Mortgage Bankers

Mortgage bankers often work long hours—especially when the economy is strong and many people and businesses are applying for loans. At its employment Web site, Quicken Loans says that mortgage banking applicants must have the “ability to work various schedules and overtime…up to 55 hours per week.” Mortgage bankers travel to attend industry conferences, open houses, and community events, as well as to meet with real estate developers, mortgage brokers, and business owners.

If you can handle the on-the-job stress, this career can be rewarding. Top producers earn six-figure incomes counting salary and bonus if they work hard enough and make the right connections. Mortgage bankers self-manage their time and are responsible for their own production, usually by making outbound phone calls to clients and prospective clients. They try to keep their pipeline filled by making as many as 50 phone calls every day, staying in touch with clients and following up with other departments to check on status of loans in process.