Looking for a Job

westksbowhunter

New Member
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I have been a school teacher for the last 14 years and I am wanting and needing to make a career change. I have a strong background in sales, automotive and directv. I have sent in resumes to several companies but I am confused on who to attempt to work for. American Family, Platinum, Bankers Life and Casualty to name a few. I am looking for small comfortable place to work in southeast Kansas where I will still have time to spend with my family. Can any of you point me towards a company that might fit my needs? Thanks.
 
Bankers is not the fit for you and I'm not familiar with platinum.

Off the very little information you provided, I don't think this is going to be what you're looking for. Best case scenario for you is probably finding a P&C shop that is looking for a producer, but you're probably going to be taking a pay cut and have to work more than you have/had/are working.

What makes you want to get into insurance? What do you think being an insurance agent means? What makes you think you'd be good at it?

Most of the job is prospecting and most agents fail within the first year because they don't have a good marketing plan or good training. If you want to be the exception, you need to solve those two problems.

Don't get me wrong, this might be the right place for you, but it's a very different animal than what you've been doing for the last 14 years. Very few companies will offer any type of a base for a new producer and the ones that will are going to expect a great deal or substantially limit the upside potential. There are a lot of P&C CSRs that earn a reasonable living, but will never get rich. That seems like it might be the best fit for you.
 
Maybe commercial P&C? There is a girl named Melissa on here that does commercial P&C part time and seems to be doing well.

Like Josh said this business is a different animal, it takes a lot of hard work.
 
I have sent in resumes to several companies but I am confused on who to attempt to work for. American Family, Platinum, Bankers Life and Casualty to name a few.

Go see all of them, with the idea in mind that the company is way, way less important than the people/mentor/manager that you'll work with.

It's about individuals, companies are secondary in importance.

Bon chance (in Kansas, "good luck") :D
 
Bankers is not the fit for you and I'm not familiar with platinum.

Off the very little information you provided, I don't think this is going to be what you're looking for. Best case scenario for you is probably finding a P&C shop that is looking for a producer, but you're probably going to be taking a pay cut and have to work more than you have/had/are working.

What makes you want to get into insurance? What do you think being an insurance agent means? What makes you think you'd be good at it?

Most of the job is prospecting and most agents fail within the first year because they don't have a good marketing plan or good training. If you want to be the exception, you need to solve those two problems.

Don't get me wrong, this might be the right place for you, but it's a very different animal than what you've been doing for the last 14 years. Very few companies will offer any type of a base for a new producer and the ones that will are going to expect a great deal or substantially limit the upside potential. There are a lot of P&C CSRs that earn a reasonable living, but will never get rich. That seems like it might be the best fit for you.

I will succeed at anything I try. I lived for 7 years off of straigt commissions in the auto industry. I made more money then than I have in teaching. My salary has been froze for 4 years. As far as hours, I seriously doubt that I could work anymore than I do now. I also coach so most don't understand the hours involved. I get home at 6:30 on the average day. But once or twice a week we have games or track meets so it is sometimes midnight. We had prom this weekend, graduation next weekend, and state track for 3 days in a hotel next weekend. Like that most of the year. I am burned out and need a change.
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Maybe commercial P&C? There is a girl named Melissa on here that does commercial P&C part time and seems to be doing well.

Like Josh said this business is a different animal, it takes a lot of hard work.

Thanks, part time would suit me just fine. Not looking to get rich at all.
 
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The auto industry is an entirely different game than the insurance industry. You can stick someone in a car, have them drive it around, and it's something they can see, touch, hear, and they know they want. Insurance isn't the same deal.

Out of every 100 people that say "I will be successful at anything I try" and get into insurance, 90+ end up leaving within the first year. Some do end up actually staying, but considering the odds I think you may be a little overconfident.

To match the salary (frozen or otherwise) and benefits you're getting you're going to have to do exceptionally well out of the gate.

Contrary to public opinion and what recruiters say, this industry isn't full of positions where people start off making $50k/year doing part-time work. That's a myth. Reality is that anyone that stays int he industry for long enough can hit that point and more, but you're going to be working 10 hour days to get started and make half that after expenses. Are there exceptions to that rule? Absolutely. But it takes more than a "can do attitude" to make that happen and frankly, most folks can't do it.

I'll ask again:

What makes you want to get into insurance?
What do you think being an insurance agent means?
What makes you think you'd be good at it?
 
Go see all of them, with the idea in mind that the company is way, way less important than the people/mentor/manager that you'll work with.

It's about individuals, companies are secondary in importance.

Bon chance (in Kansas, "good luck") :D

Thank you. That is the type of advice I came on here for. Evidently Josh wants to interview me.
 
Was going to make a suggestion but after seeing the response Josh received, guess I'll just keep it to myself. Can't really help someone that just wants validation for their own ideas. :sad:
 
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