29 years in law enforcement.  Was driving around looking for something to do and the rest is history.

I got tired of Corporate America dictating my life. I always wanted to start my own business so I went into real estate.

I was in the Healthcare Industry for 12 years as a Financial Analyst and System Administrator.  I owned several properties and dealt with few Real Estate agents.  I wasn't very happy with the way they managed my transactions so I decided to become one.

Most of us did. I got into it by accident without any intention to stay here long, i'm from a legal field. But now I love my job and not going anywhere. 

Steve Matley - I am a people's person and always wanted to help others.. (come on, we all know......)

Steve - I wanted to be an architect but couldn't afford to put myself through college at the time. Through a licensed occupation as a real estate appraiser I was able to see and value some interesting architecture. I found that I loved the analysis part. Before appraisal licensing you had to have a broker's license in Michigan to appraiser real estate. The rest, as they say, is history. 

i started when i was 10. helping my mom do opens, and cruising thru broker opens eating food :). i have always done this field , even when i had a side job :)

I was in corporate human resources for 17 years before moving into real estate. My wife and I also owned an art gallery around that transition for 3 years!

I was a retail business owner and selling. Someone came in and was a Realtor.  I followed suit.

Work in corp. for years but wanted to set my own hours.  hehe

I used to be a pilot.  I didn't know what I was getting into when I chose real estate.

I worked for a health care company and before then, I worked for the Department of Corrections at a Maximum Security Womens prison.

I was the director of operations for large trucking and storage company

I just asked a question similar to this one! I had several different careers before going down this path. I worked in a restaurant for 8 years, then in financial services for 11, finally in hospitality for 5. I was beginning to hate my last job so I knew it was time for a change. My husband became a RE agent 2 years prior, so I thought it would be awesome to work together and it has been (mostly).

I harassed airlines and the federal agencies that regulated them for Ralph Nader, then went to work in the Carter Administration to help carry out airline deregulation.  When that administration ended, I had a mortgage, and somehow I wound up in real estate, selling houses and condos to the people I'd worked with or harassed in my past life.  And it paid a whole lot more than either public interest or government work!

I had several careers before I went into real estate. I decided to put my hard work to work for me. 

Management and Sales for 20 years before Real Esate (mainly retail).

Short version, I like helping people find a home (and I like that I can work from home)

Long version you can read here. 

It's been a little over a year and I love it!

Still working in my original career of Forestry, but also into Real Estate, love the permanence of a real estate investment.

Got burnt out on corporate politics and BS.  Did RE before had enough passive income that I don't have to sweat about my name commission.

Did Information Security and Privacy Enforcement for some of the nation's largest companies.  Was in charge of Southern California for a Fortune 50 company.

Many things before real estate: Paralegal 15 years, Contract Manager, Project Manager, Program Manager for Fortune 100 companies.  Tired of the grind ... real estate seemed like it would fit for me. 

   Was investing in rental houses (in the days when there were still plenty of FHA and VA asssumable mortgages).  I met Realtors, it seemed like an interesting career.  And, I wanted access to those MLS books!

    Previous careers:  4 years in the US Air Force.  After that, while in college, I took a part-time job as a dance instructor.  I stayed with that job for 3 years before moving into Real Estate.

I worked in several other jobs, including a non-profit organization.  I chose real estate because I love helping people, I love houses and architecture and I like the flexibility that it provides.

4 years as a real estate appraiser and August 11 will be 28 years in the business.  Basically all my life in this business and still having a great time.  

30+ years of sales related jobs from telemarketing at 16 booking time share tours for Long&Foster, renting costumes, selling photo equipment, cashier at the family store, being a freelance photographer for 11 years (selling my skills!) teaching college level photography, exec director at an arts nonprofit, gallery director. When the economy crashed, I took a few years off and enjoyed some early retirement at the beach. When it was time to go back to work, I love working on commission and didn't want to sell luxury cars so real estate seemed to be the right career choice. For those of us who are used to being self-directed, it feels good to be your own boss. So far so good!

I liked homes, architecture and exploring cities.  My avocation became a vocation.  My previous career was in retail management and buying.  

Manager of an escrow office

Steve Matley My Wife was a real estate agent. I worked as the Director of Sales for a telecommunications company.

I was an Armed Guard @ a Nuclear Power Plant for 12 Years, bought my `1st home and thought my agent did a Horrible job (dual agency)..wanted to know if she had my best in mind when she sold me the home....so took the classes to learn...(she did not) so now i have motivation....that was 20 yrs ago and it is still in my mind what she did!

I loved fast food until I was hired to do property management. From there, I was introduced to the vast world of Real Estate which lined up with my skills bank quite nicely.

I was a teacher.... too many vacations for me....I wanted a full time job and this was it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Corporate life; too much oversight drove me out.

Long story and it just sort of happened a few months after graduating from college!

Prior to becoming a real estate agent the majority of my career was in Information Technology.  I got into real estate because I wanted my own business.

I enjoy helping people, have a passion for real estate and wanted flexibility to travel with my husband for his work.   I didn't like having to ask for time off and them telling me how much vacation I had.  LOL

Wayne worked in IT and is not full time real estate, I am a full time science teacher and part time real estate. We fell into real estate by accident but stay because it's an absolute thrill to help people make their lives better.

I opened my first real estate office after finishing law school. The opportunities appeared to be greater than practicing law.

Corporate. America. Nuff said...

High tech background.  A passion now.

CSR at a bank.

I spent almost 20 years in corporate finance. Wanted to do something more entrepreneurial when we returned from a number of years overseas. Had seen so much bad "brokering" personally, I felt I could run rings around 95+% of the agents out there. And I did and I have for almost 25 years now.