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Laing+Simmons will see its 28th cohort of Year 12 students experiencing what it means to be a real estate agent, as part of their scholarship program.
Around 20 Year 12 students are preparing for work experience at a Laing+Simmons office during the school holidays as part of the Laing+Simmons Scholarship Program.
Established 28 years ago, the network scholarship program was initially created to address a gap in the agent education market.
Laing+Simmons head of people & growth, Jacqui Barnes, said that while many young people have been dreaming about a career in real estate, they often have little insight into what the work entails.
“Behind any perceived glamour is a lot of hard work, and it’s important for young people to understand all that goes into building a successful career and a successful business,” Barnes said.
She said the network’s scholarship program is an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience, allowing them to understand the reality of the industry.
“By observing the day-to-day, they can make informed decisions on their career choices.”
While the program has evolved over the years, Barnes said it continues to focus on hands-on training and real-life experience.
“There are plenty of reasons a real estate career is an attractive option for young people, but it’s also hard work, and much of this hard work takes place out of the limelight,” she said.
Over the school holidays, trainees will train alongside top-performing agents, gaining hands-on experience, industry insights, and practical skills to kickstart a real estate career.
“It might be helping out at open for inspections, sitting on marketing strategy meetings, understanding how to interact with customers, observing negotiations as they progress, and spending time with property managers.”
“These are busy offices and teams who have work to do, so students might be asked to contribute in any number of ways, with an emphasis on learning on the job,” Barnes said.
She said that the scholarship program will not only provide Year 12 students with a real-world perspective on the real estate industry, but also enable them to explore career paths, build connections, and develop the skills necessary for long-term success.
“Year 12 is an interesting time in a young person’s life, and a time when they weigh up what their life and career beyond school looks like.
“Like any career, the impression you get from the outside can be quite different to what it’s like on the ground.
“Early, hands-on exposure to this gives students real insights on what a real estate career actually entails and from there, they have a better idea if it’s the right move for them.”
In addition to the scholarship program, Laing+ Simons will select one participant to have their full fees for the Real Estate Certificate of Registration Course covered by the network.
“Ultimately, our aim is to ensure that through our culture, the best people stay with Laing+Simmons long-term. Helping young people break into a competitive, fast-paced industry is incredibly rewarding.”
Barnes said that over the years, the Laing+Simmons Scholarship Program has launched many successful real estate careers, including hers.
In total, numerous participants secured full-time roles or branched into areas like commercial property and development.
“Personally, it will always be special to me. I was a participant in the program more than 20 years ago and it had a profound effect on me. To oversee the very same program that gave me my start and shaped my career is a real privilege,” Barnes concluded.
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