Ever Been to a Recruitment Seminar?

darnardo · 07-06-2009, 09:31 PM

Has anyone ever been to a recruitment seminar for a major insurer?

I would like to hear your experiences. I work for a large insurance company and they are evaluating their agent recruitment strategy. This is in light of a high turnout on the welcoming event but very few agents signing up.

As many of you know the number of agents in the US is depleting (especially those agents who sell mostly from 1 insurer). I'm sure many of you are now independent agents and view your first captive job as an initiation of the sort. Many major insurers (Including the one I work for) hire agents with no previous insurance experience. They hire in groups and have similar recruitment seminars where experienced agents and maybe even the CEO talk of the benefits of working for the company etc...

I assume many of you that have been to these events have an oppinion. Too much formality and not enough practicality perhaps?

I am in a position to make some changes to these events but I need your valuable feedback to do so...

TNAgent · 07-06-2009, 09:54 PM

I have been to two.
Marketed heavily in the paper, monster, careerbuilder and more.
The first had 5 people there and the second 3.
The first was Liberty National
The second was Bankers life and Casualty.

I think it is a time saver, however it gives the impression of MLM and like you are selling them something. For many people that have never worked a job like this, it is a turnoff because they do not want to be sold their next job. At both of the presentations 1 person took off which I always think is rude, but it's their time too...lol

Just thought i would share since you asked.

EDM · 07-07-2009, 12:08 AM

If they can't take the time to set up a one-on-one interview they can't take the time to help me in the future if I was to work with them. I have never had a good experience with recruitment seminars.

alexkane03 · 07-07-2009, 01:52 AM

Well , after 20 years I tell you ......take the good leave the bad . can not throw the baby with the bath water , sooooo one day when you are building your agency you might use this method to attract new agents , always think how can I use this Info .

darnardo · 07-07-2009, 03:38 AM

If they can't take the time to set up a one-on-one interview they can't take the time to help me in the future if I was to work with them. I have never had a good experience with recruitment seminars.

I think you misunderstand the purpose...The seminar is meant to attract candidates to apply... The problem we are having is that many people are showing up to the seminar but not enough are applying.

VolAgent · 07-07-2009, 07:33 AM

And yet again, you showed how great an analyst you are by missing the point.

I agree with EDM completely. You can not take any company serious that wants to recruit you via a cattle call. Also, I am not aware of any major insurer that recruits in such a manner, certainly not one worth working for. Think about it, TNAgent listed two companies that recruit in such a way, do you really want to use a method similar to them? Of course, feel free to post the name of one reputable, major insurer that recruits via seminar and prove me wrong.

Originally Posted by darnardo

I think you misunderstand the purpose...The seminar is meant to attract candidates to apply... The problem we are having is that many people are showing up to the seminar but not enough are applying.

darnardo · 07-07-2009, 09:05 PM

TNAgent

Did you meet the sales manager or general agent at anytime during the session?

You seemed discouraged did you apply anyway?

In your oppinion what is a good method to attract potential talent?

Thanks for your input

jehargro · 07-07-2009, 09:55 PM

Yes, I wouldn't waste my time

EDM · 07-08-2009, 01:25 AM

To further make my point:

I interviewed with all the big companies in my area; Mass, New England, Northwestern, Metlife etc. All of them had a face-to-face for the first interview.

Bankers, NAA and a couple other companies contacted me about coming to there "group interview". The first thing I made sure I did was put their number under "Do Not Pick Up" on my cell phone.

Cenla Agent · 07-08-2009, 02:26 AM

I went to a "group interview" with MetLife years ago, before I was licensed. I would imagine the reason the manager did it that way was because his office was about 2 hours away from this particular town and he didn't have a lot of time to devote to one on one interviews.

AFLAC is another company that frequently does group interviews.

TNAgent · 07-08-2009, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by darnardo

TNAgent

1. Did you meet the sales manager or general agent at anytime during the session?

2. You seemed discouraged did you apply anyway?

3. In your oppinion what is a good method to attract potential talent?

Thanks for your input

1. Yes i met the sales manager in both instances

2. I just walked through the whole thing and left to discern what to do. That is how I foudn this Forum. And based on the info i received decided it may not be the best path. Although the office at Bankers and the manager gave off a very good impression... I was quite impressed with him - however if the product sucks then what good is it (the sucks comment based on forum data) So i did not apply, i told them i need to take my test and they said to call them after i passed.

3. Have them come to your office not a hotel, be real with the people as well as share potential (which bankers did just a class of 3 - but he said the company says first year you will do this but in this market realistically its probably more like this... can it be done yes, but its rare. TRUTH wasthere and that impressed me.) and ask them if they would like to pursue it.

In real estate training I had a motto... Hire in Masses, train in classes, and if they are not cut out fire their a$$es. You have no way of knowing who has it, and who does not have it. I have seen the least likely candidates do what they are told and out produce the best agents. I have also seen the best candidates fizzle. Like Forest says, agents are like a box of chocolates, you never know what ya gonna get... why discriminate and shoot yourself in the foot? I have spent more time with the people that have the potential to knock your socks off and they do nothing. Little time with the people that I think would be a waste of my time... and they blow the tops off the sales chart.

So all this being said, I do not have a problem at all with revolving doors and churn and burn, how else would you know if they are good? The other side to that is, usually the products or prices suck and that you may want to stay away from. I just think the overall perception with the hotel conference room is not a good one.

Theres my $.02

stormtracker · 07-08-2009, 07:09 PM

The main reason that few applicants sign up is the last thing you are going to be told is that there is a license to obtain, along with all the studies/classroom education that your state requires. The nail in the coffin: you have to pay for this-- not the company that you thought you were going to go to "work" for!

moonlightandmargaritas · 07-08-2009, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by stormtracker

The nail in the coffin: you have to pay for this-- not the company that you thought you were going to go to "work" for!

In this business, the only one you work "for" is YOU.

There are only two mentalities: the owner mentality, and the employee mentality.

This business isn't for those with the "employee" mentality.

fze · 07-08-2009, 11:15 PM

I was a branch Manager for a couple of large companies one of which did big seminars to recruit. I picked up several agents but I always felt misleading.

I feel if you let them know that it is going to be a seminar about the company and then you set up second interviews you will sleep better at night.