Title
: "The proper real estate agent"- a paper on expectations for new real estate agent's first impression.
Level
: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Author
: Jennifer Alm
Supervisor
: Jonas Kågström
Date
: 2011– June
Aim
: The purpose of this paper is to analyze how hiring managers in the real estate broker understand the jobseeker during interviews. This analysis is based on the recruiters description of the first impression and the non-verbal communication in comparison with relevant theory.
Method
: I began my research by studying scientific articles to obtain great knowledge of the subject and write my theory chapter. I then chose to use a qualitative research method, collecting my empirical data by making five interviews. The interviewees were recruiters at brokerage firms. The theory and empirical data was analyzed and then compared to arrive at a conclusion.
Result & Conclusions
: Recruiters in the brokerage thinks that the first impression is important and therefore read a lot of information about the applicant with a great first impression and the person´s non-verbal communication. Recruiters believe it is very important to be able to then a great first impression when they consider the jobinterview is very similar the scenario when the brokers meet customers and then has to "sell quickly". There are a number of factors that are key to a successful first impression in recruitment of brokers. What is positive is that the most important factors are those that you can influence- such as handshake, dress, language, eye contact and bodylanguage. While factors such as skin color and physical appearance does not have any relevance in the assessment.
Suggestions for future research
: I have in my study only chosen to investigate how the first impression and non-verbal communication affects hiring managers assessment on an interview for a real-estate job. It would be interesting to conduct a study on how other factors such as grades, qualifications, and personality play into the hiring decision.
Contribution of the thesis
: I see my study as an aid and a tool for students and other attending interviews for brokerage jobs. Through my results, I can prepare job seekers brokers on what recruiters attach importance in terms of first impressions and non-verbal communication, and thus provide the job seekers a fair chance for a successful interview which may lead to future jobs.
Key words
: Job interview, Real estate agent, First impression, Non-verbal communication
2011. , p. 50