Insurance Broker
Job Description:Insurance brokers use their knowledge of the insurance market to help find the right cover, at the best price, for their customers.
Job Category:What you will do:
In your day-to-day duties you could:
- gather information from clients to assess their insurance needs and risk
- research insurance policies
- arrange insurance cover for clients
- negotiate the best policy terms with insurers
- renew or change existing policies
- make sure all business and paperwork meets legal requirements
- advise customers who are making a claim
- use IT systems to keep records and prepare documents
- prepare case reports for insurance underwriters and surveyors
Skills:
You’ll need:
- maths knowledge
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
As well as:
- the ability to sell products and services (creative skills)
- customer service skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail (organisational skills)
- the ability to use your initiative (ambition/drive)
- persistence and determination
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication skills
Entry Requirements:
To become an Insurance Broker, you typically don’t need specific subjects, but a strong educational foundation and certain skills can be beneficial for pursuing a career in this field. Insurance Brokers help clients assess their insurance needs, find appropriate policies, and manage claims. Here are some relevant subjects and skills:
- Mathematics: Strong math skills are important for calculating insurance premiums, understanding policy terms, and working with financial data.
- English: Good communication skills, including reading, writing, and speaking, are essential for explaining insurance policies to clients and writing reports.
- Business Studies or Economics: These subjects can provide you with a foundational understanding of business principles, which is valuable in the insurance industry.
- IT or Computer Science: Familiarity with computer software and data analysis tools is important, as insurance brokers often use software to manage client information and research policies.
Post School
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards the role
- a graduate training scheme
University
You could take a degree before applying for a place on an insurance company’s training scheme. Relevant degrees include:
- business studies
- finance
- surveying
- engineering
It will help to get some relevant work experience whilst you’re studying, for example through an internship.
Apprenticeship
You could get into this this job through an insurance professional higher apprenticeship.
This typically takes about 24 months to complete with a mix of workplace learning and study.
Work
You would usually start in one of the following jobs:
- insurance technician
- junior account handler
- trainee broker
You could work your way up to broker as you get experience and insurance industry qualifications.
Other Routes
If you have a degree, you could join a large insurance broking firm’s graduate training scheme.
Most degree subjects are accepted, but a business or maths degree may give you an advantage, as there is often a lot of competition for places.
Career tips
You’ll find it useful to have experience in office work, sales or financial customer service.
Working Hours and Environment:
A typical week consists of 41-43 hours of work. You could be required to work weekends.
You could work in an office.
Career Path & Progression:
With experience, you could move into account handling, claims broking or a business development role.
You could specialise in an area of insurance, progress into management, or move into other types of insurance work, like loss adjusting, underwriting or compliance.