A nonmedical insurance clerk handles the majority of recordkeeping and office tasks associated with nonmedical insurance policies, such as those for renter's insurance, homeowners insurance and life insurance. A high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED®) credentials usually are required. There are certain skills, experience and training that could help make doing this job easier. These might include office, bookkeeping and insurance industry experience.
The bulk of work done by an insurance clerk is done in an office setting. A clerk might be responsible for printing paperwork, mailing, receiving phone calls and filing. All of these tasks generally are learned while working in an office setting. Therefore, to become an insurance clerk, it usually is best to have this type of office experience.
In addition to office skills, it might be helpful to have basic bookkeeping skills as well. An insurance clerk might be asked to generate bills for customers, monitor past due balances and compute policy premium changes. Having knowledge of basic bookkeeping principles and how they apply in an insurance setting can help someone become an insurance clerk.
The insurance industry generally has its own terminology that is used daily. To become an insurance clerk, it could be advantageous to learn this terminology. This terminology likely will be found in documentation that must be read and understood by the clerk, in documentation sent to customers, in company training materials and in phone calls made to the office by customers.
Having the ability to multitask could be another helpful asset for an insurance clerk to have. There might be times when he or she will be called upon to answer phones, make notes, locate paperwork and find information on the computer at the same time. Many times, there will be several items that come up that require immediate attention. Knowing how to handle all tasks effectively and efficiently without being overcome by stress could be very helpful.
Good organizational and customer service skills also can help a person become an insurance clerk. Generally, there is quite a bit of paperwork involved, as well as electronic forms of information. Knowing how to keep this organized and sorted properly is desirable. Many insurance clerks also are responsible for handling customer service, which sometimes includes dealing with customers' problems. Having the ability to calm down a customer and show that his or her needs are being addressed can be helpful.
