Petra Patranoiu

I have a very go-getter personality. If I want something, I find a way to get it. I also think I have almost ridiculous self-confidence, so I don't think that there are things that I can't do that I want to do. I think it's a lot because of the way I was raised. My parents really instilled in me that if I put my mind to whatever I want to do, I will be able to do it.

The best career advice I've received is that your network is your net worth. I know everyone says this, but it's cliche because there's truth to it. I think getting to know as many people as possible is important because you never know when an opportunity will open up. But someone once told me that when you have these interactions with people, try to make them more personal rather than transactional, which I think is very valuable. It's part of the reason why I want to go into real estate. I really like how people-focused it is and how much value there is in connecting to people, no matter what industry you go into.

I think what I've noticed is that other women are really willing to help you out in this industry. I don't know if it's location-based since I'm in Washington, D.C., but it's kind of like a tight-knit community. People who go into real estate, especially women who go into real estate, are very eager to build each other up. So if you're able to form these connections early on, I feel like that could be very positively impactful on your career. I also don't think being a woman should get in the way. I've had people mention to me that brokerage is a very male-dominated field, especially because I want to go into brokerage. But I feel like if you're fierce and you're determined, it shouldn't really matter. I think it's actually an advantage too when it comes to making social connections and gaining people's trust. So see it as your power, not your weakness.

I think entry to the job market right now is just really challenging, and it's something a lot of college students think about. By the time I graduate, it's probably, hopefully, going to be a little different. I also think a lot of people have lost their social skills. I think the pandemic really affected the way people are able to interact and have conversations. That has impacted it negatively, and it shows in the way people interact socially, but also professionally. When I say people, I mostly mean Gen Z and my generation. Regarding AI, I don't have a lot of information to know exactly how it will impact real estate, but I think it has to impact every industry. The thing about real estate, though, is you're always going to need it. There's always going to be a need for real estate. A lot of people are worried about their jobs being replaced by AI. Sure, there will be some that could potentially be replaced by AI, even in real estate, but I don't think the industry itself can be taken over.

Honestly, authenticity is most important to me. That means things like joint values in social interaction, but also in more professional matters. Also, just having my values reflect in my work. I also think discipline is another good one. I think discipline is important to be successful in any industry. I also like to use the word loyalty, and loyalty is easier to translate into the social interaction part in how you present yourself with other people, but I also think it can be explained as commitment. That's a commitment to yourself, your goals, and then also to people around you.