Do you hate your job and fancy a change? If so, you are not alone - as The Royal Gazette <$>found out quite a few professionals are leaving their chosen occupations to enter Bermuda’s competitive world of insurance.

The Director of Education and Training for the Bermuda Insurance Institute (BII), Julie Preece says a rather large number of these are either Police officers, health care professionals or teachers.

“They pick insurance because it is such a large industry in Bermuda and considered rather ‘sexy’ with lots of opportunities for well-trained Bermudians,” she says.

And while they never give a specific reason why they are looking for a change, Mrs. Preece adds many just became disheartened and frustrated by everyday “hazards” in their chosen fields, “Like one Police officer who was struck by a car while trying to make an arrest. She just felt it wasn’t worth the risk anymore.”

Mrs. Preece points out that these career changers are also generally men and women in their 30’s and 40’s and in some cases, retirees from the Police Service who are looking for something equally challenging.

“Many of them have no idea what insurance is about, so we sit down and talk about it and I ask questions to determine whether the corporate culture will suit them and if it is what they really want,” she says.

Recently, a high school graduate approached BII about getting into the insurance industry and Mrs. Preece reveals rshe immediately sent her to the Bermuda College.

“We always suggest they first get a degree,” she adds, “which is why teachers, Police officers and health care professionals do so well. They already have a certain level of experience, something the insurance industry could never teach them.”

Once she’s established that insurance is definitely something these people want to do, she will suggest various courses offered by the insurance institute.

These vary from Bermuda Insurance Diploma (BID) courses for beginners to IIA and CPCU courses for the more advanced.

Mrs. Preece elaborates: “The Property and Liability Insurance Principles course covers the basic principles of insurance and gives an overview of the nature and operation of the insurance business as well as an introduction to insurance contracts.”

All BII courses are offered in the afternoon or evening to make it easy enough for people to attend and Mrs. Preece adds that many take the courses as a “general interest” course.

For more information on the insurance industry and the various courses on offer by BII, visit their website at www.bii.bm