Mentor program looks to cultivate next generation of Realtor
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
The Arizona Association of Realtors is teaming up with the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University to launch the ASU/Arizona Association of Realtors professional salesperson mentoring program.
This first-of-its-kind program will help ASU students who are pursuing a minor in real estate or a Master of Real Estate Development learn more about the licensed real estate profession by increasing their professional skills while advancing their careers in real estate, according to a press release.
Made up of two components, classroom education and mentoring, the program will support the professional development of students by providing them with advice, assistance and guidance during the 2022-’23 school year, the release states.
“Mentorship is an important part of growth in the real estate field, and our Realtor professionals are dedicated to providing ASU students with the tools and experience for success,” says Michelle Lind, of counsel for the Arizona Realtors association, which boasts a trade association with 57,000 a part of its ranks.
“We are thrilled to work with ASU on this professional development program and to support our future leaders.”
Starting this month, 12 students will participate in the 90-minute monthly educational sessions hosted by members of the Arizona Association of Realtors. Topics will include market research and local area knowledge, ethics and legal framework when representing clients, presentation skills and professional conduct and negotiation skills, among others.
In addition, each student will pair with an experienced Realtor mentor who will help them identify career interests and provide valuable mentoring activities such as practice interviews, job shadowing, resume review and more. Both mentors and students must follow a list of responsibilities and expectations to ensure a successful professional relationship.
According to Mark Stapp, Fred E. Taylor professor in Real Estate and director of the MRED program, the ASU/Arizona Association of Realtors professional salesperson mentoring program is a non-degree, non-credit curriculum maintained by ASU.
“The program’s primary mission is to supplement ASU’s successful real estate programs and to expand upon the Realtors existing programs for its members,” he said. “In addition to providing learning and career opportunities for our students, the program will foster dialogue between industry professionals, academics and students wanting to advance their knowledge and expertise about real estate.”
