Finding A Life Insurance License: Resume Essentials

If you're looking to find a life insurance license number for a resume or any other purpose, there are a few ways to go about it. One way is to use an online portal, such as Sircon.com, which allows you to search for licensed insurance agents or adjusters by name or license number. You can also contact the relevant state department of insurance, such as the Texas Department of Insurance, which provides a similar search function on its website. Additionally, the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR) offers a licensing center with resources for obtaining, renewing, and managing producer and adjuster licenses. Finally, each licensed insurance professional is assigned a unique National Producer Number (NPN) during the licensing application process, which can be used to identify them.

How to structure your resume

The structure of your resume is crucial in making a good first impression on hiring managers and showcasing your unique qualifications for the role of a life insurance agent. Here are some detailed guidelines on how to structure your resume effectively:

Begin your resume with a clear and concise header that includes your full name and relevant contact information. Provide your phone number, professional email address, and the city and state where you live. You may also include your LinkedIn profile or any other professional websites or portfolios relevant to your experience as an insurance agent. This makes it convenient for hiring managers to contact you for potential interviews.

Professional Summary:

Under the header, include a brief professional summary that gives an overview of your expertise and qualifications. In one or two sentences, mention your education, years of industry experience, and any relevant role-specific skills. For instance, you could write, "Service-minded insurance agent with 7+ years of experience in property and casualty insurance. Licensed in Massachusetts, adept at combining technical understanding with experiential knowledge to close sales." This section helps you stand out from other candidates and makes a strong first impression.

Work Experience:

When listing your work experience, focus on roles relevant to insurance sales or customer service. For each position, provide the job title, company name, and employment dates. In bullet points, describe your key responsibilities, accomplishments, and the positive impact you had on the company. Use action verbs and quantify your achievements whenever possible. For example, instead of saying, "Helped clients with their insurance needs," you could say, "Educated clients on various life insurance products, ensuring they received coverage that met their unique needs."

Education:

In this section, list your academic credentials, including the degree name, institution, and graduation date. If you have a degree in a field related to insurance, finance, or business, be sure to highlight it. Even if you don't have a college degree, you can still include any relevant coursework, certifications, or ongoing professional development efforts. For instance, you could mention relevant courses like "Successful Negotiation Strategies" or "Business Communication."

Licenses and Certifications:

As a life insurance agent, it is essential to have the necessary licenses and certifications to comply with legal requirements. Create a dedicated section for your life insurance license and any additional industry-specific certifications, such as the Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF) or Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU). Include the issuing organization, license number, and expiration date if applicable. This demonstrates your qualifications and readiness to work in the industry.

Skills:

In the skills section, focus on both technical skills and soft skills directly related to insurance sales and customer service. Highlight your proficiency in insurance software, financial analysis, regulatory compliance, and customer relationship management (CRM). Other important skills to mention include communication, empathy, analytical abilities, and sales acumen. You can also include your familiarity with specific insurance products, such as term life, whole life, or universal life insurance.

Remember to adapt your resume to the specific job you're applying for. Review the job description and use similar language and keywords to showcase how your skills and experience align with the role's requirements. Keep your resume concise, clear, and easy to read, using bullet points and simple fonts.

How to write a compelling professional summary

A professional summary is a concise overview of your credentials, including your education, skills, and work experience. It should be tailored to the specific job you are applying for and highlight why you are a strong fit for the role. Here are some tips for writing a compelling professional summary for a life insurance agent role:

• Tailor your summary to the life insurance industry: Focus on industry-specific skills, experiences, and achievements. For example, mention your expertise in various life insurance products, your ability to build client relationships, and your sales track record.
• Showcase your soft skills through examples: Instead of simply listing soft skills like communication or empathy, demonstrate them through concrete examples. For instance, describe how you built lasting client relationships or consistently exceeded sales targets.
• Include relevant education and certifications: If you have a degree or certification in insurance, finance, or business, be sure to highlight it. This shows you have the necessary knowledge and training for the role.
• Emphasize your sales and customer service skills: As a life insurance agent, selling insurance products and providing excellent customer service are crucial. Mention your sales achievements and your ability to identify sales prospects, develop effective sales presentations, and maintain strong client relationships.
• Highlight your proficiency in digital tools: The insurance industry is evolving, and many firms value agents who are tech-savvy. Showcase your proficiency in using digital tools like customer relationship management software, email automation, and social media platforms.
• Demonstrate your product knowledge: Life insurance agents need an in-depth understanding of the products they sell. List the specific types of life insurance products you have experience with and describe how you educate clients on their options.
• Quantify your achievements: Use metrics to showcase your sales achievements, such as the number of policies sold or the percentage by which you exceeded sales targets. This provides concrete evidence of your ability to generate revenue.
• Avoid generic or vague statements: Refrain from making broad statements about your skills or experience without providing specific examples or metrics. Instead, be precise and give details that showcase your qualifications and accomplishments.
• Use action verbs: When describing your work experience, use strong action verbs relevant to the life insurance industry, such as "sold," "educated," or "prospected." This helps to showcase your skills and grab the attention of hiring managers.
• Keep it concise: A professional summary should be brief and focused. Aim for one to two sentences that highlight your most important qualifications and skills.

How to showcase your insurance sales experience

To showcase your insurance sales experience, follow these steps:

Create a profile summary:

Begin with a concise profile that captures your expertise, experience, and achievements in the insurance sector. Include your specific role, years of experience, and quantifiable accomplishments. For instance:

> An insurance sales executive with over 10 years of experience. A proven track record of delivering in-depth presentations and improving annual sales revenue by up to 150%.

Outline your insurance sales experience:

This section is crucial for demonstrating your ability to drive results. Quantify your experience by mentioning the number of policies sold, revenue generated, or percentage increase in client retention. Use action verbs and dynamic language to describe your successful sales strategies, such as:

• Built and managed a team of over 50 insurance sales agents.
• Developed new sales pipelines and referral networks.
• Utilized upselling techniques to achieve 125%-140% of monthly sales quotas.
• Increased referral business by 27% through cold-calling and networking.
• Maintained meticulous records of client interactions, resulting in improved team efficiency.

List relevant education and certifications:

Include your academic credentials, especially if you have a degree in a related field such as finance or business. Additionally, highlight any specialized certifications or designations specific to the insurance industry, such as:

• Certified Insurance Agent (CIA)
• Certified Insurance Sales Professional (CISP)
• Life and Health Insurance License
• Property and Casualty (P&C) License

Detail your insurance sales-related skills:

Focus on skills directly related to insurance sales and customer service, such as:

• Technical knowledge of insurance products and services
• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Proficiency in sales and customer relationship management (CRM) software
• Business administration and new business development
• Relationship management

Remember to adapt your skillset to match the specific requirements of the job you're applying for.

Use a clean and organized template:

Choose a resume template that is easy to read and focuses on showcasing your professional accomplishments and key skills. Ensure it has plenty of white space and uses clear headings and simple fonts.

By following these steps and tailoring your resume, you can effectively showcase your insurance sales experience and highlight your value to potential employers in the insurance industry.

How to list your education and certifications

The education section of your resume is one of the key areas employers look for. It gives interviewers an idea of your background and how well you would fit the role. When listing your education, it's important to be strategic and concise. Focus on providing key details such as the degree earned, institution name, and graduation year. Emphasise any honours, scholarships, or academic achievements that demonstrate your exceptional abilities.

• Name of School: Include the name of your school, university, or training institution.
• Location of School: State the city and state or country of your school.
• Degree: Mention the degree you obtained, if applicable.
• Graduation Year: State your graduation year or expected graduation year.
• GPA: You may include your GPA if it's above a 3.4.
• Honours and Achievements: List any relevant honours, academic recognition, coursework, activities, or other achievements obtained during your education.

If you're a recent graduate, place your education section before or alongside your work experience. Include more details such as attendance dates, honours received, and your GPA. Here's an example:

> University of Hawaii, 2011–2016

> Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

> Business Essentials Certificate

> Terry Scholar

If you're an experienced professional, move your education section below your work experience. You can remove specific details such as attendance dates and GPA. Focus on creating interest around your work experience. If you have advanced degrees, include them in rank order (e.g., Ph.D., Master's, Bachelor's). Here's an example:

> Atlanta Graduate School of Management | Atlanta, GA

> Master of Business Administration (MBA)

> Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS)

> University of Georgia | Athens, GA

> Bachelor of Accountancy

If your education is still in progress, include the year of intended graduation and any honours, academic achievements, extracurricular activities, or relevant coursework. Here's an example:

> Waters High School | Waters, VA

> Expected Diploma, 2019 (GPA: 3.6)

> National Honor Society, Vice President

> Marching Band, Section Leader

For incomplete education, list any completed coursework, certifications, or other professional development achievements. You can also create a separate "Professional Development" section to showcase your continued education. Here's an example:

> University of Alabama | Birmingham, Alabama

> Completed Coursework: Calculus, Accounting for Nonprofits, Finance 101 & 102

> General Education Development Certificate

> Certification in Grant Writing, Notre Dame Online (2015)

When it comes to certifications, these are documents or certificates awarded by accredited associations or boards. They demonstrate your passion and provide evidence of your expertise, skills, and commitment to professional development. Here are the steps to list your certifications:

• List the Certification's Title: Use a clear and easily readable font to list the full title of the certification under the "Certifications" heading. Spell out any abbreviations to ensure that potential employers can easily search for and understand your credentials.
• Include the Name of the Host Organisation: Provide the name of the association or institution that awarded you the certification. Ensure that you spell it correctly and proofread for typos.
• List the Date Earned: Mention the date you received the certification and, if applicable, the renewal or expiration date.
• List the Prospective Earn Date: If you're currently pursuing a certification, include the expected completion date.
• Provide Details on Associated Skills: If relevant and if space allows, list the specific skills associated with the certification to help explain its relevance to the role.

> First Aid Certification

> American Red Cross, May 2018

> Expires: May 2020

> Relevant skills: CPR

> Notary Public, New York

> New York State Department of State

> Issued Sept. 2017

> Renewal date: Sept. 2021

If you're still working towards a certification, you can list it as "in progress" and provide the expected completion date:

> First Aid Training (in progress)

> American Health Care Academy

> Expected date of completion: May 2020

Remember to tailor your resume to the specific job you're applying for. Read the job description carefully to understand the required and preferred qualifications, and highlight the certifications and educational achievements that align with the role.

How to pick the best resume template

When it comes to picking the best resume template, there are a few key factors to consider. The first is the length of your resume. In today's competitive job market, hiring managers don't have time to read through lengthy resumes, so aim for one to two pages. Next, consider the design and format. While it's important to stand out, it's also crucial to keep things professional. Opt for a clean and simple design, using bullet points and headings to make your information easy to read. Here are some tips on how to pick the best resume template:

• Chronological resume format: This format is ideal for individuals with a consistent work history, showcasing steady career growth and relevant job experience. It is well-suited for professionals who have built a career in one industry, displaying clear promotions, achievements and increasing responsibilities. If you are applying for a position similar to your current or previous jobs, this format effectively emphasises your direct experience and skills.
• Functional resume format: The functional resume format is recommended for those transitioning into a new field or industry. It emphasises transferable skills and relevant qualifications rather than job titles and timelines. This format is also suitable for individuals with significant employment gaps, freelance work or non-linear career paths. Recent graduates or entry-level job seekers can benefit from this format by highlighting skills, education and volunteer work.
• Combination resume format: The combination resume format offers a blend of the chronological and functional formats, allowing job seekers to emphasise both their relevant skills and work history. It is a good choice for those who want to provide a balanced view of their qualifications. This format is ideal for career changers with transferable skills and specific experiences, as well as individuals with varied job experiences, freelance work or non-linear career paths.

When selecting a resume template, consider your level of experience, career stage, work history and the type of job you're applying for. Here are some additional tips:

• First-time job seekers or entry-level positions: Go with a functional format to highlight your skills and qualifications.
• Over five years of experience, applying for a job in the same field: Utilise a chronological format to showcase your career progression and achievements.
• Changing careers or transitioning to a new field: Opt for a combination resume if you have transferable skills and experiences that can apply to the new role. If you lack relevant experience, a functional resume can emphasise your skills instead.

Remember to tailor your resume template to effectively highlight your strengths and experiences. Focus on unique achievements, quantifiable results and skills that are most relevant to the job you're applying for.

Frequently asked questions