I recently graduated from college. Upon graduating I had zero debt, and actually had a few grand in the bank. I took a job that I didn't particularly enjoy doing retail management. Even though i didn't love my job, it paid my bills and then some. I consider myself usually rather aware and don't fall for pyramid schemes or scams. A friend of mine from college told me about the insurance company he worked for and how much money he had made. As a disenchanted young college grad, I was enticed by the flexible schedule and appearent profitablilty.
Upon attending an interview that i meticulously prepared and dressed for. I heard the branch managers hour long rant about how I was going to make 60,000-70,000 dollars next year. He sold me. How couldn't he. I have long wanted to get into the insurance business since I have an Cousin who owns their own company and has been very successful. My parents encouraged me not to leave my safe job to take a commission only job. My cousin who owns an insurance company advised me not to take it either. But I was so convinced that this is something I would be successful at, and obviously my parents just wanted to be cautious and have me take the safe route.
Well in short I've been with United American for four months. My savings are gone, I'm nearly $4,000 in debt. What my branch manager and everyone else within the company failed to tell me was there was 90% chance i would quit this job in the first year and 95% chance i wouldn't last 2 years. My branch manager bragged to me about the recruiting bonus he got by getting me to come aboard. For a living they convince people to give up their jobs to take jobs that will more then likely cost them more money then they will make.
The company makes you pay up front for your licensing, which i'm fine with, but they also make you pay for your own gas, signs, phones, ect. Most people never make over $2,000. I've thought of quitting but have been constantly told that things would "turn around for me". It's not that i'm an aweful salesman its that the company really only expects a few gifted salesmen to succeed. The rest come in, work the phones for the more experienced sellers during their "training" maybe sell a few policies to friends and family and eventually realize they are losing more money then they are making.
I feel duped, ridiculous, and stupid. Joining United American by my estimates has cost me in the neighborhood of $8,000. With a sagging economy I don't how i'll make that up or ever get out of this hole. I recently hit rock bottom when my girlfriend gave me $20 to get a haircut I no longer could afford to pay for.
I'm not saying that UA is a scam or you can't make money. But so few actually do that I wouldn't suggest anyone risking it. They will hire people off the street if they will pay and pass the licensing test. I feel duped that I was sold on this company. Left a safe job that was allowing me to get by, to a job that has 90% failure rate. I don't understand how some of these managers do not feel morally dishonest towards these potential employees. I understand that with every job you may realize it simply isn't for you. But most jobs you are actually paid in that time span it takes for you to figure it out. It's taken a few months to finally accept I shouldn't be doing this. I was told to be persistent, and keep at it, when actually I was digging a bigger hole for myself.
I wouldn;t sugegst this work to anyone, but if you decide to go with it, Best of Luck! I'll be waiting tables trying to pay off credit card bills
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