Perhaps something similar has happened to you as you look for rewarding work doing something besides selling insurance. And maybe you too have said, either to yourself or to the person calling you on the phone about your resume on Salesheads, "This does sound like something I might be able to do well."
After all, selling insurance has many things going for it. One of the biggest is the money you can make: you don't need to be a top performer in many cases in order to pull down a six-figure income. In many lines of insurance, there are even residuals - you get a cut every time the policyholder you sold renews. Play your cards right and you could retire early. Even if you can't do that, you can in most cases set your own hours and work pace.
On the other hand, it's not a job for those not willing to invest a lot of themselves - and some of their money - up front. All states require insurance agents to be licensed to sell insurance, with separate licenses required for life and health insurance and for property and casualty insurance. In most states, the process involves enrolling in special training courses and taking licensing exams. And while one can indeed earn six-figure incomes without overwork, it still takes hard work and determination to get there: the median income for insurance agents in 2008 was just north of $45,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the 90th percentile figure - the earnings that put one in the top 10 percent of all earners - was $113,600. While agents can set their own hours, those hours often include evenings and weekends for the convenience of their clients.
If you're already in sales, there's a good chance that making the move to selling insurance could put more money in your pocket if you are good at what you do. If you're considering changing careers, many of the questions you should ask about selling insurance apply to any sort of sales job that requires prospecting for customers, not least among them, "Am I prepared to handle rejection?"
Whether it's insurance or something else that you're driven to sell, find your sales job at Salesheads.com
By: Sandy Smith
Sandy Smith is an award-winning writer and editor who has spent most of his career in public relations and corporate communications. His work has appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia CityPaper, PGN, and a number of Web sites. Philly-area residents may also recognize him as "MarketStEl" of discussion-board fame. He has been a part of the great reserve army of freelance writers since January 2009 and is actively seeking opportunities wherever they may lie.
Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.
Register or sign in today!