It's easy for people to assume certain things about having a career in the insurance industry but as we all know, you never really know what something is like until you've done it for yourself. Some of us may have gone into the industry with preconceived notions of what it would be like based on growing up with parents who were agents, or based on stories shared by friends who are agents now.
Just like in every career, there are pros and cons that come with the business card, but that doesn't mean they're going to be the ones you'd expect without having done the job yourself. Here are a few busted myths about being an insurance agent that you can share with anyone who may be considering becoming one.
MYTH #1 - INSURANCE IS BORING
If you're an agent, that means you have a whole list of people you're servicing, which by design means you're going to always be busy. Every day you're responding to any number of unpredictable things that have gone in your client's lives which means every day will offer new challenges for you to tackle. Also, lots of agents aim to start their own agencies which means now you're not just an insurance agent, but you're a business owner. Running a business entails a lot more than simply selling insurance.
MYTH #2 - INSURANCE IS JUST A DESK, SALES JOB
Insurance is certainly a desk job, but don't most jobs come with a desk? And yes you're selling, but think about what you're selling. It ain't color printers, my friend. When you sell insurance you're giving people security to protect the most important parts of their lives. Their health and the health of their families. Their homes. Their businesses. Their transportation. Things that people build their lives around. In that case, there's no way you can refer to insurance as just a sales job.
MYTH #3 - AGENTS ARE JUST THE MIDDLE MEN
Having your own book means that you're in charge of proactively bringing products to your customers. Without the agent, there would be no way of knowing what each client actually needs. Agents are not simply robots who quote policies, they do so based on very real human need and understanding. And if you're putting the necessary emphasis on customer service, you'll see that nothing meaningful gets done without you.
MYTH #4 - THE HOURS ARE LONG
Sure, selling insurance may not be your typical 9-5 job where you leave your work at your desk when you walk out the door, but that's the case with a lot of careers. If you're called to help a client after hours, it's likely that they're dealing with some kind of emergency where you're acting as their lifeline to help and that's an aspect of selling insurance that makes it so important. When you look at the hours that way, it becomes an honor, not an annoying obligation.
MYTH #5 - YOU WON'T HAVE ANY SUPPORT
Once you become an agent, you become responsible for your own clients, that's true, BUT, it's in every agency's best interest to help their agents succeed. Most large carriers have a wealth of resources like coaching, online toolkits, and marketing support available for their agents to use when they're in need of help. If you make sure you do your research when becoming part of an agency, these resources are a great thing to look into.
These myths are easily debunked once you begin a career in insurance. Buckling down and getting in the trenches will tell you whether it's right for you, not stories from the battlefield that you've heard from other people. If you're thinking a career as an insurance agent might be for you, take the time to find out for yourself. It could just be the best decision you've ever made.