Are you interested in pursuing a career in insurance? If yes, there are many things to do before applying to any insurance job opening.
Start by exploring the industry through research and networking. Where possible, develop some work experience in the industry. Internships, customer service, and administrative positions are great means to get your foot in the door and gain that valuable insurance industry experience.
Doing so helps build your skills, knowledge, and experience. That’s an easy way to make a foundation for your career in the industry.
In this article, we’ll look at strategies to start and boost your careers in the industry. If you follow them, you’ll be guaranteed to get an insurance job.
- Identify Your Career Goals
Insurance is a broad discipline with different careers. The roles in the insurance sector are all different. That’s why you need to know what to do at the earliest possible stage.
Are you a people person? Sales and customer service may be right for you. More analytical? An actuary career could be more to your liking.
Knowing your career goals will shape your educations. Use these goals to plot your entire career path in the industry.
- Acquire Relevant Skills and Experience in the Insurance Industry
At times, we may have experience in other sectors save for insurance. However, that doesn’t mean that these skills aren’t relevant to the insurance industry.
For instance, your volunteer service at camp counseling or food service may be transferable to insurance.
How? All these tasks involve dealing with people and getting solutions to most problems they face. That’s the same case with insurance. All the sectors require superb interpersonal skills.
- Build and Develop Your Network
Chances are you already know one insurance expert. It may be through your home insurance, car insurance, or through your parents. So, building your connection in the industry doesn’t have to start from zero.
From here, you can branch out and create new connections by attending social and professional events. These may be in your college or the industry. You may not land a job right away at an event. However, it introduces you to people you can follow up with later for assistance and guidance.
Different insurance roles require different licenses and certificates. So it would help if you considered undertaking a course or two towards getting a professional designation. Proactively pursuing a professional certification can make you attractive to potential employers.
Plus, once you get the job, your employer may offer to support you in your education. Such may be regarding salary bonuses, tuition assistance, or a paid time off.
If you have all this, it’s time to prepare for your interview. Its success is dependent on the research you undertake. Understand what the company wants and tailor your application to their demands.
