Dallas Property Specialist Believes Education Fueled Career Success
Roxie Earett is the senior real estate specialist for the City of Dallas. Although selling general real estate may not require a formal degree, her particular position required a bachelor's degree. Roxie speaks out about the value of a good education and how her education has really prepared her for the advancement she has enjoyed in her career.
Where do you work and what is your title?
"I'm employed by the City of Dallas, Housing/Community Service Department, as a senior real estate specialist. I acquire and sell property for various urban development projects within the City of Dallas."
What kind of degree is required for this position?
"A four-year degree is required for the position. I personally have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and an executive MBA. I received my B.S. degree in 2010 and went right into my master's degree, completing it in August of 2011. Business and real estate is always changing, so I try to stay abreast of things trending in both fields."
How has your education prepared you for this position and contributed to your overall success?
"My education has really benefited me in learning the financial side of business as well as the human resource and ethics side. With this lagging economy, we are challenged to do more with fewer funds. I found my legal ethics class to be one of the most important courses I took at Texas Woman's University. Doing what is right for the City of Dallas is a big part of my job. People have opportunities to use their position to benefit themselves, which can pose an ethical challenge for some. The local news is always waiting to hear of corruption in government. I want the citizens of Dallas to know that when I acquire property in their area for a development, it is going to benefit them and their community."
Do you have any advice for someone interested in pursuing a career like yours?
"For someone interested in pursuing a career as a real estate professional, I would advise him or her to learn the market. There are hot spots and they change as development and needs grow. With the addition of the deck park, real estate around downtown Dallas increased tremendously for both residential and commercial buyers. I would also advise them to hone their marketing and negotiation skills. Depending on the area of focus, you will have to be a firm negotiator. Teamwork is key in my job. I cannot be successful without coworkers and managers that are just as knowledgeable as I am. I can't stress enough that providing good customer service is important. A degree is not required to show people respect and professionalism."
Judy Serrano writes romantic thrillers at www.JudySerraon.com. She graduated from Texas A&M Commerce with a BA in English. She is also a freelance writer for Examiner.com. She lives in Texas with her husband, four boys and five dogs.
