Making a career change from teaching?
Here’s why insurance sales could be right for you

Teachers are in the headlines—but not for the reasons educators might want.

“Amid Coronavirus Pandemic, Teachers’ Mental Health Suffers,” proclaims USA Today. “Teaching in the Pandemic: ‘This Is Not Sustainable,’” writes The New York Times. “The Pandemic Broke a Fundamental Principle of Teaching,” states The Atlantic.

Between the stresses around a rapid-fire pivot to remote teaching, returning to in-person classes and perennially low pay, it’s no wonder that nearly 1 in 4 teachers say they might quit soon.¹ They’re a part of “The Great Resignation,” which is seeing an unprecedented number of Americans quitting their jobs or considering doing so, with 3.6 million resigning in May 2021 alone.²

While the idea of becoming an insurance agent might seem out of left field for people who have devoted their lives to education, many of the qualities that make people great in the classroom may also set them up for success as an Aflac insurance agent: a love of learning, an ability to communicate and dedication to helping others.

Three transferable skills from teaching

• A love of learning. You don’t become a teacher unless you see education as a value in its own right. Insurance sales involves education too, but it’s not just about agents educating their clients about insurance. It’s also about embracing a lifetime of learning to be a great consultant—learning about new tech tools, monitoring employee benefits trends and understanding the ever-changing needs of the workforce. As for learning the ins and outs of insurance, Aflac is a good teacher—our first-year training program gives new agents the tools they need to thrive. You won’t be left on your own to learn it all; you’ll have us at your side the whole time.
• An ability to communicate. A good teacher isn’t just an expert in her field. She’s a gifted communicator who knows how to impart her knowledge in a way that engages her students and empowers them to grasp the material. That’s true of Aflac insurance agents too. You’re not just selling insurance policies; you’re helping people understand why coverage matters, how they can protect themselves financially and what you can offer them. There’s a lot people don’t understand about insurance—but a strong communicator can help them learn what they need to know.
• Dedication. Pop quiz: Who said the following statement? “It takes grittiness to develop a relationship that begins with a ‘no’ and turn it into a ‘yes.’” Was it A) a teacher trying to command the attention of a roomful of children, or B) an Aflac market recruiter describing a key characteristic of a successful insurance agent? It’s option B, but the skill applies to both industries. And the more dedicated you are to your goal, the greater the chance for success in either.

What becoming an Aflac insurance agent can mean for teachers

We can’t promise you summers off, but since Aflac agents are essentially small-business owners backed by a Fortune 500 company, you will have greater control of your time and schedule than you may have in other roles. This means you can set meetings when they make the most sense for you and your client’s schedules, and work when you are most productive rather than beholden to a school district.

Being an Aflac insurance agent can also bring more financial freedom. Aflac agents work on commission. That might seem intimidating if you’re used to a salary, but consider this: If your classroom head count increases by 12%, your paycheck stays the same. There are more papers to grade and more students to monitor, but your compensation doesn’t change. When you work on commission, you’re paid for each policy you sell, and Aflac’s renewal commissions also means that you’ll be paid for those policies annually for as long as they stay in effect.

“Education majors can be great at this,” says an Aflac trainer who has been with the company for 15 years. “They’re used to relating to all types of people; they’re used to educating and teaching.”³ If you’re ready to apply your skills to a new field with a pay ceiling determined only by your own ambition, we’re ready to teach you what you need to know.