The Deal

CHAPTER 4

As I entered the office, I was immediately struck by its opulence and grandeur. The marble tiles on the floor were arranged in a perfect and uniform pattern that exuded luxury. The walls were made of glass, allowing for an unobstructed view of the city outside. The office was filled with statues, banners, and holographic displays, all of which were perfectly illuminated by the bright lighting. The warmth of the room was accentuated by the large flowers placed at the ends of the room.

In the center of the room was a black U-shaped table made of rare organic wood, with five chairs placed around it. Four of the chairs were occupied by two women and two men, all dressed in formal attire. On the right side of the table were two women who appeared to be in their late forties, both wearing elegant black shift dresses. One of them had glasses on and was introduced as Mrs. Bemsley, while the other was introduced as Mrs. Fletcher. On the left side of the table were two men in their mid-thirties, one wearing a navy blue suit introduced as Mr. Turner, and the other in a blue checkered suit known as Mr. Colok. In the middle of the table was an empty chair, with a gold-plated name tag indicating that it belonged to the CEO, Mr. Trane.

As I nervously clutched onto my bag, Mr. Colok looked at the papers in front of him, likely containing the names of all the interviewees. He looked up and greeted me with a smile, “Good day Miss Perkins, How do you do? I am Colok, and we’ll all be interviewing you today.” The other interviewers introduced themselves as well, and I felt a sense of relief that they were not as uptight as I had initially thought.

I took the opportunity to introduce myself, “Firstly, I want to thank you for considering my application for an interview. I am Trisha Perkins, a Chartered Financial Analyst with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Oregon. During my internship at a consulting firm, I gained hands-on experience in providing audit, financial advice, management, risk, and tax services. My internship was two years ago.”

However, the interview was interrupted by Mr. Turner, who switched on his phone and turned to Robert, “He's meant to be present for this interview, but he's over 30 minutes late.” Robert looked up with a small smile and apologized, “We are sorry for the little interruption. I need to get through to someone urgently.” I reassured him, “It's fine Robert, I understand.”

Robert then picked up his phone and dialed a number, “Good day Mr. Trane, it's Robert. The interview is today, and it has commenced and…” He paused, looking confused, and said, “But you're meant to be here sir, the interview isn't a long one, and it won't take any of your… okay sir, goodbye.” Robert let out a sigh and turned to Mr. Turner, “He's not coming, we’ll have to move on without him.” He then turned to me and apologized once again for the inconvenience.

Mrs. Bemsley then asked about my knowledge of the real estate industry, and I replied confidently, “I have had a ton of wins organizing strategic ads on the agency’s websites, juggling social media campaigns for each residence, and handing out stand-alone fliers to offer visitors full details when they stop by the property.” Impressed, she nodded and asked, “So what are the reasons why you want to become a realtor?” With all eyes on me, I replied, “I have always loved real estate and have a striking passion for helping people find a place to call home. I want to assist them in finding the best property and negotiate an acceptable agreement for them.”

After a brief conversation with the interviewers, Mr. Turner asked me, “How many hours can you work and what do you not want to see in a company you're working for?” I replied confidently, “I can work up to 60 hours a week if needed. I have worked long hours in the past, and I'm ready to do that again if it means meeting the company's goals. As for what I do not want to see in a company, I believe in fairness, transparency, and open communication. I would not want to work for a company that lacks these values.” Robert looked up with a warm smile and asked, “What qualities make you a good real estate agent?” I responded confidently, “I believe in actively listening to my clients, and I always take extra measures to ensure their satisfaction. For instance, before showing a property to my clients, I do a thorough walkover of the house to identify specific features that may appeal to them, which increases the chances of my clients liking the property and ultimately getting it.”

Robert seemed impressed and moved on to ask how I stay organized to make sure I make every appointment on time. I explained how I use various methods to stay organized, such as syncing my computer with my phone and setting reminders to go off 30 minutes before I leave for each appointment. Additionally, I use color coding to deduce which client I'm working with, coordinating the colors with the client's files and emails to make the appointment process seamless.

Next, Robert inquired about how I use social media to sell homes. I shared how I leverage my website and social media platforms to showcase properties. To ensure that the properties look their best, I hire professional photographers to take high-quality photos. I also invest in monthly social media ads that target potential clients, which has proven to be an effective marketing strategy that has boosted my sales by over 10%.

After discussing my qualifications and experience, Robert concluded the interview by asking if there was anything else I would like to add. I expressed my gratitude for the opportunity to interview for the position and noted that I was excited about the prospect of being a part of such a highly reputed team. Robert smiled and said that he enjoyed talking with me and that they would be in touch soon.

As I walked out of the interview room and back to the waiting area, I noticed the guy who had spoken to me earlier. I wished him luck as he was called in for his interview.

Feeling a sense of accomplishment, I walked out of the waiting room and into the hallway which led to the elevator. Stepping into the elevator, I clicked on the button for the first floor and the doors closed.

As I exited the elevator into the reception, I took a moment to reflect on the interview and felt content with the way it had gone. The reception area was sparsely populated, with people engaged in light conversations. Feeling satisfied with how the interview had gone I smiled to myself as I stepped outside into the sunlight, ready to tackle whatever came next.