Get to know Jenny Dwyer, director of Hockingstuart Sandringham
Contact
Jan 17, 2019
Get to know Jenny Dwyer, director of Hockingstuart Sandringham
Hockingstuart Sandringham director, Jenny Dwyer has had a love for real estate ever since she was a little girl.
-
Image supplied by Hockingstuart SandringhamPictured: Jenny Dwyer, Director of Hockingstuart Sandringham
Jenny Dwyer has come a long way from the days of dragging her mum around to open for inspections.
These days, she's the director of Hockingstuart Sandringham. She revealed to WILLIAMS MEDIA why real estate is a good industry for women and what she loves most about her job.
How did you start in the real estate business? Have you always worked in this industry or did you do something else previously?
I always wanted to become an agent because it connected my love of property and people. When I was a little girl I used to drag my mum to open for inspections, simply because I loved houses.
I had brief stints in the hospitality industry, IT and finance when one day I spotted a job advertisement for a local real estate agency in Sydney who were looking to recruit people that had never been in real estate.
It wasn't an easy feat to get a job in the industry at that stage and the interview process was rigorous. I’ve now been in real estate for close to 25 years and have been working in Melbourne’s bayside for 18 of those years.
What do you love most about your job?
Properties are properties, but they also become people's homes. I love the fact that you are involved with people in a very personal way. In most cases, you're helping people realise their dream.
I love the thrill of the competition in our industry – you have to win people's trust. There are so many agents, so to compete with other professionals and to win the business is very rewarding.
Is real estate a good profession for women?
Yes, yes and yes – this is something I am very passionate about!
The landscape of real estate means working mums can have a career that fits with their lifestyle, as much of the activity we do can be done out of regular working hours. Mothers can easily cut down their workload and number of listings to work part-time.
I also believe the industry is evolving and is beginning to understand the integral role women play in the real estate sector, especially as women are key homebuyers.
Real estate is very accommodating for women, but I do think it’s important the industry supports women to reach the pinnacles of real estate at all levels of the industry.
What would you like to see done differently in the real estate industry?
I'd like to see a shift in our culture – we are a service based industry and our clients are our lifeline.
There needs to be an improvement in training standards across the industry. Training should encompass all facets of customer service, not just the obvious real estate skills.
We assume good customer service comes naturally, but it doesn’t for everyone.
What’s your advice to a young person thinking of entering the real estate profession?
Before you enter the industry, ensure you’re comfortable with the organisation you’re joining. The company that you first work for will set the foundation for the rest of your career.
Research whether the company can provide training and will offer you professional development pathways. and will actively support your career. You can do this by talking to current and past employees, and asking questions in your interviews.
I also recommend going to the Open for Inspections to see how they're being run.
You need to align yourself with a brand that marries up with your values, whilst training you to be the best you can be. This doesn't always mean going with the biggest business, but the best fit for you.
Where do you live now?
My life very much revolves around Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay – I live on the Mornington Peninsula.
I love the fact that in a growing city you can look over the water at all the open space.
What’s your dream home, anywhere in the world?
My husband is from New Zealand’s South Island and there's a little place in Queenstown called Lake Wakatipu.
My dream home would be a property overlooking the awe-inspiring lake and mountains there.
Related reading:
Get to know Kylie Charlton of Hodges Sandringham
Contact Details:
