broker

While specific roles depend on the type of broker and industry, some standard tasks include:

• analysing clients' requirements: your role is to identify potential clients for your employer. When you bring in a new client, you need to analyse their requirements and goals to help them achieve their investment goals. If you deal in financial products, you can help investors determine their appetite for risk and guide them on the best stock to put their money on.
• looking for buyers: some clients will hire you to find potential buyers for their assets or goods. When looking for buyers, you need to market the assets, analyse the market value and assist sellers in setting a price. You can sell anything – including properties and goods – if you are a general broker.
• negotiating offers: when you broker a deal, it is your responsibility to bring both parties to the negotiation table to discuss the offer. You will help the seller receive a favourable income for their assets.
• preparing the documentation: when the buyer and seller agree on an offer, you prepare the final documents required to complete the sale. That means you must compile the tax or stamp duty charges payable by both parties to facilitate the sale.
• analysing information on market trends: you need first-hand information on the market changes to provide sound advice. If you are an estate broker, analysis of the property market helps you identify the best times to sell a property for maximum returns. Financial market analysis also helps stock brokers identify investment opportunities for clients and the ideal time to buy or sell shares.

Brokers work in offices on their computers to analyse market data and keep track of the financial markets. Your office may be in a financial institution, brokerage firm or company that needs regular services. When you work for a single client, your work environment depends on the industry. For instance, some brokers work for insurance companies or pension firms and often have a personal office. As a broker, your work environment is noisy due to the frequent phone calls by brokers trying to close a deal. Since the work environment is fast-paced, you need to be comfortable working under pressure.

Depending on your employer, your colleagues may include traders, agents and fund managers. Brokers need information on markets, which means you will work with financial analysts and business analysts, as well as other specialists that could include, but not be limited to, relationship managers, property valuers and conveyancers.

Brokers often work long hours, with some working over 50 hours a week. The typical work routine starts at 7 am and ends after 6 pm to cover the opening times of global financial markets. If investors are in different time zones, you will work outside business hours to communicate with them. Most broker jobs are full-time positions that may require you to work weekends to meet targets. Part-time positions are rare, but you can find freelancing opportunities. Being a broker also involves travelling to visit clients or close a deal, and sometimes you travel abroad.

Brokers are in high demand since they have diverse roles. As a broker, you can work in multiple industries dealing with sales or investments. Your career often begins at a junior level position, and with experience, you become the senior broker. Some brokers increase their qualifications and become fund managers or relationship managers in financial institutions. Alternatively, you can specialise in a specific area like financial products, real estate or commercial sectors. Experienced stockbrokers, estate brokers or commercial brokers are experts in their fields and often become consultants.

Finding your broker job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:

• a wide variety of training and development opportunities
• an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
• a range of opportunities in your area
• get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
• temporary and permanent contracts

Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as a broker is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!

Brokers earn basic salaries like other employees, but they also receive commissions. Some companies pay bonuses for successful deals. 

 

A broker is anyone who sells an asset on behalf of the seller. Common examples of brokers are estate agents.

It is a firm that acts as a broker. They buy or sell stocks and securities on behalf of other companies or investors.

A broker looks for buyers of an asset and facilitates the sale in exchange for a commission. They sell houses or financial products for their clients.

You need a degree in finance or business management to land a job as a broker. Work experience and certifications also increase your prospects.

Applying for a broker job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!