What you learned in school is book knowledge, but the knowledge you need when you start working, is different.  Make sure the Broker has the training available to you and not let you fend for yourself.

A mentorship and good training program is a must. That is what a new agent needs to look for. Later your needs will be different.

Are you from Utah?  

You are an independent contractor.  When you hang your license with a broker, you are your own business.  YOU are the business and you should think like that.  You are not an employee of the brokerage and they really have no obligation to train.  Very few do.  I never relied on a brokerage to assist me, or train me.   If you think you need to be trained, find a brokerage that offers training.  

I would say Leads are the most important thing a broker can do for you as a new agent. Mentoring is great but it's tough to have all the training and know-how and no business to use it on. There are lots of places you can get training for free or low cost (local MLS boards, other agents, books, online) but getting deals done is the only way to stay in the business.

By closing deals, you will learn on the job which is the most valuable training.

They should be able to offer education, mentoring and other support. Interview several and see which one you can trust the most, or which one you are most comfortable with. Try to gauge the atmosphere in the office - are the other agents friendly, supportive or just secretive and competitive?

It depends on your background - what affiliated experience you may have that will help you in real estate, your experience buying and selling properties and your personal network.  My answer to an 18 year old recent high school graduate who just moved to a new town and still lives at home with mom and dad would be different than my answer to a 40 something building contractor who has extensive home building knowledge, who actually know what an earnest money deposit it and who is active in his community.  

Different brokerages offer different things;  if you have no relevant experience, you need training from a very supportive brokerage who offers a mentor program.  No exceptions. This is not the time to be overly concerned about your commission split; this is the time to be concerned about how you best serve your clients.  This is the time to learn the contract and know the market.  You need a supportive place where you will have resources and people to call on for help.  You don't need to be plopped down at a desk in a bullpen with a phone and a script.

Training. then commission.

They always say they will train but most say more than they do. Same as leads.

Scott Richardson You received many excellent suggestions in comments as well as link to recent post.  Good luck.  Hope to see you as licensed agent soon.

What Diana Zaccaro said.

Training, shadowing and/or mentoring, opportunities to do open houses on brokerage listings are a few of the things to look for.

Training is a must and look for a broker who also provides mentoring,  you will need both for at least a year or so.

Mentoring and education

Scott,

There is only one thing you need to know about the broker.

Everything else is sugar words and shiny things to entertain you while they watch to see if you learn to swim or drown as you are dumped into the deep end. All of these deceptions live behind the words 'TRAINING."

To select a broker, you have the broker share with you the average number of transactions, per licensed agent (including those on teams) for the last 12 months.

This number is the validation regarding whether the systems, training, support, compensation, community and guidance of this brokerage works.

Works means the number is near 20 and not 10. Don't take the brokers word for it, their currency is deception, see the transaction number on the Association report they all have. The broker will need to tell you the agent count.

When you have identified the broker with true evidence of success, you need to share your business description and who in the brokerage can get you engaged in transactions a quickly as possible.  (A responsible business owner will have a business plan. DO you?)

Now comes the hard part.
Do what you are told to do....even if you don't like it.

You learn by doing

You earn by completing.

You do neither warming a stool in the training room.

GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK - BREAKING THE FAILURE SYSTEM

Lots of hands on training and even a mentor that can help get the new agent on the right track.

Scott Richardson,

Know that it is not easy money and you will need to work hard. You will become an independent contractor working under a brokerage. Have money set aside for at least six months or so. Interview a lot Brokers and Realtors. Is there a lot of competition in your market area? What areas will you service? The best to you:)

I agree with Susan.

Several blogs here with different perspectives HERE. Good luck!

I haven't read all the comments, but I'd seek out a broker who doesn't compete/doesn't sell real estate.  There are two schools of thought regarding that comment.  If they are selling, then they are actively engaging and know the market.   But that also means they are competing with  you for business.  In my "town" of 4 million, it's not that big of a problem, but in smaller towns it is a problem.  

You will want a broker that will offer a great training and or mentoring program. 

When I started.I talked.to seasoned.agents for their opinion

I suggest you spend more than an hour listening to their spiel.  Really spend time with them, see their actual work ethic, and talk to other agents in the office.  Also, depending on your actual knowledge of all the forms, paperwork and actual workings of  a transaction which is far more than showing a home and closing, you'll need to ask about training.  Maybe the person you like the best today doesn't offer a lot of training but keep that broker in mind once you've gotten a few sales under your belt. 

The #1 thing is "quality" training, the #2 is broker reasonable and prompt access for support and consultation (ask what are the deliverable parameters for this), and the #3 is the broker intelligent, caring, qualified, and interested in making 'you' successful, nurturing your development,  and in providing you #1 and #2? So interview the broker  like a job interview - you are hiring this broker, and at the end of the day, the broker really works for you - not the other way around. You'll be paying money for this service.

And lastly, make sure this broker is not a smuck after your business or where you'll be taken advantage of.

A comprehensive marketing program, a listening ear, patience, good inventory to sell and the opportunity for meeting new clients (i.e., floor time is great for new agents).  Shadow on a few listing appointments, too.  But unless there is inventory and a steady stream of customers/clients, you can't make it.  The Broker doesn't provide leads, but they need to provide the tools you need to get leads.  And let EVERYONE in the world know about your new office and how much you like it.

Someone that has experience and will mentor you and help you with some up front cost.

Scott,

Training, training, training and mentoring, mentoring, mentoring!  As a new agent, the schooling teaches you nothing about HOW to sell real estate.  Just like a doctor goes through 8 years of school, then gets a residency to learn how to actually do the surgeries and talk to patients, etc.

Get a broker who's personality you jive with.  Make sure they have a formalized training program for new agents (keller williams and coldwell banker are supposed to have good ones) and make sure the training includes mentoring with a GOOD agent to learn the best ways to doing things.

There are several excellent in-depth blog posts on ActiveRain on this subject.  Click here to read one of them by Patricia Kennedy .

Training.   

Scott Richardson A broker with a good training and mentoring program.

One, do you feel comfortable with the sponsoring broker? Two, does he/she have a reputation of being knowledgeable? Three, what is the training program for new agents? Is in inhouse and through a third party? Four, what mentoring program is in place for new agents?

There comes a time when one has to learn by doing. The Broker supervises the doing the part and you go to Q & A, direction and instruction status

A good broker has a history with new agents and offers classes. Plus, you want hands on experience.

A comfortable setting, a very professional office, a record of success and many highly successful agents.

Mentoring. The broker or manager must be available to answer questions. Having someone who will actually help you through the first listing and the first few buyer appointments would be awesome. Someone who encourages you to do your best and provides tools to assist.

Find someone who knows how to train and grow great agents.

Availability and communication skills.  Does the broker come to the office? answer their phone? offer education and training?

One that supplies the services you need.

Scott, Where you decide to go to work is the most important decision you will make.  Forget about splits, names, franchises, flash & glamor.  If you get any of those it's fine, but don't focus on that. 

Find a mentor/trainer who will teach you how to be successful because they are and have trained other successful agents.  Then, do what they say!

Hi, Scott.  We get this question a lot, so I wrote a post about it that you might find helpful - Choose Your First Broker Very Carefully!.