Mortgage broker, New Zealand Mortgage Finance Ltd

Marina Thomas helps people to consolidate their debts. Picture / Fotopress

Name: Marina Thomas
Age: 27
Role: Mortgage broker, New Zealand Mortgage Finance Ltd
Working hours: 50 hours
Pay range: $70,000
Qualifications: School Certificate, an accredited member of the New Zealand Mortgage Brokers' Association

Describe how you got this job?

It was through a very good friend of mine, who I had known and worked with years ago, who is a broker at New Zealand Mortgage Finance, which is a subsidiary of the publicly listed company New Zealand Finance Holdings. He told me they were looking for a new broker and suggested I should apply.

Describe what you do?

Mostly what I do is helping people with refinancing and debt consolidation, and with first-home buyers who perhaps need 100 per cent finance. I also deal with a lot of non-conforming clients who need some help with refinancing their properties.

What have you had to do to succeed at this job?

Have a good knowledge and take part in training that has been set up by the company. I have been surrounded by knowledgeable people who have been in the business for years and they have given me some really good advice on starting up in the business. The key is being able to work with new people on a daily basis - everyone has different situations.

What sort of training or experience do you need?

A lot is learned on the job when you first start. This company, and other companies out there, do run mortgage broking training courses and you can take advantage of those. You need to be good with figures and numbers. You need people skills - you have to be able to establish relationships with people quite easily.

What skills and qualities do you need?

You need to be motivated and have a go-for-it attitude. You need to be prepared to call new people and not be afraid of meeting new people, to go the extra mile to help people. You have to build up your own network of contacts so you need to be a people person, to be a good listener, to empathise, and have a little bit of patience, as everyone has a different situation. Anyone interested in this industry must be prepared to meet people, build relationships and have a genuine interest in the welfare of their clients. We all have calculators, that is not really a problem these days, let's face it, but you need to be a go-getter.

Best part of the job?

Helping clients out of difficult financial situations. Meeting people who are perhaps almost at the end of their tether in debt and being able to help them to refinance. It is a big satisfaction to know you have helped these people.

Most challenging part?

The most challenging thing is starting up and building up that network of contacts and getting out there and meeting people. You need patience and perseverance.

How do you define success in this job?

Defining success in this job I think is about knowledge and building rapport with your clients and having the ability to think outside the square to solve their difficult situations.

What are your career hopes for the future?

I'd like to be known and respected in the industry as a top broker and to achieve my goals to qualify for in-house travel incentives for top performers. And I'd like to have a personal assistant in the future as well.

If I wanted a job like yours how would I go about it?

Speak to people in broker firms, be prepared to go and meet people. That is what I would suggest. Ask questions and see how you go from there. The answers will give you a feel for it. You can also do real estate courses or things like that, as it is a similar type of industry.

What advice would you have for someone contemplating a career like yours?

It's about figures and about people skills so proving to yourself that you have those attributes and approaching broker firms and consistently persisting and being motivated is what it is all about.

The employer will then recognise that you are motivated and it may lead to a job. Anyone interested in this industry must be prepared to meet people, build relationships and have a genuine interest in the welfare of their clients.