This should be in Careers and Education, but I thought it would get more traffic here..
A friend of mine just interviewed with a company called Bankers Life and Casualty...after she told me about it, it all seems pretty shady, but i don't know anything about this company or this field, so what do you girls think?
She would be an insurance sales agent.
She would have no salary and would work on commission only
They told her they needed $60 upfront (today, before she was even offered the job officially) to start processing her insurance license
They told her she needed to go buy a laptop for her personal use
(and I know this part is illegal) When she told them she didn't have the money to buy a laptop right now they asked her "don't you have a boyfriend or parents to buy you one?"
Is the no salary thing how insurance reps usually work? Doesn anyone know anything about this company?
TIA
Jahni
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It's pronounced "Johnny," like the boys name....but spelled like an Indian Zuchini.
ack! run the other way! I get contacted by these "insurance companies" all the time. Even though they may sound convincing, there's no potential.
Plus, you should NEVER pay to take a job - that's always a huge red flag.
If she's hell bent on doing it, then she should go out and get her own insurance agent license (if there really is such a thing, and if so, is it really needed for a legit insurance agent.)
Personally, I think she should just tell them she's not interested. It's going to be a big waste of time and money. If these jobs were any good, they wouldn't be soliciting people to take them.
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"Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess." ~ Edna Woolman Chase
A friend of mine is an insurance agent and i called her when i saw your post. tell her (as D said) to "run the other way"
my friend said if she truely wants to be an insurance agent she should check with the reputable companies in her area (Nationwide, State Farm, etc.). Also, she mentioned that she would make a base salary along with commissions to start. some companies continue your base and some wean you away after a certain period of time.
she should never, ever have to buy her own equipment or pay costs up front!!
I had already told her to definitely NOT take the job, ya'll just affirmed my suspicions. I couldn't believe they weren't offering a base salary. I begged her to give me the interviewers name so I could call the department head and report him for his "Boyfriend or Parent" comment.
She just graduated from college and is really struggling financially, she's doing everything on her own, her parents (mom and deadbeat stepdad)are unable to help her at all. She doesn't want to be an insurance agent but I'm afraid she's starting to feel desperate. Her degree is in marketing so she's looking for something in sales, hence the insurance agent prospect.
Thanks again for your help!
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It's pronounced "Johnny," like the boys name....but spelled like an Indian Zuchini.
I know you already told her to say no, but I just wanted to add that I got a very similar offer from another company. They are legit as far as they do get you your ins lic, they do actually sell a real product, and people who work for them can make really good money. That said most people, like 90% or more, do not make enough money to support themselves. I know several people who have done this and worked their butt off and would have made the same amount at McDonalds. When I was invited to one of their recruiting meetings they gave me a CD to listen to. It was all fluff and not actual info and confirmed my skepticism.
Long story short not a good Idea! But I do agree with checking with local ins agencies like allstate or state farm if that is what she is interested that is the best route.