Will Hazen
Current job title, company: Real Estate Broker with Compass
Location: Chicago
Interests/Hobbies: Playing golf, trying new restaurants / cooking and traveling.
What do you enjoy most about your current role?
Some of what I enjoy most about what I do is being able to work with a huge range in clientele with diverse backgrounds and circumstances. I help people local and relocating to Chicago buy, sell, invest and rent in residential real estate. My favorite part is taking such a huge life change/decision and being able to guide them through it in as much of a stress free and enjoyable process as possible. I love when my clients are excited about their new home and give very positive feedback about their experience along the way.
What advice would you give to a student trying to break into your industry? ?
The biggest piece of advice for someone trying to be successful in this space is to be patient and to learn as much as possible as quickly as you can. Being a real estate broker anywhere takes time to become a trusted advocate, develop a network of clients and to truly understand your market and best practices. Finding a good mentor willing to help you learn is a huge step. You have to understand that it is not abnormal to not make much money off the bat, but if you invest in learning and going out of your way to be an aid to a successful mentor, you inevitably will create a self-sustaining business with uncapped earning potential.
As an alum, what do you miss most about Madison?
Honestly, all of it. Once you leave Madison it really clicks how special of a place it is. While I do enjoy my line of work more so than going to class. living in a town centered by the University is a very fun atmosphere. I miss living on the lake, being surrounded by all of my friends, a Tags breakfast sandwich, the Globe and a couple bars along the way.
What is the main piece of advice you’d like to share with current econ majors?
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself coming out of undergrad. Too often I see recent grads far too stressed about finding their forever career as soon as they leave school. Try something, take a leap and I think it’s more beneficial to find out what you don’t like in your 20’s. You will develop new skills and takeaways in whatever you do and it will help you grow into whatever inevitably is the best fit for you down the road.