Career Advice

[Adam H]

This is a question for anyone who looks at resumés and makes hiring decisions. I have been offered a sales position in financial services that I must give an answer to before my SAFE exam. I’m finding it difficult to decide if taking this position would be beneficial to me and could use some input on the two options I’m deciding between:

1) I take the job and then go on to pass the exam and get my foot in the door with a mortgage lender or I don’t pass the exam and then have to work in more time to study and take the exam when my schedule is more crowded.

2) I decline the job and take the exam until I pass whether on the first attempt or not. Afterwards I’d find a lender with a good training program and/or take Xinnix Ground School.

My question is would a resumé with relevant work experience that might realistically only be 1 or 2 months look more or less favorable than one with non-relevant work experience but with Xinnix training? My current resumé is a finance degree and non-relevant work experience that went from 2013 until the end of last year.

[John Coleman]

Hey Adam – great question! D.O. is currently hitting the slopes on spring break with his family – but I’ll be sure he answers this for you as soon as he gets back!

JC

[Adam H]

Thanks, JC. Hopefully by the time DO is back I’ll already have passed my SAFE exam.

[Dustin Owen]

Ok…my two cents before I go shred the mountain one last time…If being an MLO is what you want then focus 100% on becoming an MLO. Working for 1-3 months in Financial Services will hold you back and not help you. Now…working in Financial Services for 12-24 months could benefit you a little but it ultimately delays you from the career in the mortgage industry you currently desire.

[Adam H]

Thanks for the reply, DO. That ended up being the conclusion I came to after thinking about it for a couple days. I turned down the offer and am sitting for my SAFE test in a couple hours.

Hope the next post I make will be a celebratory one!

[Adam H]

Update: Successfully passed the SAFE exam and it’s a bright, sunny, 70 degree day here in Philadelphia.

[Ronny Harpold]

Adam,

I am almost halfway done with my pre-license course and I am getting my headspace right for the SAFE test soon. What is your best advice and study points for someone getting ready for this test?

[Dustin Owen]

Join Rocky’s M.L.O. Study Buddy – Let’s pass the S.A.F.E. exam – https://www.facebook.com/groups/257646308865682

He was Episode 207.

[Ronny Harpold]

Hey Dustin,

I was actually referred to that episode by Aaron Courts for my first time listening to your podcast on Spotify (I have listened to probably 20 episodes this week so far), and you guys definitely have a solid format that is easy to listen to and applicable. I sent a request to that study group as well.

[Dustin Owen]

Courts is a good dude!

[Ronny Harpold]

Yes he is! He was actually my recruiter into the Marines and I have watched him through his journey so far and he is guiding me into the MLO space as well.

[Adam H]

Rocky’s Study Buddy is highly recommended, as you see, but for me I just used Compucram’s practice exams and made sure I was studying consistently everyday. I got to the point that I was familiar with every question in the question bank for those tests but on my actual exam there were certain things I had never seen. Not too many, but some. It’s just a matter of studying enough to where you’re comfortable with the lingo. In my mind as long as you have a good grasp on the different regulations you should be able to deduce any answer for the knowledge-heavy questions, too.

[Zak K]

Hey Everyone,

I passed the NMLS UST last Thursday and today I was able to successfully complete 3 job interviews, but as I sitting across the table from the interviewers’ I had DO’s voice playing in my head saying “Go complete the XINNIX Originator course first”. So far I haven’t committed to any companies but I’m second guessing myself, frankly I’m new to the industry and feel I don’t know shit yet.

What do you’ll advice I should do next? Accept the Job offers or take the XINNIX course first and then test the market for Opportunities?

Also does XCO hold any weight in my resume?

Planning to complete my State of Texas course requirement this week and start on my MU4 after that. I didn’t think I was going to pass the NMLS UST first time around since I bombed Rocky’s hot seat the day before the exam (Rocky’s Classes/MLO Study Buddy Grid is highly recommended, if you’re planning to give the NMLS UST, jump into the hotseat couple weeks from your exam)

[Dustin Owen]

Alright…sorry about the delay. Here goes:

– Xinnix Ground School is legit. I don’t really promote Flight School nor Officer School
– You will never know enough to get started. Just get started
– Find a great branch with a solid sales culture and an approachable, caring, knowledgeable, accessible sales / branch manager
– Spend 3 hours day on Xinnix Ground School WHILE building out your network, making connections with your community / industry, marketing yourself and making sales calls
– Do DON’T have to know everything. You MUST be able surround yourself with people / mentors who can help you find the answers plus you, yourself know where to go to find the answers.

By the way, congrats on passing your NMLS. Take the job offers and take Ground School all at the same time. Get your employer to pay for Ground School or reimburse you if you acheive certain production goals. I hope this helps.

Good luck!

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