Amikom

I can’t believe I’m seriously thinking about insurance sales. How did I get here?
Whatever you want to do, do the opposite

I think it’s the “Whatever you want to do, do the opposite” mentality I recently borrowed from George Costanza’s infamous Seinfeld episode. I figured, I left my last job to make change and find out what else was out there, I needed to keep an open mind and try something different.
An interview is an interview

After 3 emails from the same email address all telling me to contact different people, two phone calls from other people, and no in person interviews in over 10 years, I set up an “interview” with Aflac. The person who set up the interview “just set up the appointments” and could not tell me about the position. I realize that is a HUGE red flag, but I kept thinking “do the opposite”. Excuse me, do you realize I have a degree from the University of Chicago and 10 years of progressive experience. I am not part of the herd. Um, but these days it is the herd that is unemployed. Well, the dude had told me to make sure I brought my resume with me, so even if they didn’t know it yet, they would know about my amazing background soon. I knew Aflac had a great reputation and very strong marketing. Who doesn’t know the duck and everyone wants to be paid to hang out on a hammock. Aflac was also one of the only companies who has made news recently for doing well and they’ve been listed as a top company to work for several times. And I had nothing else to do that day. It’s not like I had to go to work.
Research the company no matter what!

It was hard to take the interview seriously since I really wasn’t into insurance, but I did my research and learned a few things. First off, interview, not really. More like a group presentation session. Huh, the person on the phone had not mentioned that. I also found complaints online about having to shell out cash for a class, a license, and a laptop loaded with specific software. I also checked out Aflac’s site which explained more. Increasing the number of sales agents is a major part of their current strategy. They also look like a great company with good products that people want and need. They’ve also been huge supporters of cancer research. So from a moral standpoint, unlike a lot of companies these days, Aflac seemed to be doing the right thing.
Vicki from Housewives is an Evangelist so it must be Good!

Due to crazy morning related circumstances, like an immobile toddler glued to Sid the Science Kid, traffic from lane closures, missing an exit, sudden snow out of nowhere, I was two minutes late. I walked into a tight reception area with 3 other people filling out applications. I was handed a folder and told the 10 AM session was full and asked to wait for the 10:30 AM session. If I hadn’t prepared myself for this group thing, I would’ve been pissed. Someone else came in right after me, so then we were 5 quietly waiting very unenthusiastically all feeling a little tricked into coming to this “interview”. I filled out my “application”, which was really just a contact sheet and read through the contents of the folder. It was a little too much of a quick money read for me, but I figured I’d listen to what they had to say. Plus, Vicki from the Real Housewives of Orange County does insurance sales and talks about how great it is, so uh… yeah.
Wow, could this be just the job I’ve been looking for?

So we saw people come trickling out and we were called in and told how great a group interview was because we could ask any questions we wanted. Um, last I checked you could do that at a regular interview too. So here’s the thing. The more the presenter talked, the better it sounded. I was actually interested. Could I have an inner insurance salesman that’s been hiding out all these years?
Vicki’s really rich

Work for yourself. You work harder, you make more money for you. Residual payments. Great marketing and needed product = Soft sell. Benefits employer and employee. To me the clincher was, you are your own boss. And, Vicki does it and got really rich from it. Nothing like basing reasoning from reality shows.
Moooooo

So the “interview” was over and our “applications” were collected. No one ever asked for our resumes. On the way out we passed the waiting area full of other people waiting for their “interview” and I heard the receptionist on the phone saying, “It shows sessions all day today until 4PM.” Wow.
Husband does not want to be married to Vicki

So I got back to my car and called my husband telling him that it was actually interesting and I was considering finding out more information. My husband was not so happy about that. I think he was absolutely shocked. Oh yeah, he doesn’t like Vicki and reminded me she’s on TV and very obnoxious.
You’re hired!

So this morning I got hired. Well I was offered a “position” by email. I’m sure everyone else that indicated they were interested on the contact sheet was also offered a “position”.

I also had a bunch of recruiters contacting me all of a sudden for actual E-Commerce jobs.
Insurance dude back in hiding

I think I’ll put the Insurace Salesman back into hiding and stay on the E-Commerce track. But I still thought it was interesting.