Being a real estate agent is a stressful job?

CareerBuilder posted an article on the 10 Most Stressful Jobs. The one thing they note is that these jobs have equal amounts of stress AND SATISFACTION. What I noticed is that all the jobs in the list are jobs that “help” others. While the salaries aren’t high, they are high on the “feel good at the end of the day” type of jobs. The only one that may not fit that is the Assistant job. While a good assistant is a very valuable person, I suspect some may not always feel appreciated.

The 10 Stressful jobs are: (1) Assistants; (2) EMT’s; (3) Farmers; (4) Flight attendants; (5) Military personnel; (6) Police officers; (7) Real estate agents; (8) Social workers; (9) Stock brokers; (10) Teachers.

How ’bout that! We’re right behind Military and Police Officers! There are similarities to our job vs those jobs but I think I’ll keep those thoughts to myself.

Here’s what CareerBuilder said about the real estate agent job …

Why it’s stressful: Many real estate agents work on commission, so relying on a sale to earn a paycheck is already stressful. Home buyers don’t like to commit to mortgages unless they’re positive it’s the right move; between their timid nature and the fickle economy, you never know what kind of client you’re dealing with.

Why it’s worth it: Aside from having freedom from a regular office job, real estate agents get to fulfill that quintessential dream of adulthood to own property. People save for years to invest in a home, and you get to be a part of that process.

How much you’ll earn: $39,968

I totally agree with the “why it’s worth it”. In the eleven years I’ve been doing this job, after holding corporate jobs prior, I’ve often said that with THIS job I get “hugs”. I like getting hugs at closing or in the supermarket when I run into a past client. It means a lot to me that I get to share the excitement when a young couple receive a promotion allowing them to buy their dream home. I also feel privileged when I am a shoulder to cry on when someone needs to sell because of a divorce or family death. That makes the long hours and the stress all worthwhile. The fact that I receive a paycheck for my work is secondary. I suspect that people working in the other nine jobs feel the same way.

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