Life Mitra of SBI

Working as an insurance agent is a rewarding and lucrative option for those who want to build a career in sales and protect the financial well-being of the public. Having the option to choose your working hours and the high earning potential are two other reasons you may wish to pursue the role. Understanding the training, education and licence necessary for this role can help you decide if this is the right career choice for you. In this article, we outline steps for how to become an insurance agent, review a description of the role and its duties, explain the skills required for this position and highlight the typical work environment. Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are associated with Indeed. Related jobs on Indeed Part-time jobs Full-time jobs Remote jobs Urgently needed jobs View more jobs on Indeed What Is An Insurance Agent? Insurance agents are salespeople who sell insurance policies and develop strategies for promoting different types of insurance. They oversee a portfolio of customers, identify risk management strategies, assist in policy renewals and track claims. Insurance agents sell various insurance policies and help customers choose policies that meet their requirements. They may sell short-term and long-term disability, health, life, automobile or dental insurance. Automobile insurance agents sell policies that protect against financial losses to their vehicles from automobile accidents, fire, theft and other events. Most agents specialise in a certain type of insurance, such as automobile, property, health or life. While the job duties may vary depending upon the agent's speciality, some responsibilities they likely share include: Identifying sales opportunities for selling different insurance plans Distributing policy payouts after claim submission and approval Recommending risk management strategies that suit customer's risk profile Preparing and presenting detailed reports on the progress of their initiatives Tracking insurance claims to ensure customer satisfaction Generating insurance premium methods for customers Staying current with insurance-related regulatory development Recommending risk management strategies based on the customer's existing risk profile Maintaining insurance records of their customers Developing marketing strategies for competing with competitor's products Scheduling appointments with prospective customers Describing the advantages and disadvantages of different policies Related: How To Become An LIC Agent: Education, Skills And Exam How To Become An Insurance Agent? Learn how to become an insurance agent using the following steps: 1. Complete your education Some companies may hire insurance agents after they complete a high school diploma or a relevant bachelor's degree. Perform research for open insurance agent positions in your geographic area to learn the level of education you may require so you qualify for this role. Then you can apply and enrol in programmes that match your educational background. 2. Research the licence requirements Research the licence requirements that apply to the area where you want to work. If a company hires you to fill an insurance agent's role, they may assist you with the process of obtaining a licence. You may enrol in a course to officially earn your insurance agent licence. Getting certified by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is necessary for becoming an insurance agent. 3. Complete the training Focus on completing the basic training mandated by IRDAI. The training programme lasts 15 hours and you can complete it in three to four days, depending on your ability to understand the concepts taught. You can complete the training online or offline. After finishing the training, you receive a training completion certificate. 4. Complete the exam for the licence After completing the training, it is necessary to pass the exam. A candidate may take a pre-licensing exam to qualify for the training. This is an objective exam and IRDAI expects all insurance agents to achieve a passing score to earn their licences to become certified insurance agents. 5. Create your resume Once you have the required experience and education, create your resume and mention at the start of your document that you are a certified insurance agent. Include your highest level of education, certification and licence information, along with your capabilities and skills. Focus on including your relevant work history in reverse chronological order to attract the hiring manager's attention. Emphasise your relevant skills used in previous positions to demonstrate what you can achieve. 6. Apply for jobs Search for open positions in your area and select the ones that match well with your qualifications. Apply using your updated resume and include a cover letter in your application to increase your chances of securing a job. Customise your resume for each position to demonstrate your passion for working for the company. Focus on including relevant keywords mentioned in the job description. Related: 44 Claim Associate Interview Questions (With Sample Answers) Skills Of An Insurance Agent The following are some skills required for an insurance agent role: Customer service Providing excellent customer service is important to your success as an insurance agent. This primarily involves listening and understanding a customer's requirements and recommending products or policies. Insurance agents with excellent customer service skills are attentive, honest, responsive and professional. The ability to make the customer feel comfortable so that they can trust you with their money helps you gain more clients. Related: Customer Service Soft Skills: Definition And Examples Financial planning While an insurance agent's work focuses on basic financial planning, having in-depth knowledge in this area helps them better understand the customer's requirements. This knowledge builds loyal customer relationships, improves sales numbers and assists agents in recommending better-suited products. As you work with customers from a wide range of age groups, knowing about various tax requirements, stock options and investment opportunities can help you compare different options for customers. This helps ensure customers can select the most appropriate insurance plan. Related: Skills For Insurance Agents And How To Improve Them Problem-solving As an insurance agent, you often search for innovative solutions to customer's financial challenges. This occurs when customers have unusual policy requirements and look for personalised solutions. Using your skill set, you assess the customer's financial risk and suggest insurance plans to mitigate them. When a customer may have challenges with a claim due to lack of coverage, you can use your problem-solving skills to identify issues and offer solutions. Related: How To Highlight Problem-Solving Skills On A Resume Numeracy Mathematical calculations and proficiency in numbers are necessary skills for this career. Part of this role involves calculating policy premiums or evaluating accurate insurance coverage. Errors in premium or insurance coverage cause customer dissatisfaction, which may cause them to use the insurance services of other agents who are proficient in their calculations. You may also require this skill set to make changes or revisions to the customer's insurance plan. Computer skills Employers prefer candidates who are comfortable with using different software. The ability to learn the company's proprietary software quickly can differentiate you from other candidates. You require proficiency in software for spreadsheets, word processing, email and insurance quoting to complete your daily activities. Proficiency in using computers helps personalise and automate emails, identify important customer information and track sales performance. Related: Computer Skills: Definition And Example Organisation As an insurance agent, you handle customer information regularly and may process many insurance policies daily. Staying organised is important for preventing mistakes. Good organisational skills help you maintain accurate customer records. Your ability to organise well also helps you keep track of schedules and contact customers when their policy is due for renewal. Related: Organisational Skills: Definition And Examples Attention to detail As with any job involving payments and calculations, attention to detail is key. Employers prefer candidates with a high attention to detail while completing any task. Errors in insurance plans and premium payments can be a challenging impact for insurance services. Related: Attention To Detail: Definition, Examples And Tips Persistence Persistence is an important quality for an insurance agent. Employers prefer candidates who can keep a positive attitude and maintain their concentration and persistence. As you may handle a range of interactions during the day, staying motivated and connecting with new customers is key for a fulfilling career. Related: Core Skills: Definition, Importance And How To Develop Them Communication Insurance agents work with a variety of customers, which requires them to have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Listening to a customer's requirements and suggesting insurance plans that fit these requests is important for this career. As most insurance policies are complex and difficult to understand, these agents require the ability to present information in an easily understandable manner. This skill set helps you explain the details of the policies to the customers. Your communication abilities also keep everyone informed in the company.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: ₹250,000.00 - ₹300,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Provident Fund

Work Location: In person