What I Want to Be When I Grow Up

Were you ever asked as a child what you wanted to be when you grew up?

The answers may have ranged from a doctor, nurse or major league ballplayer to a teacher, ballerina or astronaut.

But did any of you proudly say, “I want to be in the insurance industry”? It’s not too likely.

But today, I’m asking the question: why not insurance? I have had the privilege of being involved in this diverse profession for nearly 25 years. First as a producer and, for the last 16+ years, as a recruiter helping insurance companies and professionals find each other. My goal may sound lofty—to improve our clients’ teams by finding the best fit for their firms while also enhancing the lives of our many candidates and their families by placing them in promising insurance careers—but it’s one I can strive for every day. 

If you ask them, most people working in this business will say they fell into it by accident. That was true for me in my producer days. But, having been involved for as long as I have and seeing the benefits of the business, I can say it’s is one of the best-kept secrets of all industries. This lifetime occupation is one of the business world’s most undersold opportunities. 

Most people think of insurance as a commission-only sales position. Maybe being a producer is not your idea of the perfect career (by the way, many producers are some of the highest-paid people in this and any other industry). But the industry is also full of underwriters, claims adjusters, programmers, business analysts, actuaries, loss control professionals, accountants, human resource professionals, managers and business professionals and executives at all levels. Whatever your passion, there is probably a place for you in insurance. 

The insurance industry offers lifetime careers with opportunities to start in the mailroom and grow and develop one’s profession through advancement and promotions. I’ve worked with candidates who have been in the industry for 30 years and can now boast titles such as VP of Underwriting, CEO, CIO, and many other C-suite roles. With the right attitude and the willingness to work at it, there’s no limit to how far you can go.

We at The James Allen Companies are proud and excited to continue our quest to help companies and candidates alike find each other in this outstanding industry. Give us a call to see how we can be of service.