#18 - Interview with an Estate Agent - Alan Screen Artwork

The What Happened Podcast

JP Pienaar interviews people from many different professions to find out what they wanted to be when they were younger and what happened after that. We look at what career path(s) they went down and how they are doing in their current job. This podcast is meant to provide help to anyone of any age who is considering what career to pursue. This includes school students who are thinking about what to study at University, people who have been working for a few years and would like to change to another career that they actual enjoy and people who think it’s too late or that they are too old to change their current career situation. Each week we interview someone to find out what it is actually like to work in their profession. If you have ever considered making a move to a different profession then this podcast will help you to find out what that profession is actually like. Most people don’t pursue their true passion. They end up working a job that they hate, to pay the bills. This podcast highlights that we all experience the same kinds of road blocks when trying to pursue our true passion as a career. Those who are truly happy are those who break through these road blocks to pursue their passion. In the words of Tyler Durden: “What did you want to be ? !!!!”

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The What Happened Podcast

#18 - Interview with an Estate Agent - Alan Screen

February 03, 2020 • JP Pienaar/Alan Screen • Episode 18

Alan joins us on the podcast for a look at what a day in the life of an Estate Agent is like. Alan works for Seeff properties in the Cape Town city bowl area and has been in the industry for 8 years. Alan studied at Stellenbosch University in International studies followed by Sports Science and finished with marketing and business management at UNISA. He opened Custom Level art during the Soccer World Cup 2010, selling wire beaded products. Alan has worked in PR for an agency as well as a pool cleaning service for 6 months. He has also worked for LR Plastics as an account executive/sales rep running large accounts including I&J, SAB and Coca Cola. Growing up Alan’s focus was mainly on sport and he considered teaching after school. Alan continues to also make moves as an entrepreneur and is constantly involved in charity work. We take a look at his career to date.

“Every day you are making phone calls and canvasing. There is always more that you can do.”

“Most appointments are during lunch hours or after hours.”

“No day is the same, which I love.”

“Being an estate agent, what you put in is what you get out.”

“It’s not that hard to make money from not a lot of work with a product. There are guys fashioning drift wood into sort of bird shapes, which sell.”

“I see money as opportunities.”

“I’m quite lucky that, I enjoy Mondays.”

“Be prepared for extreme highs and extreme lows. Sometimes you make a sale out of nowhere, sometimes you don’t sell for a while.”