Andersonville, Indiana high school freshman Lindsey Murphy is exploring careers and has some interest in selling real estate. Recently she wrote me the following e-mail:

Hello! My name is Lindsey and I'm a freshman in high school. I have really been thinking about what I want to do for a living. One of my teachers was talking about real estate agents in class and since then I have been trying to do "research" to see if it would be a job for me. I've been asking around to see what type of education you need and how many years of college, etc. and no one knows. I was just wondering if you would be able to answer my questions and maybe tell me places I could go to learn more about job expectations and what not. Thanks for your time.

Lindsey

I wrote her back with a few questions, and learned the following:

B.E.: What makes you interested in real estate?

L.M.: I think that being a real estate agent would be a fun job for me and from what I've "heard" about the job, it would be a perfect job for me. It also interests me because of the money that I can make which isn't exactly a good reason.

B.E.: Are you looking for a low-entry career, one that doesn't require much education?

L.M.: Not really. My first plan was to become a lawyer and I knew that if that's what I really wanted to do, I would be in college for a while and that didn't bother me. I changed my mind because I wouldn't be able to afford to go that long.

B.E.: Does the life of a mobile professional appeal to you?

L.M.: Yes, I've always enjoyed looking at houses. When I was little I always thought I would be an interior decorator which obviously has to do with houses. I think that the real estate job would fit me because both of those reasons.

B.E.: Does it appear glamorous to you?

L.M.: Yes, one of my teachers had given me an example about real estate agents. He said that they could make lots of money one month and the next month, not even have to work because of all the money you made the previous month. Also that you get to make your own hours and that most likely you will have a nice house. I know that not all of that is true, if any of it. Although since I don't know what it's really like, it still seems like a glamorous job.

B.E.: There are a lot of misconceptions about being a Realtor. What do you think is glamourous about becoming a real estate agent? What would you be most disappointed to learn about them?

L.M.: Well, again, I see the glamorous part being all the money that is possible to make and also, most likely I would live in a nice home. I would be disappointed to learn that almost everything I've heard about Realtors is false because most of it does seem too good to be true.

B.E.: What have you done toward finding out more about what a Realtor really does?

L.M.: Since I've just recently thought about being a Realtor, I've haven't done too much yet to see what I would be getting into. I've just been to a couple Websites but I haven't gotten too much information yet.

B.E.: It is actually difficult and expensive to get started as a Realtor. You are an independent contractor and pay your own expenses in most cases. Is that going to be a problem for you?

L.M.: Probably : )

Lindsey, there are a lot of things you can do to explore whether or not the life of a Realtor is for you. Here is just a little of the information that you can find online:

1. Real estate sales requires a license from the state where you live and work, so you need to find out what educational requirements there are and where you can take the appropriate coursework. Go to Realtor.com, and on the front page there is a listing for Realtor associations, councils, etc. Click on that and then go to the association in your area. The association in your city or town will have contact information that you can call or e-mail to get some guidance to local schools.

2. You need to know what the daily life of an agent or broker is like. To learn a snapshot view, go to The Occupational Outlook Handbook online. Find Real Estate Agents and Brokers. You can also use this site to research other occupations.

3. Also, you should interview different Realtors from different brokerages in your area. Check directories for local agents and brokers, and be sure to also look in the local Sunday papers to get familiar with the firms in your area. Interview managers as well as salespeople so you can get a flavor of your working environment. Many Realtors are sponsors of local schools. Find the PTA contact at your school and ask if any PTA members might be Realtors. Sometimes your administrative staff will know. A Realtor interested in your local area will be a great candidate to talk to. From there, you can offer to "shadow" an agent - follow him or her around for a day to see what a typical day is like or offer to intern for a few weekends or after school.

4. Are you interested in learning online? Visit Recampus.com, the Internet arm of one of the largest real estate publishing firms in the nation. Click on A Career In Real Estate. Also, (shameless plug time) be sure to get a copy of my book, The Hottest e-Careers in Real Estate, all about how to go online to do business.

There are many more things you will need to find out, but these sites should get you started. Good luck on your journey!

Brokers, managers, and agents, if you would like to make a suggestion for Lindsey, please do so below.