The insurance industry as we now know it today is also dramatically different than the old days of the neighborhood insurance man (actually a woman) that Dad would call if a storm blew down the fence, or if my brother had an accident in the car. Dad would call, inform her of what had happened, and arrange to meet the agent at home or at the auto body shop. That was all I could ever think of as a career in the insurance industry. Of course, insurance and investment advisors in today's environment still make house calls, however, these visits involve significantly more than simply collecting a monthly payment, filling out claim forms, or having a cup of coffee with their clients. 
 

The insurance industry today is a highly technical and analytical profession that encompasses a wide variety of skills. There are basically two sides of the industry: Property & Casualty and Life Insurance & Investments. Property & Casualty refers to those areas of insurance that relate to the protection of primarily physical properties such as cars, homes, boats and businesses. These professionals may often offer other forms of insurance such as life and health insurance policies, however their primary business objectives are usually in the property & casualty areas. Careers in the Property & Casualty field are abundant and include all levels of career interests such as career agents, actuarial, claims, management, marketing and customer support. A variety of backgrounds are desired by college recruiters in finance, marketing, accounting, business and management. 

The other side of the insurance industry is the Life Insurance and Invest-ments' side. This is a tremendously expanding field. Careers on this side of the house include career agents, actuarial, marketing, finance and professional investment advisors. Career agents and professional investment advisors are now considered to be critical components of the financial planning and benefit planning process for both individuals and businesses. 

Soon-to-be college graduates considering a career in insurance should know what potential employers are looking for. Most entry-level positions in the industry are at the local or regional office level. These positions are designed to acquaint the new professional with training from the ground up. Property and Casualty training programs often start with training in a local sales or claims office where a new employee may be involved in sales, service and administration. Depending on your interests, and the specific career paths offered with a particular company, you may migrate toward field sales and service or into administration. 
 

Most life insurance and investment companies' actuarial and accounting positions will be located in a regional or national office location, however, so you should be open to relocation to obtain these positions. Those interested in being a career agent or personal investment advisor will find the opportunities in these positions abundant. There are many positions available possibly right in your own hometown. These potentially very lucrative positions are not, however, as easy to maintain. Tim Mackie, agency manager with Prudential Preferred in Baltimore, Maryland advises new candidates to get involved with a personal mentor as soon as possible in your career. Be willing to work as hard as you can and learn as much as you can from these mentors, as soon as possible. Darwin Davis, senior vice president with Equitable in New York City, states this is a great business. There is no other occupation in the world where you have the opportunity to determine your own income, with such little risk, and with as much training as you can achieve in this business. However, success does include a lot of hard work, a little patience and the tenacity to never give up.  

New associates in the industry should expect to undergo lots of hands-on training. Additionally, don't think that now that you've graduated, you'll never have to pick up a book again. Associates entering the Property & Casualty field should expect to have to study for and pass at least one licensing exam before they can practice in the industry.  

Additional licenses and professional designations are typically not required but are usually encouraged. Those individuals entering the Life Insurance & Investments field should prepare for obtaining at least three licenses before being able to practice. Additional licenses are sometimes required by individual states. In order for a professional investment advisor to be able too directly charge fees, or utilize certain professional titles, additional designations and licenses are often required. Most companies today will either pay for in advance, or through tuition reimbursement, all the costs involved in obtaining these credentials and licenses. Look for a company that provides one of these methods for education expenses. You will want to be associated with a company that recognizes and promotes further educational advancement. 
 

Potential employers are looking for candidates with strong communications, technical and analytical skills. In addition to these core skills, students should begin to get involved in a variety of extracurricular activities. Both insurance industry career paths will involve a tremendous amount of contact with the public, therefore, a college graduate who is already accustomed to maneuvering in public circles: civic, social and professional, will enjoy more career opportunities once you are on board with a company. 

A unique characteristic of the life insurance and investment industry is that promotion / advancement does not always depend on someone else retiring, resigning, dying, or being terminated! Career advancement generally is based solely on an individual's ability to perform and produce at the next level, and of course, his/her past performance history. Because of this fact, advancement opportunities often occur much faster than in other industries. It is not uncommon to see associates rapidly promoted during their first few successful years in the business. 

College seniors interested in pursuing a position in the insurance field should contact their university's career placement center or THE BLACK COLLEGIAN'S web site (black-collegian.com). Many companies will utilize the placement centers as a source for recruiting entry-level candidates. Not all companies utilize placement centers, however. Employers in the industry are seeking entrepreneurial-minded candidates, therefore a little additional credit is given to the candidate, who seeks out a potential employer that doesn't just happen to be listed in the university's recruiting directory. Feel free to contact these companies directly by telephone and follow-up by submitting a detailed resume and cover letter. If you are not contacted immediately, place another phone call, or better yet, stop by.  

With all the career possibilities out there for new college graduates, insurance is one that for the right person can be tremendously rewarding.