Job Responsibilities
Client Service Representative @ agency/brokerage level -
analyzing property & casualty coverages. Client and insurance
company contact. High level of responsibility for client's
financial concerns. Full time work. Daily: review insurance
policies, attend meetings, negotiate premiums and coverages.
Follow up for quotes; prepare and send coverage proposals to
clients. Weekly: visit clients, attend meetings Ongoing
responsibility: obtain Continuing Education credits, achieve
high level of competency in field, continue to be an asset to the
corporation by satisfying client's needs by obtaining best
coverage for best price using ethical standards meanwhile
increasing income of agency/employer.
|
Job Requirements
Basic: High school diploma or G.E.D.
Additional: 2 or 4 year degree
Must: P & C insurance license from resident state
Optional but important: Designation such as CIC, CPIA, CISR or
CPCU, A.U., ARM, etc.
|
Uppers
If you are obsessive/complusive and anal this is the job for you. Must know ALL
your coverages; all types of policies offered by insurance companies and
basically have a photographic memory. Have an irrational desire to help others
(Florence Nightinggale Complex).
|
Downers
This is a "flat salary" position - not on commission basis.
The CSR position does not pay commensurate with the level of
responsibilty (I've been in this industry for over 20 years,
working at various agencies and other co workers would vouch for
this. We cannot find competent people as they refuse to work
hard & long hours for low pay. Many competent people are leaving
this industry for this reason.) This is industry wide. Other
industries requiring less education and fairly less continuing
education pay better. In many cases, a secretary gets paid
better. Agency employers check with other agency principals to
find out what they are paying their staff and there's collusion
to keep salaries low. I would leave this line of work but it's
hard to "change horses in mid stream."
|
Lifestyle
Depending on your "book of business" you could need to work your accounts
anywhere from 40 hrs a week to 60 hrs a week (no over time is paid). Your level
of "book of business" depends on whether or not you are in favor with your
Manager or not.
|
Compensation
Salary could be lower than what a secretary makes, no bonuses
(or rarely given, or pathetically low - insult level), no stock
options, benefits OK, but remember they are in the insurance
field and why wouldn't they be able to provide some basic
benefits. Sometimes only health is provided, no life, no
dental, no vision, no 401K, etc. Each agency offers different
things, but all in all pretty basic.
|
Advice to Jobseekers
Avoid. Invest time and planning in another field.
|
|
