With reality television shows like Selling Sunset and Million Dollar Listing portraying all of the glamor of the real estate agent’s life and only a sliver of the hustle, the impression that most have of what being a real estate agent actually entails tends to be inaccurate at best. Getting a real estate license was particularly popular for Americans at the beginning of the pandemic, but the market has shifted dramatically since then: Relative ease has given way to stiff competition and, in most locations, fewer buyers. Still, a large portion of the people who work as real estate agents made it there from a different career path. So what surprises are in store for those who decide to pivot into real estate? And what transferable skills are particularly helpful? We spoke with seven people who dared to make the switch themselves, from a one-time professional soccer player to a former private chef.

It’s a constant grind

Florida-based Compass real estate agent Zach Steinberger has always been obsessive. When he was a kid, he spent all his time practicing soccer. He went from dribbling the ball around the house for fun to playing soccer in Europe, then in the US for 10 years after college. After nearly 10 years on the field professionally, he moved onto real estate, and his single-minded focus was an asset for the demands of the industry.

“It takes sacrifice. You’re stepping away from dinners with your family to take calls because if you don’t answer the phone, someone else will. It’s driving two hours to a listing appointment because, hey, if I don’t do it, someone else will,” Steinberger says. “It’s waking up at five o’clock in the morning to get your workout in because if you don’t, and you don’t get the searches done for the day for your clients, you’re not going to have time as soon as they all wake up. Because once they start waking up, your phone’s going to start ringing, and then you can’t actually do any of the work that you need to do uninterrupted.”

The grind can be even more demanding when you work in multiple markets. Alexis Weathersbee pivoted to real estate in 2021 after working in fashion for 10 years and is now licensed in Florida, New York, and Virginia, working with The Agency in the two former and SLH Real Estate in Virginia Beach. “I’m on probably three planes a week, I kid you not,” she says. Traveling from place to place and keeping up with different markets can be a lot to keep up with, but after three years in the business, Weathersbee is confident she’s a real estate lifer. “I wouldn’t do anything other than real estate, honestly,” she says.

Zach Steinberger compares the highs and lows of real estate to those of his previous career in professional soccer.

Photo courtesy of Compass Florida

But there is some flexibility

Even if you are always “on” as an agent, there is some flexibility when compared to corporate jobs with extremely strict schedules since you can create your own boundaries. Flexibility is one reason Eva Alt was attracted to real estate after spending six years in social media at Into the Gloss and Glossier, seeing through the brand’s rapid growth from its launch onward. Prior to Glossier, she danced professionally, but during her time working in social media, Alt realized she wanted a career that would still allow her to dance. Her love of architecture and design made real estate stick out, and combined with the more flexible hours, it was a perfect fit.