How to Become an Agent: Career Guide, Courses, After 12th, Jobs, Scope, Salary

What does an agent do?

An agent is an individual who has been legitimately enabled to follow up for the benefit of another person or an entity. They might be utilized to address a customer in exchanges and different dealings with third parties. The agent might be given decision-making authority.

An agent is answerable for undertaking the accompanying duties in an organization:

• Schedule and meet groups for relegate or self-generate leads, assist and select qualified people in reasonable Medicare product
• Maintain personal and confidential Medicare & Medicaid client data following all HIPAA.
• Educate clients on organization policies and procedures, answer any questions and record input for corporate review.
• Help TANF clients with acquiring employment
• Follow all relevant HIPAA and privacy guidelines.
• Direct consistency with all CPT and Medicare guidelines.
• Train BDC delegates on phone abilities and CRM use.
• Determine the eligibility of each prospect based on CMS rules.
• Assemble and install aluminum windows for clients.
• Establish open communication with customers to ensure all service transactions are appropriately documented and to keep up all relevant information currently.
• Utilize exceptional communication skills to ensure client comprehension of all product and financing options, boosting consumer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Create computer documentation on each phone call and email answer.
• Work reliably with different internet databases to provide updates and information collected back to account representatives.

How to Become an Agent: Steps to follow

As every aspiring student wants to become an agent , here we will discuss the steps to become an agent.

• Step1: Before making your decision of being an agent, one should align their own interest in order to be successful in this domain. If one is firm on becoming an agent then search for the details regarding the profession.
• Step 2: One must make sure that what are his/her interests, what subject combinations they need to take in higher secondary level, and what courses they are eligible for in order to become an agent.
• Step 3: There is no set of subjects that you should choose to become an agent. A person from any background and any field chooses to become an agent. In 10+2 you can choose accounting, business studies , economics etc whereas for Post-Graduation you should have completed Graduation in any discipline. Having a knowledge of insurance services, loans, and Mortgages, various types of insurance, etc. can help a lot in becoming an agent.
• Step 4: You need to be very sure that you have a strong interest and basic command over those subjects, only then you can do higher studies in agent related courses. These subjects are indegenious to the syllabus, but the candidates from other streams can also study them in their leisure time if they aspire to be an agent. Candidates can go for a B.Com or BBA course in their graduation level, but the companies usually prefer to hire BBA Insurance Services for the positions of Agent.
• Step 5: Preparing for the entrance test is one of the important steps that need to be successfully accomplished in the journey to be an agent. There are several entrance tests for these courses: DU JAT, GATA etc which are conducted once in a year for this program. 
• Step 6: Choosing a decent institute is a bulky interaction as there are numerous universities that offer similar courses, however choosing a good college requires more than just courses. A decent college is one which has a decent placement record, graduated class organization, great normal resources just as visiting resources, framework, Facilities at campus, and so on.
• Step 7: After qualifying particular entrance tests students are called for Group Discussion and Personal Interview. These hold some weightage which is set by call and depends on college to college. Scoring good marks in Group Discussions and Personal Interview alongside scores in Entrance tests clears the path for admission in that specific college. Some of the colleges offer direct admissions to students based on scores acquired in the selection test or the last qualifying test. The admissions are offered Round wise and the rounds depend on the college.
• Step 8: Recruiters looking for those who may have around 1-2 years of related work experience. Likewise, an individual looking for certification needs to have around 1-2 years of industry experience as an officer or related. Generally, having more work experience is useful to an aspiring agent's business possibilities.

Types of Agents

There are many jobs that an Agent does and can choose a career in the same professions some of which are Real Estate Agents, Selling Agents, Buying Agents, Sports Agents, Insurance Agent etc. The accompanying types would enable the students to narrow down their choices, and hence, allow them to pick a particular job role.

Insurance Agent 

An insurance agent ordinarily sells at least one sort of strategy from an office environment like an organization, financier firm, or insurance agency. They work for a business firm that will probably sell policies from a few distinctive insurance agencies, while those recruited by an insurance agency fill in as salesmen for their organization's items. The insurance agent works with their customers to choose explicit approaches and may likewise sell other related financial packages or products.

Real Estate Agent 

Real estate agents work with customers to work with the deal and acquisition of property and houses. They survey property estimation and comparative deal costs in a space to decide sensible costs for selling and purchasing property. Real estate agents should work through protracted dealings to fulfill all gatherings engaged with the exchange of property. It is in the best interest for a real estate agent to bring in however much cost for a deal or buy as could reasonably be expected, as they frequently work on commission based on the final sale price of a property.

Customer Service Agent 

Customer service agents work in numerous kinds of private organizations, including at retail, insurance, and travel establishments. They invest the majority of their time working with clients and customers to create and fortify business-client connections. These connections are crucial for the development of companies, as disappointed clients may not return in future and the organization could develop a bad reputation for poor customer care.

Purchasing Agent 

A purchasing agent is answerable for purchasing quality items for customers at the most reduced potential costs and in the right sum. They additionally get ready buy orders and request bid proposition, just as survey demands for merchandise while ensuring things' providers offer fitting valuing, choice, backing, and dependability. They should likewise follow all local laws and guidelines identified with buying and selling things, just as arrange and rework contracts with merchants or providers as fundamental.

Selling Agent 

Selling Agents are those who search for individuals needing to sell their property. They offer their Types of assistance and address the vender or proprietor of the property being sold. They manage forthcoming customers or specialists. Selling Agents promote their posting to sell the properties.

How to Become Agent in India

Becoming an agent is not what every student thinks of pursuing a profession in. But when researched about the course one can find several benefits of being an agent. Students who wish to become agents should have proper knowledge of what are the entrance tests for the course and what are some of the best institutes for pursuing related programs. A career in corporate sectors is not easy. One must be ready to hustle from the starting phase. The students who need to fulfill their dream must start his/her preparation from the 12th standard itself. A brief description of how to prepare to become an Agent is below.

School Level Preparation 

• At the school level preparation, there are no specific subject combination or streams required to pursue this profession
• However, candidates from any stream can get prefery for this course. One can, however, look into improving in Communication skills and English language
• The students can start to prepare about the different subjects such as accounting, business, public, administration, insurance services, sales etc.
• For BBA program the eligibility criteria is applicable for both Merit based or Entrance based tests
• The students must have cleared his/her previous academic examination which is Class 12th boards.
• In order to get admission in BBA sales the minimum aggregate is 45%-50% from a recognized board.

How to become an Agent After your 12th? 

After finishing your school preparation, candidates can now be able to take a short term professional course in the related discipline. Full-time degree courses will be instructed over 6 months to 4 years. Discussed below is how to prepare for a PG and UG programs.

Undergraduate Preparation 

• At the UG level, candidates aspiring to become an Agent should first focus on clearing the entrance exams and getting admitted in a bachelor’s degree course. 
• It can be any Diploma or Bachelor. The students can also enroll in the alternative courses such as a BBA or B.Com etc 
• Students along with their studies should start focusing on developing sales and communication skills
• Score well in the undergraduation. If possible, they should take internships in any organizations related to the job roles.
• After completion of bachelor degree they can even take up jobs in organizations and gain exposure about how an agent works.
• For the preparation of the entrance test the student must go through the every important topics of the syllabus and start working on each portion of the important topics.
• After clearing the entrance test the student must choose the desired colleges and universities, and start preparing for it. 

Post Graduation Preparation

• Earning a Masters degree in related program also allows graduates to apply for tenure track teaching positions at colleges and universities alongside Senior Position in Organization
• The eligibility criteria for MBA is at least 50% minimum aggregate in Bachelor from a recognized institute by UGC.
• They also have to qualify entrance tests for admission.
• Several universities tie up with various corporate organizations and conduct internships, assignments through which graduates can achieve real-time experience

• After completion of your UG degree and before opting for a job or higher education, it would be beneficial if you gain a professional certification in sales along with a work experience as this will secure for a better salary package in future.

Courses to Become an Agent

There are various types of courses available which an individual can pursue in order to be an agent. Given below are the list of relevant courses for the same:

Diploma in Sales and Marketing

Diploma in Sales and Marketing Management is a full-time 1-year program which goes under the field of sales and marketing. The course primarily centers around marketing as the core business work. The course likewise manages different parts of promoting the executives like consumer behaviour and market research.

Diploma in Sales and Marketing: Admission Process

Universities offer admissions to Diploma in Sales and Marketing Management programs on the basis of merit no entrance exam is conducted. However, admission criteria might vary slightly according to the admission policy of the particular university. Candidates are given admission based on the merit list released by the college. The merit list is based on the candidate’s previous academic record.

Diploma in Sales and Marketing: Eligibility Criteria

• Has a bachelor’s certificate or equivalent degree from a recognized university.
• Obtained at least 50% marks.

BBA in Insurance

BBA in Insurance is a three year course which helps a student to enhance their skills and knowledge for better career growth in the particular specialization. This course Studies the fundamentals and concepts used and practiced in the corporate Sectors.

BBA Insurance: Admission Process

Since most of the universities conduct their own entrance test, it is informed to keep a track with respect to the entrance for BBA. The application forms, for both distance and the common entrance test, are easily accessible in online as well as offline mode.

BBA Insurance: Eligibility Criteria for the Exam

Students seeking admission in insurance course must qualify the eligibility criteria

• Students must have cleared their class 12th with at least 45%-50% with any subject from a recognised board
• They must be Proficient in English language and Communication abilities.

BBA Sales and Marketing

BBA in Sales and Marketing is a graduation course of a span of 3 years which is divided into 6 semesters. This course assists to prepare students at the undergraduate level by directing them in careers such as teaching, media, and industry. Students have an opportunity to have a profound look at all the conceivable outcomes to re-design the market measures, to make the strategies that will be ecologically sustainable.

BBA Sales and Marketing: Admission Process

Some of the colleges/ Universities enrolled their students based on their marks obtained in the 10+2 level of examination. Others need the candidates to clear the entrance tests conducted by them, followed by a personal interview.

BBA Sales and Marketing: Eligibility Criteria

The students of this sales and marketing course need to fulfill the eligibility criteria. the eligibility criteria are:

• Students must have pass the 10+2 level examination with a minimum of 50%- 60% of marks, from a recognized board.
• They must cleared the entrance tests (if any), and obtain a score above the college cut-off.

Course Admission: Important Tips

How to Apply for the Exams?

• Visit the official website register yourself by providing accurate details to generate your registration number and password
• Use your registration number and password to login to the official website and enter your personal and academic details, test center as per your preference
• Upload passport size photograph, signature, and other documents are per the guidelines of examination authority
• Submit the Application Fee
• The last step is to download the confirmation page and print the application form for further use

How to Prepare for the Exam? 

Some of the tips that applicants ought to follow in order to qualify the Entrance Exam are mentioned below:

• Students should know about the subject in which they have interest. Interest sections are the lone key to progress.
• You ought to have confidence on the subject you have chosen in 10+2
• Students must know the details of entrance test, syllabus, duration, conducted by whom, exam level, exam mode. 
• Find a top coaching institute for your preparation for the entrance test. Choose top institutes on some parameters like fee of the institute, faculty, geographical location, number of students, and other facilities
• They must attend an online test led by the institute on weekends to check their preparation.
• They should strengthen your overall knowledge and improve vocabulary because they are difficult subjects for candidates
• Time management abilities are the fundamental key to complete your exam on time. you must know about the sections and the number of questions.

How to become an agent Abroad?

Pursuing sales or insurance related courses abroad to become an agent is one of the most sought after professions, one does not have to worry much about his/her future if they become an agent. The difficulty level of insurance courses is almost similar to what it is in india.

USA

In the USA, international students can earn a full-time undergraduate and masters degree in insurance or related fields.

• They must be well in English language should submit a proficiency test score
• The duration of an undergraduate course is about 3 years while graduates are of 2 years.
• The course fee varies between INR 5 Lakhs to INR 26 Lakhs.

Admission Process

• Students from various countries are mainly interested to study in the USA as it is the final study abroad destination for its tutorial excellence. The range within this land allows the candidates to move with culturally heterogeneous entities. 
• They should recognize the things needed for the admission process in insurance within the USA. The admission process in the USA needs various relevant documents. 

The section below provides details related to admissions.

To be eligible for bachelor or master in USA, associate degree student is needed to-

• Have a 10+2 degree if applying for bachelor courses.
• Have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study from a recognized university with at least 80% and higher
• Provide several GMAT/GRE score
• Submit proof of English proficiency marks through IELTS, TOEFL or equivalent examination

Top Colleges 

UK

The United Kingdom has a number of courses in insurance or sales programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

• Top specialisations are accounting, business, public, administration, insurance services, sales etc.
• The duration of following programs is between 6 months to 4 year.
• Applications needed to be submitted on the university website
• The average course fee is between INR 5 to INR 26 lakhs

Admission Process

• Applications for bachelor or masters in the UK are principally accepted for the intake in fall. Students are needed to own a relevant degree in a connected field to use in UK universities. 
• The essential admissions method for following courses in the UK has been represented within the sections below. Students should note that a number of the scores and applicable documents needed are generic and thus, they ought to continuously visit the university web site before making ready their application package. 

Students applying for bachelor or masters program in UK ought to meet the subsequent requirements:

• Intermediate degree
• Bachelor's degree in insurance or sales or connected field
• Basic knowledge of related field
• Scores of entrance tests needed for education in Britain. 
• GRE or GMAT score
• Average GMAT: 680
• Average GRE: 325
• Proof of English proficiency

Top Colleges

Canada

To pursue insurance or sales courses from Canada, students need to pursue 10+2 in any stream with a relevant subject. For pursuing master's degree courses, they must have done graduation in insurance or any other in any discipline.

Admission Process

The admission process to pursue insurance courses in Canada is based on the scores obtained in 10+2 and graduation and also in the entrance examination.

• Students need to have a prior bachelor's or master’s degree in relevant specialization with 75% to 80%.
• Minimum two letter of recommendation from academic professors
• A valid score in english proficiency requirement tests like TOEFL and IELTS etc,
• Valid student visa and citizenship certificate, etc.

Top Colleges

Australia

Australia offers full-time UG level to PG degree programmes in insurance or sales or related field

• Candidates must submit any one English proficiency test score i.e. IELTS, TOEFL, CAE etc.
• A few of the programmes require students to have prior work experience in their resume. In such a case, documents should be submitted online in official website.
• The average course fee varies between INR 6 to INR 23 lakhs.

Admission Process

• UG programs applications can be submitted through the application portal. Masters course candidate can utilise the university website for the same
• Register on the website and signed in to start your application process
• Fill up your application form
• Submit your recommendation letter by the academic professors and statement of intent. 
• Submit your application subsequently after paying required fees.

To be eligible for bachelor or master in Australia, associate degree student is needed to-

• Students must should have any relevant subject combination at the higher school level
• Minimum two letters of recommendation from academic professors.
• A valid score in english proficiency tests like TOEFL and IELTS etc
• Valid student visa and relevant certificate, etc.

Top Colleges

Benefits of Career as an agent?

After seeing such growth and globalization of the corporate agencies over the years, hiring an agent added value to the organization. The students having the drive for constant increase in sectors and a flair for communication should pursue this degree. Below are given some of the valid reasons which will you in choosing this career

• Being an Agent is not just a challenging profession, but also has its own perks like good salary, work flexibility, learning opportunity, people orientation, analytical and the most important learning Communication skills.
• Career as an agent is a fast-paced and demanding field. However, the pay is something decent.The average pay for an agent, irrespective of experience, is INR 2.5 LPA. A mid level can earn upto INR 5,00,000. An agent with 10 years of experience can earn upto INR 8,00,000 per annum.
• Growth in corporate agencies is in high demand and there will be a lot of requirements of agents in various sectors. So selecting this profession is safe and will be the best career option in this era.
• When students keep acquiring experience in any field, job security will not be any issue in this profession. Agents with a noteworthy portfolio and years of work experience are in much demand. Students with over 10 years of experience upwards of INR 8 LPA and more
• The Positive impact of the career of having an Agent in the industry will not only help in various sectors of the working hierarchy but will also help the organization prosper within.
• Agents as a career option is very challenging. Earning unique experience by identifying, assessing, managing risks, and gaining a vivid set of knowledge will help you to grow in this industry and to make you ready for the next step in the corporate sector.

How to become an agent: Skills Required

To become an agent you must hold some useful skills needed in this career. The business sector is varied and choked with many various career choices for professionals. There are a variety of specializations one will attain to focus on on one side of the agents. The following are some skills for the Agent career.

Salary of an Agent in India

The starting salary of an Agent in India varies from INR 2,50,000 to INR 5/,00,000. The salary however may depend on the sectors and how much experience a person has.

Average Annual Salary

Specializations Wise

Gender Wise Salary

Experience Wise

How to become an Agent: FAQs