I'm finishing high school soon and looking into job options. I've heard the insurance industry might have opportunities even without college degrees. What kinds of roles could I qualify for with just a high school diploma?
Sure, there are definitely roles within the insurance industry which you can enter with just a high school diploma. Out of these, some of the most common roles include claims adjusters, insurance sales agents, and insurance underwriting support staff.
Claims adjusters, who are responsible for evaluating insurance claims and determining whether or not the insurance company should pay out, typically require only a high school diploma. This role involves investigating the details of a claim and negotiating with claimants and other insurance professionals.
Insurance sales agents, meanwhile, sell various types of insurance policies to individuals and businesses. In addition to a high school diploma, this role may require you to obtain a state license to sell insurance, which usually involves passing an exam.
Insurance underwriting support staff help underwriters assess applicants for insurance and decide what policies to offer and what premiums to charge. In this role, you might conduct initial reviews of applications, gather and verify information from applicants and third parties, and manage policy documents.
It's important to remember, though, that while these roles don't necessarily require a college degree, having some further training or certification can often make you a more attractive candidate and open up more career possibilities within the industry. This could be something like a certificate or associate's degree in insurance, or earning a professional certification like the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) or Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) designation.
Many insurance companies also offer entry-level positions with on-job training programs. This can be an excellent way to gain practical knowledge and experience whilst also earning a living. As you gain more experience in the industry, opportunities for advancement will open up, potentially leading to higher-level roles such as insurance underwriter or insurance manager.
Just bear in mind that while these jobs don't require a degree, they often require strong communication, analytical, and customer service skills, since interacting with customers and making decisions about risk are major parts of the work.
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