| Prestige is defined as honor, awe, or high opinion | | | | executives got 14 percent and union leaders were at |
| inspired by or derived from a high-ranking, influential, | | | | 13 percent compared to real estate agents who |
| or successful person or product. Unfortunately, real | | | | according to the poll were rated with "very great |
| estate brokers apparently have very little prestige | | | | prestige" by only 5 percent of the respondents. |
| according to a recent Harris Poll completed in August. | | | | In the category of "considerable prestige" my |
| According to the poll firefighters, scientists and | | | | occupation, real estate agent, moved up from the |
| teachers top the list as most prestigious occupations | | | | basement and ranked higher than stockbrokers, |
| and bankers, actors and real estate agents are at | | | | farmers, and entertainers. With 18 percent of |
| the bottom. | | | | responders saying we had "considerable prestige" we |
| This particular poll measures the public perception of | | | | were just a hair below actors, athletes and lawyers. |
| 23 professions using a nationwide sample of 1,010 | | | | When the poll got to "hardly any prestige at all" |
| adults. They did indicate at only half of the survey | | | | Doctors did the best. Only 1 percent of the |
| respondents were asked about each occupation. | | | | respondents felt that doctors had virtually no |
| According to the poll there were six professions | | | | prestige. With 38 percent, actors were most often |
| perceived to have "very great" prestige. They are | | | | mentioned as having hardly any prestige with real |
| firefighters (61%), scientists (54%), teachers (54%), | | | | estate agents mentioned 34 percent of the time. |
| doctors (52%), military officers (52%), and nurses | | | | Members of Congress were mentioned 17 percent of |
| (50%). They are followed by police officers (46%) | | | | the time as having hardly any prestige. |
| priests/ministers/clergy (42%) and farmers (41%). | | | | Clearly, the real estate profession with such a low |
| The poll indicates there are ten professions which | | | | barrier of entrance has attracted a huge number of |
| when adults were asked about "very great prestige" | | | | participants. I recall reading somewhere that in |
| ranked at the bottom. They were real estate | | | | California one in eight people has a real estate license. |
| brokers (5%), actors (9%), bankers (10%), | | | | On the other hand those of us who have made real |
| accountants (11%), entertainers (12%), stockbrokers | | | | estate a career and work hard at it believe we are |
| (12%), union leaders (13%), journalists (13%), | | | | an honorable profession, dedicated to helping |
| business executives (14%), and athletes (16%). | | | | individuals and families buy and sell, what for most is |
| When participants responded to professions with | | | | the single largest financial transaction of their lives, |
| "hardly any prestige at all" they listed stockbrokers | | | | their homes. Realtors have one of the strongest and |
| (25%), union leaders (30%), entertainers (31%), real | | | | most comprehensive code of ethics to work by and |
| estate brokers (34%) and actors (38%). | | | | our success is based on the quality of service we |
| Compared to other occupations real estate agents | | | | deliver to our clients. Surely that deserves some level |
| did not fare well in this poll measuring prestige. | | | | of prestige if you remember the definition of prestige |
| Compared to occupations like firefighters, teachers, | | | | includes successful product or service. |
| doctors Ministers, and having to rank in order of very | | | | If you get picked to participate next year in this poll, |
| great prestige, I can understand why real estate | | | | remember who helped you buy the house you are |
| agents are not ranked near the top but dead last? | | | | living in and give our profession a face. To view the |
| Can you believe 22 percent of the respondents said | | | | complete survey, visit Harris Interactive. |
| lawyers have "very great prestige?" Business | | | | |