There are many sales-type positions within the insurance industry, described variously as sales advisors, agents, consultants and administrators. Employers tend to be insurance brokers, with much of the selling taking place over the phone
Duties include generating and retaining business as well as carrying out basic administrative tasks. The type of insurance to be sold varies according to the individual employer but typical areas include home, building and motor insurance. Ideal candidates are ambitious negotiators with good communication skills. The working environment may be competitive and hectic, and there will be set sales targets that need to be met, which calls for confidence and resilience
Salaries, which often depend on experience and sales performance, range from £16,000 to £30,000 per annum. It is possible to progress to management level for those with team-leading abilities. Trainee managers need good GCSE grades in English and mathematics, and sometimes A levels, in order to get onto certain training schemes. Management positions offer average salaries of between £27,000 and £42,000 a year.

• Meeting targets
• Negotiating
• Communication and listening
• Networking
• Multitasking
• Customer service
• Presentation
• Dealing with huge budgets
• Being honest and trustworthy
• Being attentive and driven
• Being confident and enthusiastic
• Being discrete
• Being positive and amicable

People who work in Insurance Sales typically have some financial or business background. They are good in working with technical or numerical data. Employers may accept various qualifications with the minimum being A levels and GCSEs (A-C). However business qualifications are the most accepted. You can get these qualifications through Bachelors or Masters Degrees; studying areas such as Finance, Economics, Accounting, Business Management or Administration. Further training can also be gained from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).