Working at Engel & Völkers
New opportunities through lateral entry, interview with Reni Pischke, independent property consultant at Engel & Völkers
How did your application to Engel & Völkers come about? Pischke: I moved from Berlin to Potsdam in 2019 after resigning from my permanent position in marketing. Back in my hometown, I wanted to find a new direction and came across the job advertisement for a property consultant at Engel & Völkers. I have always been enthusiastic about property. As a native of Potsdam, I know the city well - I love the beautiful houses and the historic cityscape. I was motivated to apply by the offer of a lateral move into property.
Did you already have experience in the property sector? Pischke: Very little. I had completed a commercial apprenticeship and a Master's degree and then started a career in marketing. However, I was often involved in sales or purchases in my family environment. I always enjoyed that very much.
Why did you choose Engel & Völkers? Pischke: Everyone comes across the brand at some point in their lives. In any case, most people are familiar with it. In other words, it is a company that has already been very successfully established on the market for many years and has made a name for itself. This makes it much easier to get into the property industry, because you benefit from the company's good name and everything behind it. That was very important for me.
How did the familiarisation process go? Pischke: The management and colleagues invested a lot of time in explaining and familiarising me with processes, structures and the necessary specialist knowledge. There are also a number of webinars and training courses, including at the E&V internal academy. Overall, I received great support in all areas and from all sides.
What expectations did you have of your lateral move to Engel & Völkers? Were they fulfilled? Pischke: I've always been interested in working independently. However, I also like working in a team and need fixed structures and a certain amount of security. I can combine both needs at Engel & Völkers. Although I work independently, I still benefit from the existing structures, my mentors, the marketing organisation and the company as a "door opener". I was particularly looking forward to working in a company that offers women exactly the same opportunities as men. With two women on the management board and an above-average proportion of women overall, I really feel seen and equal here.
Where do you see the biggest differences to your previous job? Pischke: In marketing, I was always under a lot of pressure, especially in terms of time. I was on the road a lot, travelling a lot, rarely at home. That's fine when you're in your mid-twenties, but at some point I felt the need for more stability and a healthy structure. Here I experience processes that really push me forward and that my achievements are honoured. Sometimes I don't even realise that I'm working because it's so much fun. That wasn't the case before. What's more, I have to organise my working hours almost exclusively around my customers. It's up to me how I organise the rest of my time and when I want to work. It's the best of both worlds: The freedom of self-employment and the infrastructure of an established, successful company.
What qualities should someone who wants to enter this profession have? Pischke: In the field of residential property brokerage, you should like two things in particular: houses and people. That means you should be emphatic enough to be able to empathise with people, understand their wishes and find the right property or the right buyer for them. It is also important to be patient, especially at first, and to be able to live with setbacks.
Stand-up guys are just right in this industry. It's important not to be discouraged if something doesn't work out straight away, but to see opportunities everywhere - even in defeats.
What has been your best experience at Engel & Völkers so far? Pischke: That's a difficult question, because there have been many wonderful experiences during our collaboration. But there is one in particular that sticks in my mind: The sale of an old weekend property in Bornim, which was bought before the war and rebuilt independently by its owners after the war. Over coffee and plum cake, I had very intense and enjoyable conversations with the elderly. It's nice when customers entrust you with something that has played an important role in their lives for a long time.
"You should like two things in particular: houses and people"
When was your first sale? Pischke: It was surprisingly quick and actually happened during the familiarisation phase. It was a property in the beautiful neighbourhood of Babelsberg Süd. A Swedish couple wanted to sell their two-bedroom condominium. This successful brokerage by me was a very motivating experience.
Where are you today and where do you see yourself in the next few years? Pischke: I've been at it for a good two years now. I'd like it to go on like this! I am positively excited. The property sector offers great and, above all, comparatively secure prospects, especially for people who are looking for new opportunities. Thank you very much for the interview, Reni Pischke!