Interview Questions for Real Estate Internships: What Larger Brokerages Will Ask

Hook: Nervous about your brokerage interview? Start preparing with the exact questions big brands ask — and model answers tailored to REMAX and Century 21’s 2026 priorities.

If you’re applying for a real estate internship at a large brokerage, you face two problems: interviews at national franchises like REMAX and Century 21 are increasingly focused on technology, branding and lead conversion — and hiring teams expect instant evidence you understand those shifts. This question bank gives you the specific, high-impact questions large brokerages are asking in 2026, model answers you can adapt, and assessment tasks that mirror real interview exercises.

Why this matters now (short answer)

Since late 2024 and through 2025–early 2026, brokerages have accelerated consolidation and tech adoption. REMAX’s 2025 conversions in the Greater Toronto Area and leadership moves at Century 21 affiliates show franchise growth and strategic retooling. Interviewers want interns who can support agent growth, apply proptech tools, and help scale digital marketing & CRM workflows.

Quick takeaway

• Study recent news about the specific office or franchise — interviewers will ask.
• Show product knowledge: CRM workflows, IDX feeds, social ad basics, MLS etiquette.
• Practice STAR-based stories for behavioral questions; prepare 3 role-specific case exercises.

How to use this question bank

Read each question, then compare your short answer to the model. Use the provided templates to craft 30–60 second spoken responses and 150–300 word written answers for take-home assignments. For behavioral items, use the STAR framework (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Top questions large brokerages will ask in 2026 (with model answers)

1. “Why do you want to intern at our brokerage — and what do you know about our recent changes?”

Why they ask: Recruiters test firm-specific interest and research skills. With REMAX’s recent agent conversions and Century 21 New Millennium’s leadership change, this shows whether you follow industry moves.

Model answer (30–45 sec): “I want to intern at REMAX because of its global agent network and recent strategic growth in Toronto; the 2025 conversions show REMAX’s brand appeal and focus on digital marketing tools. For Century 21 New Millennium, I’m excited about the leadership shift under Kim Harris Campbell and the emphasis on governance and tech-enabled local growth. I’d like to support agents in lead conversion and digital content — areas both firms are investing in.”

Interview tip

• Mention concrete facts (office conversions, CEO appointments) and link them to what you can do (social, CRM, market research).

2. Behavioral: “Tell me about a time you helped turn a weak lead into an opportunity.”

Why they ask: Big brokerages prize interns who can support conversion and follow-up, especially as lead generation becomes more automated.

Model answer (STAR):

1. Situation: In a campus housing program, our email open rates were under 8%.
2. Task: Improve engagement and identify 10 warm leads per month.
3. Action: I segmented the list by class year, built a three-email nurture series with clearer CTAs, and A/B tested subject lines and send times.
4. Result: Open rates rose to 22% and we identified 14 qualified leads in two months; two converted to applications. I documented the workflow so agents could replicate it.

How to adapt this

Include numbers and a repeatable process. Recruiters love reproducible wins.

3. Technical: “Which CRMs and lead systems have you used, and how would you recommend improving agent follow-up?”

Why they ask: REMAX and Century 21 franchises use a mix of proprietary tools and third-party CRMs. You should show familiarity with automation and data hygiene.

Model answer:

“I’ve used HubSpot and Salesforce for contact segmentation and Mailchimp for email campaigns. For an agent team, I’d recommend a single source of truth: sync MLS/IDX leads into the CRM, set automated task reminders for 24–48 hour follow-up, and build drip sequences that vary by lead source. I’d also add a simple lead scoring model (behavioral + profile points) so agents know which prospects to prioritize.”

Practical suggestion

• Be ready to describe one automation you’d build (e.g., “if lead opens property email twice, add task: call in 8 hours”).

4. Situational: “An agent asks you for a property valuation on a 1990s condo. You have 2 hours — how do you proceed?”

Why they ask: Tests market research and time prioritization.

Model answer (step-by-step):

1. Pull MLS recent solds and active listings within a 0.5–1 mile radius (last 90 days).
2. Adjust comparable sales for unit size, floor, renovations and HOA fees.
3. Check market trends (days on market, inventory) and recent price-per-sqft movement.
4. Deliver a one-page valuation with 3 comps, a suggested price range, and two recommended next steps (staging improvement and targeting buyer demographics for marketing).

Why this wins

It’s concise, evidence-based and provides action items — exactly what busy agents at big brokerages need.

5. Behavioral: “Describe a time you worked on a team and had to adapt to a leadership change.”

Why they ask: With frequent leadership transitions (e.g., Century 21 New Millennium’s new CEO in late 2025), resilience and adaptability are prized.

Model answer (STAR):

1. Situation: Our student organization got a new president mid-semester who changed priorities.
2. Task: Realign the marketing calendar without losing event momentum.
3. Action: I mapped existing deliverables, proposed a revised 6-week plan that preserved flagship events, and negotiated resource reallocation.
4. Result: We kept all deadlines, improved turnout by 12%, and received praise for the smooth transition.

6. Industry knowledge: “What industry trends should agents be ready for in 2026?”

Why they ask: Employers want interns who can spot where agent support should focus next.

Model answer (short list):

• AI-driven lead triage: Tools that rank leads automatically and suggest outreach scripts.
• Video-first listings: Short-form video (30–90s) for social platforms is now a lead driver.
• Cross-border market play: Broker conversions (like REMAX’s influx in Toronto) show growth via strategic geographic expansion.
• ESG & climate risk data: Buyers increasingly ask about flood, wildfire or energy efficiency data.
• Docs & digital closings: E-notarization and digital title workflows are mainstream in many markets.

How to show depth

Pick two trends you can illustrate with a brief example (e.g., a social campaign you ran, or an AI tool you’ve tested). Mentioning a relevant analytics or tooling playbook (for example, an observability & cost control approach) can show you understand operational trade-offs.

7. Role-specific: “If hired as a marketing intern, how would you structure a 30/60/90 day plan?”

Why they ask: They want to see planning and early impact.

Model answer (bulleted plan):

• Days 1–30: Onboard with CRM and MLS; audit current social and email assets; build a content calendar focusing on highest-performing listings.
• Days 31–60: Launch a pilot short-form video series for top agents; A/B test two paid ad audiences; implement conversion tracking.
• Days 61–90: Scale successful ads, hand off playbooks to agents, present ROI report and next quarter strategy.

8. Culture fit: “How do you handle agent personalities that resist process?”

Why they ask: Big franchises have strong agents who may resist standardized systems.

Model answer:

“Start with empathy: learn their top goals in a 10–15 minute conversation. Offer a ‘win-first’ test — a single automation or report that saves them time and has measurable results. Use data to persuade; if one agent sees another’s higher conversion, they’re more likely to adopt the process.”

Assessment & mock exercises you should prepare for

Large brokerages frequently assign practical tasks during interviews. Below are common assessment types and how to ace them.

1. Market snapshot (60–90 minutes)

Task: Prepare a 1–page market snapshot for a ZIP code using MLS data, pricing trends and two comps.

How to win:

• Choose 3 clean comps, explain adjustments, and show trend lines (price/sqft, days on market).
• Include one quick marketing recommendation (e.g., “invest $300 in neighborhood-targeted Facebook video ads”).

2. Social campaign plan (take-home)

Task: Build a 2-week content plan and sample script for a listing video.

How to win: Use a hook-first script, include distribution (Reels, TikTok, LinkedIn), and include simple KPIs (views, leads).

3. CRM clean-up exercise (30–60 minutes)

Task: Given a CSV of leads, create a plan to de-duplicate, tag and prioritise.

How to win: Provide clear rules for de-duping, a tagging taxonomy (source, intent, timeline), and a basic lead score formula.

Model scoring rubric interviewers use (so you can mirror it)

• Research & firm knowledge (20%): Named recent news, office specifics, or leadership changes.
• Technical fit (25%): CRM, MLS, social tools knowledge and concrete automation ideas.
• Communication (20%): Clarity, concision, and follow-up questions.
• Problem-solving & creativity (20%): Practical solutions and measurable recommendations.
• Culture & adaptability (15%): Team-first mindset and resilience examples.

Advanced strategies to stand out in 2026

These tactics reflect what hiring managers at REMAX and Century 21 are prioritizing in early 2026.

• Bring a micro-portfolio: One page with a market snapshot, one social script and one CRM workflow you built or mocked up. A concise, one-page deliverable follows the same idea as a one-page stack audit.
• Use data visualizations: Simple charts in your one-page deliverable show you can interpret trends quickly — tie these to an observability & cost-control mindset when possible.
• Show AI literacy: Mention specific tools you’ve used for market summaries, transcript generation, social captioning or lead prioritization — and clarify ethical limits. If you’ve experimented with on-device creative tools, a playbook like collaborative live visual authoring shows a practical example of AI in creative workflows.
• Highlight remote collaboration experience: Many brokerages maintain hybrid operations; show you can support agents asynchronously — tools such as local-first sync appliances can be helpful (see a field review of local-first sync appliances for creators).
• Prepare a 60-second agent value pitch: Summarize how you’ll save an agent time or increase leads — memorize it for the “pitch the team” moment.

Model 60-second agent value pitch (script)

“Hi — I’m [Name]. I help agents save time converting leads with two tactics: a 3-email automated follow-up sequence that moves cold leads to warm in two weeks, and a short-form video template that consistently generates inquiries. In practice, that’s about 3–4 extra leads per listing and 30% less time on manual follow-ups.”

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Don’t overclaim tool expertise — be honest about what you can do within 30/60 days.
• Avoid jargon without examples; if you say “lead scoring,” be ready to explain scoring rules. (See a short playbook on identity strategy for 2026 to understand the limits of first-party signals.)
• Don’t ignore compliance: mention you understand privacy rules for lead data (basic GDPR/CPRA awareness where applicable).

Pro tip: recruiters prefer a candidate who can show two small, measurable wins over a candidate who promises broad transformation.

Sample questions to ask the interviewer (always prepare these)

• “What CRM or lead platform do agents at this office rely on most?”
• “What’s one process you wish interns could improve in the next 90 days?”
• “How do you measure an intern’s impact — what KPIs do you track?”
• “How do local market strategies tie into the broader REMAX/Century 21 brand efforts?”

Final checklist before your interview

• Review recent company news (conversions, leadership changes) and cite one item.
• Bring a one-page micro-portfolio (printed or PDF) with a market snapshot and a social/video example.
• Practice 5 STAR stories and a 60-second agent pitch.
• Know 2–3 CRM automations you could implement in the first month.

Closing: Your next steps (actionable)

1. Download public MLS data for a target market and build a 1-page market snapshot (60–90 mins).
2. Create one 30–60s listing video script and record a draft — even a phone clip works.
3. Draft three STAR stories tailored to sales support, marketing and adaptability.

Interviews at large brokerages in 2026 reward candidates who combine practical skills with an understanding of business strategy. Whether you’re interviewing at REMAX after their 2025 GTA growth or at Century 21 New Millennium under new leadership, use this bank to practice, adapt answers to your experience, and bring a micro-portfolio that proves you can hit the ground running.

Call to action

Ready to practice with a mock session tailored to REMAX or Century 21? Sign up for a 30-minute mock session with feedback that mirrors real brokerage rubrics — or download our free one-page market snapshot template and social script samples to use in interviews.

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