 By Graham Trickey, Editor, Prospects, 14/12/07. Leading firms of estate agents offer rewarding opportunities. Foxtons, a prominent chain in the London area, not only provides training for graduates but also eye-catching branded minis and starter pay of £22K. The company’s lettings manager at its Fulham Broadway branch is Anoushka Tiagi. After leaving Southampton Institute (now Southampton Solent University) in 2003 she went travelling for a year before looking for a job. Foxtons impressed her as ‘contemporary and dynamic’ so she applied to them to become a negotiator, equivalent to a salesperson. ‘When I left university I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, there were so many options that I didn’t know which way to turn,’ she explains. ‘One thing I did know was that I wanted a career, a role in which I could develop and receive professional and ongoing training. I also love meeting new people. ‘From my research I knew that Foxtons could offer all these elements, and as their business was property - something that is part of everyone’s life and is always in demand - I knew that it would be a busy and interesting industry to work in.’ Anoushka was putting in effort from day one. ‘You start as you mean to go on! In my first week of training I was working five 12-hour days. It was definitely intense but lots of fun and I felt a real sense of achievement at the end of it.’ After training, Anoushka was offered the role of lettings negotiator, given a mobile phone and one of the celebrated minis. ‘I thought “this is great!” - even though I had been away for a year I was already ahead of many of my friends who had started careers straight from university.’ Now Anoushka has moved up to manager she can expect to earn between £50K and £80k, depending on commission. She explains her current role at Foxtons as being ‘the first point of contact for my landlords – the face of Foxtons Fulham if you like!’ As well as her work in the office, she visits clients at home to explain to them what Foxtons can offer. ‘I love the fact that I play a major part in continuing to establish Foxtons in Fulham, and on a personal note, I am proud of the reputation I am building with my clients, many of whom continue to use Foxtons time and time again.’ Achieving resultsHer role as manager of a team of 17 people is another plus. ‘I am responsible for training and shaping their careers successfully which is extremely important. I am also responsible for gaining the fantastic results we achieve, which ultimately comes down to how I manage and motivate my team, something I find incredibly rewarding.’ The estate agents’ week does not finish on a Friday. Foxtons is open all day Saturdays and Sundays as well as from 9am to 8pm the rest of the week. In addition phone lines are open 8am-8pm seven days a week. The weekends are both the busiest time and also, for Anoushka, most enjoyable. ‘I love it as everyone seems to be in a far more relaxed frame of mind with more time to concentrate on what they are looking for.’ A typical day starts with a meeting of Anoushka’s team ‘to discuss any important points, training issues, market activity and generally ensure that they are motivated to let properties and to talk to prospective tenants’. In the morning the team also focuses on arranging viewings for tenants. The majority of viewings take place at lunchtime or in the late afternoon. In between the team update clients and complete paperwork. Anoushka sums up: ‘I love the culture at Foxtons and the fact that you are rewarded for your hard work. I have progressed rapidly through the company because of this, and although I often work 60 to 70 hours a week, and manage a team of 17 people, I also get to go on fantastic all-expense paid trips abroad and drive nice cars as a reward for my hard work. I started out in one of our branded Minis which I loved but now I drive a Mini Cooper Convertible, which is amazing. I also love the fact that each day is different and I am out and about rather than being 100% office based.’ More articles about sales careers:
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