.

Where do you find professional development opportunities? Here are four ways you can keep up with your learning. Choose which ones are best for you.  

1. Attend community events

Going to local events is a great way to both expand your knowledge base and network with people in your community. Building a strong professional network can lead to referrals, partnerships, and opportunities that you might not encounter otherwise.

Industry events such as conferences, trade shows, and association meetings are a great way to meet other professionals in the field, share experiences, and learn from fellow experts.

Other events may be more informal, such as a happy hour or lunch and learn. These help you stay connected with other professionals and gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities other REALTORS^® face, which can help shape your own strategies for success.

You can also find events on a specific topic, offered by a company or a local college or university. 

2. Sign up for webinars, classes, or a coach

Many continuing education courses offer significant value in keeping your knowledge fresh and helping you build expertise. Real estate agencies or local boards offer in-person continuing ed classes, and many platforms provide online courses that allow agents to learn at their own pace.

A coaching program can help you focus on productivity, time management, lead generation, and advanced sales techniques. Coaches typically focus on developing mindset and business strategies to scale your business to new heights.

Many opportunities are available to help you grow your career. Whether you’re looking for a quick one-topic webinar that you can watch from your desk or a more long-term professional development opportunity, you’ll find lots of options online.

Knowing what you hope to achieve before doing your online search will help. Are you looking for marketing tips? Great. You can even narrow your search to a particular marketing facet, like social media or email marketing. With a specified search, you can choose from the different learning opportunities available.

3. Find a mentor

You might not immediately think of a mentor as a professional development “opportunity,” but this can be one of the most effective ways to accelerate your professional growth. Whether you’re a new agent or an experienced professional, working with a mentor can provide personalized guidance tailored to your specific goals. This kind of hands-on one-on-one learning can be invaluable if you are in the early stages of your career.

A mentor can also open the door to meeting new people and opportunities — and might even put you in the right place at the right time.

4. Find professional development opportunities in similar industries

Struggling to find real estate-specific learning opportunities? Don’t worry. You can learn a lot from similar industries that will help you in your career. Seek out events or trainings within the mortgage, construction, and interior design industries. What can you learn from home stagers, home photographers, or landscape architects? When you find an event or course for these industries that interests you, go ahead and give it a shot.

Don’t overcomplicate what it takes to seek out professional development opportunities. The real estate industry is full of opportunities. Simply sign up for events, conferences, and workshops that will benefit you.