Professional Talent Managers Increase Their Hiring Standards

by | Aug 6, 2025

Despite a large majority of the agents in the industry being minimally productive, the total number of agents has not really declined much in the last few years.

In one sense, this is a mismanagement of talent.

Rather than releasing unproductive agents, most brokerages continue to dilute their talent pool with unqualified individuals.

How do you fix this problem?

Of course, you should allow natural attrition to run its course and regularly prune those on your roster who are not producing.

But you must also increase your hiring standards when you rehire.

In the professional hiring manager’s mind, not everyone makes the cut.

They must meet selection criteria that are well-established and reflective of the desired performance level of the organization.

Your selection criteria can include factors such as work history, assessment results, interview performance, desired character traits, social network capacities, and other factors you’ve documented that will lead to success.

The goal is not to craft the perfect selection system–it’s to thoughtfully create one, and then, follow it.

 

The Simple Psychology of Real Estate Recruiting [2nd Edition]

Unlock the secrets of effective real estate recruiting. Revised to include actionable frameworks for sharper execution and to help you turn psychological theory into a repeatable recruiting system.

Creating Pacts to Avoid Distraction

Creating Pacts to Avoid Distraction

Notice the two parts to Nir’s formula: a pre-commitment and an external force to keep you accountable to that commitment. For recruiting setting goals and time-blocks in your schedule is not enough. Most people need some kind of external accountability, as well.

Look for Individuals Who Want to be Measured

Look for Individuals Who Want to be Measured

It’s not that people with a growth mindset don’t experience failure—they just see failure as an opportunity to learn new things, to be challenged, and to experience curiosity. This is an important topic to cover during interviews and follow-up conversations with your prospects. If you find someone who likes being measured, you’ve likely found someone who will push through the inherent failures of growing a real estate business and experience long-term success.