Start by completing your ActiveRain profile. You must brand yourself right out of the starting gate and a consistent and complete profile helps.

You got 12 months of reserve cash as most have no income.....

Great mentor and contact your entire data base of anyone you've ever known letting them know who you are and what you're doing. 

Eric loughran Find a good mentor.

Get a good mentor, shadow and assist them.

Call everyone you know even remotely and keep calling

Start with a company that will mentor and train you and set you in the right direction. Even working as an assistant can give your good guidance and open doors for you.

Get out and let everyone know you are working in real estate. I'm assuming that's what you mean...that you are looking for advice on how to get started. 

Yes, agree with all answers. 

I send ours to Ignite right away.

Hi Eric loughran the first thing you have to do is decide on a niche.  I've found that how you brand yourself from the beginning sets the stage for your future.  VA, first time buyers, new construction, luxury, REO, ect.  this decision is also in line with your current market, your skill set, marketing budget or startup $, and your sphere.

Find a good mentor is Key! 

I have some phone calls, paperwork, door knocking, open houses, home inspections and showings you can do for me.

Seriously, get a mentor, take what they give you and don't cry about the splits. You'll go broke joining a 100% commission brokerage, but you'll make money taking 25% helping a mentor and learning.

Familiarize yourself with the local market.  Become an expert in the available inventory.

• Ask agents in your office who have listings if you can host open houses for them for buyer leads.
• Ask your broker if you can advertise the office listings.
• Ask permission of other brokers & agents to advertise their listings.
• Announce to all friends and family that you can help them with all their real estate needs.

Business plan

Daily Schedule

3 hours of daily prospecting

Study for your license.  Pass the licensing exam.

Fasten your seat belt -- you're in for a real ride.  Good luck.  

If your office has floor time, do open houses, and add everyone you know (other than agents) to your database.

Business plan

start at the bottom and do gopher work. Question everything while running

I always advise young new agents to get started by immediately implementing the strategy agreed to by the broker they hired to execute the new agents business plan. 

Like ANY new business owner, the newbie agent should have started their planning with the research required to create the business plan, other wise they end up asking, 'Now what?"

For you I recommend grabbing your mentor and spend the weekend doing the most unpleasant task in real estate. Show your mentor what you are made of then the mentor will have an indicator of the likely result of time invested.

You may want to start in the new home industry, allot of good sales people started out w/ a builder as a sales rep / they also provide great sales training most resale agents do not get.

Step # 1 - Read the first 200 pages of the Millionaire Real Estate Agent by Gary Keller to learn the MODEL to building a successful RE Career !

The others have given you good answers. I agree you should read all the posts in the September contest.

 Good morning Eric. I am going to assume that you need some income until you get your pipeline filled. In that case, whatever job will be flexible to allow you time off to service your clients

Take one of the courses offered by either Brian Buffini or Joe Stumpt (By Referral Only).  The programs are very similar and they work.

I found the Tips For New Agents very informative. 

Hopefully you are with a brokerage/broker that will guide you and mentor you as you get started. 

That Advice For Newbies Challenge was in October.  The links to all the entries are in the comments section.  Good luck, Eric loughran .

Eric,
As Ryan said, read all the posts from the September contest on "tips for new agents." Get competent as fast as you can.

Read the contest from September on "tips for new agents."  Find a brokerage that has a good mentorship and training program.