InsuranceGuru
Expert
- 95
Hi Gang!
So, I've been feeling pretty beaten, battered, and bruised lately in looking for work in East Tennessee. No lie, I had an interview with Travelers, ended up getting a decline letter three weeks later after I had already received an offer from a State Farm agent. Then, the State Farm Agent laid me off after working with her for a month. I'll be honest, she and I ended up not getting along, which is really strange because if you ask ANYONE that knows me, I'm an easy guy to get along with in almost every situation.
Well, the long and the short of it is this. I came across a great Insurance Agency in Knoxville, TN, and I was so pleased I was just getting the opportunity to speak with them. I didn't even realize when they replied to my e-mail that they intended to interview me on the spot. I was just going in on an "information-gathering," fact-finding mission. Lo and behold, I've got the owner, his son, and their director of Human Resources in the conference room interviewing me. I'm so glad I wore a suit and tie, or I would have felt like a complete ***. Needless to say, I wasn't expecting it, but I was very pleased I got the opportunity to interview on the spot.
They were the nicest people, and I am completely sold on working there if they're sold on me. But being the smart guy I try to be, I thought I'd ask more experienced agents here if there are questions I should ask if I get a second interview or an offer from this agency. Here is my understanding of the work I would do with the agency...
If they wanted to hire me, it would be on a two-year unearned contract where I would earn a salary while building into a commission-based pay structure. The majority of their business is commercial, but they also have access to personal lines and a staff to assist with pushing applications through and getting business written. They are a mid-sized agency that has been in business for over 30 years with about 18 full-time staff including several producers. All marketing is handled in the office, etc, etc. I'm not sure what details I should include here.
I'm not really on the fence about this, it's the best opportunity I've come across, and I think if I was offered a position there'd be no question - I'd take it. But to cover all my bases, what kind of questions should I be asking in this situation so I can speak intelligently about it if I get a callback? Are there landmines I should be looking out for here, and if so, how can I find them? The interviewers explained that turnover rate is very low in their office. In addition to the salary, I can earn commissions on top for sales I close, so the "sky is the limit" on my potential earnings there. It really seems like they care just as much about their producers as they care about their business. I'm floored because it almost feels too good to be true.
Any insight is worthwhile to me, so feel free to help if you can. Thanks so much!
-S.S.
So, I've been feeling pretty beaten, battered, and bruised lately in looking for work in East Tennessee. No lie, I had an interview with Travelers, ended up getting a decline letter three weeks later after I had already received an offer from a State Farm agent. Then, the State Farm Agent laid me off after working with her for a month. I'll be honest, she and I ended up not getting along, which is really strange because if you ask ANYONE that knows me, I'm an easy guy to get along with in almost every situation.
Well, the long and the short of it is this. I came across a great Insurance Agency in Knoxville, TN, and I was so pleased I was just getting the opportunity to speak with them. I didn't even realize when they replied to my e-mail that they intended to interview me on the spot. I was just going in on an "information-gathering," fact-finding mission. Lo and behold, I've got the owner, his son, and their director of Human Resources in the conference room interviewing me. I'm so glad I wore a suit and tie, or I would have felt like a complete ***. Needless to say, I wasn't expecting it, but I was very pleased I got the opportunity to interview on the spot.
They were the nicest people, and I am completely sold on working there if they're sold on me. But being the smart guy I try to be, I thought I'd ask more experienced agents here if there are questions I should ask if I get a second interview or an offer from this agency. Here is my understanding of the work I would do with the agency...
If they wanted to hire me, it would be on a two-year unearned contract where I would earn a salary while building into a commission-based pay structure. The majority of their business is commercial, but they also have access to personal lines and a staff to assist with pushing applications through and getting business written. They are a mid-sized agency that has been in business for over 30 years with about 18 full-time staff including several producers. All marketing is handled in the office, etc, etc. I'm not sure what details I should include here.
I'm not really on the fence about this, it's the best opportunity I've come across, and I think if I was offered a position there'd be no question - I'd take it. But to cover all my bases, what kind of questions should I be asking in this situation so I can speak intelligently about it if I get a callback? Are there landmines I should be looking out for here, and if so, how can I find them? The interviewers explained that turnover rate is very low in their office. In addition to the salary, I can earn commissions on top for sales I close, so the "sky is the limit" on my potential earnings there. It really seems like they care just as much about their producers as they care about their business. I'm floored because it almost feels too good to be true.
Any insight is worthwhile to me, so feel free to help if you can. Thanks so much!
-S.S.
