| Many people, who are already employed in different | | | | long hours to find customers and to establish |
| professions, dream of taking up a career in stock | | | | themselves. |
| broking. A midlife career change is an important | | | | Stock brokers need to have excellent interpersonal |
| decision that will affect your future and that of your | | | | skills and the capacity to communicate with |
| family. The pros and cons need to be weighed and | | | | confidence. Employers look for mature, |
| discussed with your family and friends, so that you | | | | self-motivated people, who have been successful in |
| will get their valuable advice and have their support. | | | | their careers and are capable of working |
| Will you succeed as a stock broker? | | | | independently. |
| The most important consideration is the reason why | | | | Stock brokers should be good negotiators and be |
| you want to become a stock broker. Being | | | | comfortable dealing with different types of people. |
| interested in making lots of money is not a good | | | | They must be well organized and be able to handle a |
| enough reason to make such an important change in | | | | variety of tasks, while under pressure. |
| your life. Are you genuinely interested in the stock | | | | Qualifications in finance, economics or business can be |
| markets? If you can honestly say that you find | | | | an asset, though they are not essential. Most stock |
| everything about the stock markets exciting, then | | | | brokers are graduates and the larger companies insist |
| you can consider making the switch. | | | | on this, though graduation is not an essential |
| Look for stock broker career information and seek | | | | requirement for becoming a stock broker. |
| career counseling before you finally decide to make a | | | | You will need to get career training to gain the |
| career change. Career aptitude testing will help you to | | | | knowledge and skills necessary to function |
| decide if you have it in you to become a successful | | | | effectively as a stock broker. In the United States, |
| stock broker. | | | | you have to get a license by passing the General |
| Some people prefer to go into property | | | | Securities Registered Representative Examination and |
| management, which involves maximizing the net | | | | may also be required to post a bond. |
| revenues from property. In this field, there is a need | | | | You have to work with a brokerage firm for at least |
| for self-motivated people with problem solving skills, | | | | four months, to be eligible to take the examination. In |
| who can handle criticism. | | | | many states, people are also required to take the |
| The essential attitude, knowledge and skills | | | | Uniform Securities Agents State Law Examination. |
| Stock brokers need to be ambitious, have strong | | | | A career change is an important decision and you |
| selling skills and be able to handle frequent rejections. | | | | need to take your time to weigh the positive and |
| New stock brokers have to be ready to work for | | | | negative aspects, before you take the plunge. |