16 Game-Changing Strategies to Hire Top Early-Career Real Estate Talent

There are significant short- and long-term benefits for employers to hire students, recent graduates, and others early in their careers for real estate roles. We gathered insights from 16 hiring experts to share their proven strategies.

Build an Earn and Learn Pipeline

Lay down a career runway before you lay down a job description. One of the most effective approaches is to build an earn and learn pipeline where recruits are hired into a clear pathway with observable milestones, real mentorship, and cross-training. In Des Moines, we partner with local community colleges and universities, running deal shadow days where students learn step-by-step how deals turn profits. This hands-on experience attracts candidates seeking access, relevance, and a tangible future.

Partner with Local Trade Schools

Overlooked goldmines, local trade schools and community colleges offer motivated students. By offering unpaid shadow days, students can follow acquisition teams and see real deal flow. This approach has led to an 87% retention rate compared to 41% from traditional hires.

Offer Clear Purpose in Niche Markets

Early-career professionals want meaningful impact. Specializing in niche markets like probate homes provides clarity and purpose, leading to deeper engagement and faster growth. Recruit for purpose, not just numbers.

Implement Data-Driven High-Volume Hiring

Use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) with pre-screen video interviews and collaborative rubrics to screen for sales skills and coachability. Supplement with a rigorous employee referral program and a recruitment pitch deck featuring real success stories.

Create Exclusive Market Partnerships

Offer territorial exclusivity to attract ambitious candidates. This model, like at ez Home Search, increases applicant numbers by 40% by providing a clear path to building a business without internal competition.

Launch a Real Estate Academy Program

A structured Real Estate Academy serves as a recruitment, assessment, and training funnel. It includes broad attraction, immersive experiences with cohorts and mentors, and data-driven selection for smooth onboarding.

Engage Students Through Hands-On Experiences

Connect with college career centers and offer internships or paid training. Hands-on experiences build your brand and help spot great talent early.

Develop an Apprenticeship Shadowing Program

Newcomers shadow top performers for the first few months, providing support and a clear success path. This has successfully onboarded large numbers of agents with high retention.

Host Property Deal Replication Competitions

Competitions with mentorship and real-life constraints sift out unserious candidates. Participants receive temporary license sponsorship and guaranteed onboarding based on performance.

Organize Real Estate Data Sprint Events

Weekend boot camps analyze real-time market data and underwrite sample deals. Augmented reality scavenger hunts add a gamified element to assess field awareness and tech agility.

Create Specialized Digital Content Campaigns

Instead of general job listings, use online courses or webinars to highlight niche problem-solving. Target university programs and online communities to attract genuinely interested candidates.

Establish a Mentorship Model

Learning negotiation and listing management from veterans in person is highly effective. Mentorship provides practical skills that are hard to gain otherwise.

Leverage Social Media for Targeted Recruitment

Use platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook for personalized posts and networking. Participate in career fairs and sponsor online events to reach newcomers.

Focus on Employee Referrals

Referrals yield the best conversion rates. Motivate existing teams with rewards for successful referrals. Host honest Q&A sessions to provide clarity on commissions and daily requirements.

Build University Partnerships for Talent Pipeline

Collaborate with college career centers and student organizations. Host workshops, offer internships, and speak in classes to build a long-term talent funnel with standardized onboarding.

Host Interactive Real Estate Preview Days

Open house-style events let candidates shadow agents, observe negotiations, and participate in interactive activities like role-playing. This builds excitement and connections, making recruitment personal and efficient.