u/InterestingAd9973

I’m applying for an account manager position and the employment application asks if I’ve smoked and when the last time I smoked was. This company is strictly no nicotine. They preform pre employment testing. Has anyone else had to do a pre employment test for nicotine? Did you also get drug tested? I’m assuming this is because they offer health insurance and employees being nicotine and THC free has benefits to the company supplying said health benefits for their employees.

Who is still utilizing cold calling to get prospects? I work at a captive agency selling home and auto insurance and we have a telemarketer making calls all day, 5 days a week. We are still required to make calls. Some of our leads are live leads from web leads (which suck), or monolines, or winbacks. Some of these winbacks are years old. I mentioned running social media ads to the agency owner and he was not keen on the idea. The closing ratio of web leads seems to be close to nothing. I was told we will try this lead company for about a month and see how it goes. I am not happy. I dislike cold calling because I find it to be a waste of time. I do utilize texting and emailing leads, but I know my boss would like me to make calls. I am also considering switching agencies or getting into a CSR position.

Who is still utilizing cold calling to get prospects? I work at a captive agency and we have a telemarketer making calls all day, 5 days a week. We are still required to make calls. Some of our leads are live leads from web leads (which suck), or monolines, or winbacks. Some of these winbacks are years old. I mentioned running social media ads to the agency owner and he was not keen on the idea. The closing ratio of web leads seems to be close to nothing. I was told we will try this lead company for about a month and see how it goes. I am not happy. I dislike cold calling because I find it to be a waste of time. I do utilize texting and emailing leads, but I know my boss would like me to make calls. I am also considering switching agencies or getting into a CSR position.

EDIT: I sell home and auto insurance.

Hi there. I am a 22 year old black/white female. I have a college degree, my CESCL certification, licensed to sell home and auto insurance in 2 states, and lots of previous work experience. I was an assistant pm for a landscape company on the commercial construction side. I oversaw the landscaping of a popular grocery store and low income apartments. I can run equipment such as a loader, skid steer, excavator, trencher. I also have hours of hauling heavy equipment with work trucks and trailers. I left the landscaping job for specific reasons and got into insurance. I was not planning on this and planned to stay at said landscape company but there was an incident. I am not a fan of insurance as I was forced into sales and have had to make it work. I am considering applying for the local plumbing union apprenticeship and getting into the trades as I need steady paychecks and good benefits. Ideally, I would like to get into commercial plumbing. I was looking into an electrical apprenticeship, but it seems like the field is oversaturated and no local unions are accepting applicants. I guess I am trying to make something out of the mess my career path has become. Does anyone have any advice? Any women in plumbing? Any advice or things I should know before I apply?

I’m currently a sales agent for a captive Allstate agency. I’ve been offered positions at a Country Financial office who is looking for someone to take over when the agency owner retires in a few years. I’m selling 20-25 items a month, or $20k-$25k premium a month on average at Allstate. While Allstate is trying to adjust to meet competitive rates from other insurance companies, a lot of the time we are more expensive when I’m quoting. Other sales agents at this agency are selling between 20-35 items a month and average a little more premium than I do. They’ve been in the industry longer than I have but I’m right on their heels as far as the amount of sales I get monthly. I’m really struggling with the difference in paychecks every month. Commission & base salary is paid out on the first paycheck and then my base salary on my second paycheck of the month. I just feel like I should be making more money. Our commission is tiered based on how many items we sell and we do have an opportunity for a bonus every month. Business just feels so slow. I have a college degree on top of my p&c license and lots of work experience. We have a telemarketer but we are still required to make cold calls which I don’t find lots of success in. Referrals are few and far between. The leads we’re working are up to 10-15 years old. I also figured out that the sales agents I work with don’t really work - they just wait around for sales to come in. Should I consider other options? The Country Financial office I’ve been offered positions at said I could do management and service, I don’t necessarily have to sell. I just want to make more money whether I sell insurance or service policies. The inconsistency in paychecks is killing me. Any thoughts?