How to Get a Job as an Insurance Salesperson and Succeed

You might not make a million dollars selling health insurance the first year, but if you work steadily, you'll make a comfortable living. A salesperson who sells health insurance typically receives a smaller first-year commission than a person who sells life insurance. The difference occurs in the next year's premium payment. Life insurance second-year commissions are minimal compared with those of the first, but health insurance commissions are the same as the first year. This means, every year, as long as you maintain your customer base, your income will grow with each sale.

Things You'll Need

• Telephone
• Appointment book or smartphone
• Money for testing and classes

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Instructions

• 1

  Add a degree to your resume---of course, you do this by taking courses at an accredited college, not simply by adding the degree on paper. Many insurance companies prefer individuals with a college degree. It often doesn't matter what your major is, it's simply the fact you completed college. While it's not always a requirement, you'll go to the head of the list if you have one.

• 2

  Take the necessary courses and sit for the health insurance exam. So long as you're taking the exam, study for the life insurance test and take it, too. The insurance law section on the test is the same for both, and a life license can come in handy if a prospect wants to purchase that insurance, too. While many companies pay you while you secure a health license, it's a savings for them if you already have one. Look for your state on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) state map and click on it to take you to your state's department of insurance website.

• 3

  Select the type of prospect you want as a customer once you secure a position with a company. The prospects can be individuals, self-employed people, businesses and even Medicare recipients if you're selling Medicare Advantage or Medicare supplements. Become a specialist in the area you've chosen. Don't ignore the other types of policies since you might find opportunities with this group of people also.

• 4

  Contact as many people in your specialty area as possible for appointments. The new telephone opt-out laws make phone solicitations difficult unless you receive permission via an answer to a marketing letter. However, referrals from friends and present customers offer opportunities for prospects as do seminars. You can also purchase marketing lists. If you want to sell business health insurance, cold calling on businesses can also bring you many prospects.

• 5

  Stay late at the office until you fill in all available appointments on your schedule for the coming week. An insurance representative without appointments is one that will soon be out of work. Call on business clients once every three to six months and individuals every six months. Prices of health insurance change rapidly, and other agents will call on them if you don't. If you see the prices on the policies increasing, immediately contact your client and help them find alternatives.

• 6

  Provide service and keep in contact. Send a birthday card or Christmas card to clients. Your success depends on you maintaining your relationship and business with the client. Since renewal income is the same as the first year income, maintaining a client is just like making a new sale without all the hassle.