Insurance Industry - which insurance jobs ???

which insurance jobs are the most enjoyable, don't require a lot of experience, and have the best potential for advancement?

how can i find out which type of job is best for me without actually doing the job?

is there some kind of personality assessment online that could help with this?

Most enjoyable is HIGHLY subjective! I LOVE LOVE LOVE contract analysis, finding ways to insure weird risks cheaper, and "doing it better" than the other agent. Creative underwriting, I like to think of it. BUT, I ENJOY reading insurance policies. Do you? How about, do you like talking with people? I do. And people like talking with me.

The "not a lot of experience" is the hard part. Your options are going to be severely limited. If you can't get hired by a company willing to train you, you'll probably have to start out as an assistant or receptionist, or claims person.

BTW, you couldn't pay me ENOUGH to do claims. I HATE it. But some people like it.

I think that I am the best person to answer your question. I started working at an insurance agency as a receptionist, and as I started learning a few things about this career I started to like it. So one day my boss asked me if I wanted to be come an agent. I of course told her yes. I live in GA, and the only thing that I had to do was go to this insurance school for a week. When I completed that school the instructor gave me a class completion letter (sort like a diploma).Then I went to a testing center to go take the Property and Casualty Insurance test to become a Property and Casualty Insurance Agent. When I passed my test, the testing center gave me a pass score on a document (like a report card), and then I got an application that you can get from the insurance commissioner of your state. I sent in my application, the class completion letter, and the pass score document to the insurance commissioner. The Commissioner review everything, and if it all looks kosher the commissioner will issue your license. I really like being an insurance agent. I am very much a people person, and I like my job.

I worked for two different insurance companies. Each had a different way of doing things, but I can say I loved selling insurance policies and helping the client. What I didn't enjoy was having supervisors all over the country listening to my calls (not that it was a problem, I just felt it was wierd). The second office I worked in was for a small agent and was able to provide full service to my clients and I loved that. However, some people love working claims, and even others love working in underwriting. Many agents like to take on someone new that they can train to their way of doing things. Use that to your advantage when you apply.

Hope this Helps!

It depends on you. Sales with a top company such as NY Life or Mass Mutual can be very fun for the right person and the income potential is unlimited. Other people enjoy more analytical positions such as underwriting. So, it is very important to have an idea of your desires in the workplace. Most companies have you fill out a profile to assist in directing you to the right position.

There are all kinds of jobs in the insurance industry.

Sales - sale and service policies - may be base salary w/ commission. You will have numbers/requirements you are expected to meet. - agents and their staff - usually you are a not an employee of the insurance company itself. So you may not get the same health benefits/retirement. Frequently agents are more like an independent contractor.

Claims - investigate, negotiate and settle claims when appropriate - adjusters and appraisers. There are all kinds of adjusters - home owners, workers compensation, automobile - inside (telephone), field (usually get a company car for this one). Appraisers go and write estimates on cars. Salary position - work as many hours as it takes to get the job done. You are an employee of the insurance company so you usually have pretty good health and retirement benefits.

Underwriting - office and field underwriters- work closely with the sales force. The least amount of contact with the public. They determine which risks to accept. Salary position. Also an employee of the insurance company.

All can be entry level and the requirements vary by company.

Most companies require a 4 year college degree to work in Claims or Underwriting. It usually does not matter what the degree is in - you just have to have it.

All positions have advancement potential.

I am an adjuster - I find it to be challenging and interesting. I really enjoy what I do.

mbrcratz does not want my job - and I don't want hers! That's usually how it is with claims and sales - we work together to meet the obligations under the policy when a claim has happened but we don't want to change jobs. Does not mean one job is better than the other - just means that claims suits me and my personality and sales suits hers.

It really depends on your personality as to which will suit you the most.

In claims and sales -you are working in a high stress situation. You have to work with the public - have strong problem solving skills and be organized.

If you think you want to know more - call your insurance agent. See if they would not mind you coming to their office and telling you about what they do. If you think claims is interesting - your agent may have an adjuster they are friends with that they can put you in touch with. The adjuster can tell you what claims is like.