Insurance Careers: Part One

by Anna Glendenning | More from this Blogger

09 Feb 2007 09:44 PM

A career in the insurance industry might be something to consider. In 2004 an estimated 2.3 million people earned a wage or salary working in careers that support the Business of Insurance. Insurance companies offered 62 percent of jobs, and insurance agencies, brokerages, and other insurance providers and insurance-related services made up the balance of 38 percent of jobs. The insurance industry also offered nearly 151,000 workers to be self-employed during 2004. The majority of these careers were mostly insurance agents.

Insurance companies generally employ 250 or more workers and tend to have home or regional offices located in or near larger cities. Agencies and brokerages are located throughout the country and there are more offices usually employing fewer than 20 workers.

Just under half, 44 percent of all insurance workers do support and administrative job these include the routine clerical, bookkeeping and secretarial duties associated with office work and management. Most of these office and administrative support positions do require skill and a willingness to learn what's important to the insurance industry.

There are many positions in the Insurance Industry that are entry level but, most require at least an insurance license from the state. In some customer service positions for example an insurance license is required as a matter of state laws and protection of the insured customers.

The primary Insurance Related Careers are:

• Customer Service Representatives, CSR
• Marketing and sales managers
• Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
• Auto damage appraisers.
• Loss control representatives
• Underwriting
• Insurance sales agents or producers
• Computer systems analysts, computer programmers, and computer support specialists
• Actuaries

There are many opportunities for advancement in the business of insurance. A motivated entry level office and administrative support employee can take advantage of training and classes and advance to more advance positions such as claims adjusting or entry-level underwriting jobs. A sales agent can build a book of business and maintain a large number of accounts. Many insurance companies expect their employees to take continuing education courses and improve their knowledge and understanding of the Business of insurance.

Be sure to Read my Next Blog about Entry Level Insurance Careers. Related Blogs:

• Insurance Careers: Intro From Top to Bottom.
• What is An Insurance Agent?
• What is the Business of Insurance?

Anna Glendenning is a Families.com Insurance and Guest Blogger. Read her Blogs at: http://members.families.com/happymomanna/blog

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Business of Insurance, Insurance Careers, Insurance Employment