Job Responsibilities
Sales and service of insurance and brokerage products and
services to individuals and small businesses. One
responsibility is prospecting which is about 10-15 hours a week,
calling, meeting, adverstising, mailing and promoting to make it
possible to have appointments with clients. 10-15 hours a week
meeting face to face with potential customers. 5-10 hours a week
servicing exisiting clients with problems and questions. 5-10
hours a week learning new trends, studying prospectusus,
gathering knowledge. 5-10 hours a week on case-work.
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Job Requirements
I am currently finishing an MBA. My college is Purdue Calumet
which is higher on the quality scale and lower on the cost scale
compared to most universities. Our MBA program is well-rounded
and not discipline specific. We have 8 required courses,
marketing, technology, accounting, human resources, quantitative
analysis, operations, financial management and strategic
management. Then we may choose 4 more of our own discretion.
All the professors are absolutely excellent. Many have
applicable experience in their field of study beyond academics.
All our graduate professors are PhD's. Many of the students are
returning adults and the program is very accomodative to that
fact. Our program is very team oriented in nature and students
learn to work together which is one of the fundamental
characteristics of our environment. Purdue Calumet is adding
student housing. In the past it has been a walk on campus, but
very high quality for this type of structure as it has sister
universities as well.
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Uppers
Freedom, independence, variety and interesting. The stock market is a very
captivating element in the work environment. There is always an unlimited amount
one may learn in insurance and investments. It is a rapidily changing industry.
Helping clients do things that they could not understand for themselves makes me
feel very valuable.
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Downers
Sales are unpredictable and management always wants more.
Sometime you are the only one that pays the consequences in
income for success or fail but other peolple contribute to that
process without the same risk.
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Lifestyle
People from all walks of life are able to do sales and are encouraged to do so.
Dress as you will, make your own schedule and diversity is definately a plus.
Customers come in all shapes and sizes and usually look for someone they can
identify with. You can be yourself and that's part of what makes you sucessful.
Companies are constantly wining and dining you to represent them and there may be
travel for training.
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Compensation
My salary is a $30,000 draw against an unlimited commission
potential. Benefits in the insurance industry are usually much
better than most companies because it's an area of specialty,
especially if you can vest medical benefits for life if you work
for 10 or 15 years which is not uncommon in my field.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Hang loose. Do not let the ups and downs get to you. Everyone
goes through business cycles and it all evens out in the end.
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