20 American National Insurance Interview Questions and Answers

American National Insurance Company is a large, publicly traded property and casualty insurance company with operations in all 50 states. American National offers a variety of insurance products, including auto, home, life, and business insurance.

The interview process at American National is known to be competitive. If you’re hoping to land a job at the company, you’ll need to be prepared to answer some tough questions. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of sample American National Insurance interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

American National Insurance Interview Process

The interview process at American National Insurance is lengthy, indepth, and thorough. It consists of a phone screening, face-to-face interview, and background check. The company is very selective about who they hire, so the interview process is designed to weed out any candidates who are not a good fit.

The phone screening is conducted by a human resources representative and lasts for 30 minutes. During this time, the HR rep will ask questions about your experience and education. They will also ask you to describe your motivation for wanting to work at American National Insurance.

After the phone screening, you will be invited to come in for a face-to-face interview. This will be a panel interview with 3-5 members of the management team. You will be asked questions about your experience, skills, and qualifications. You may also be asked to solve a few technical problems or complete a personality test.

Once you have completed the interview process, you will undergo a background check. This is to ensure that you are eligible to work in the United States and that you have no criminal history. If everything checks out, you will be offered a job at American National Insurance.

1. What do you know about American National Insurance?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of their company. It’s important that you do some research before going into the interview, so you can show the hiring manager that you’re serious about this position and have done your homework.

Example: “I know American National Insurance has been in business since 1887. I also know that they are one of the largest insurance companies in the country with over $1 billion in revenue. They offer many different types of insurance products including life, health, disability and property insurance. I’m excited to learn more about the company as well as the role.”

2. Why do you want to work at American National Insurance?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand why you are a good fit for their company. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention something specific about American National Insurance that interests you or what drew you to apply for the position.

Example: “I applied for this position because I was drawn to your mission of providing affordable insurance to all Americans. I believe in equal access to healthcare and would love to work for an organization that shares my values. I also really enjoyed learning more about your company culture from the job description and think I could thrive here.”

3. How would you define customer service?

American National Insurance is a customer-focused company, so it’s important that you understand what the company values in its employees. Your answer should show your interviewer that you value customers and are willing to go above and beyond for them.

Example: “Customer service is my top priority when working with clients. I believe that every client deserves to be treated with respect and kindness, no matter how small their claim or question may be. I also think it’s important to educate clients on insurance policies and procedures so they feel more confident about their coverage.”

4. Are you comfortable with cold calling and prospecting for new clients?

Prospecting is a key part of the job for an insurance agent. Prospecting involves cold calling and networking to find new clients. The interviewer wants to know if you have experience with this type of work. If you do, share your previous success stories. If you don’t, explain that you are willing to learn how to prospect effectively.

Example: “I am comfortable with cold calling and prospecting for new clients. In my last position, I was responsible for finding new clients through cold calling and networking. I found that most people were receptive to hearing about our services when I called them. I also found that many of these leads turned into paying customers.”

5. Describe a time when you were able to successfully convince someone of your idea or solution.

American National Insurance is looking for employees who can think critically and creatively. This question helps the interviewer determine if you have these skills and how you apply them to your work. Use examples from previous jobs or experiences that highlight your ability to persuade others with logical arguments.

Example: “In my last job, I was working on a project where we needed to find ways to reduce costs. One of my coworkers suggested cutting back on our marketing budget, but I disagreed because I knew it would hurt sales in the long run. Instead, I proposed finding other areas of the company where we could cut costs without affecting revenue. We ended up reducing some unnecessary expenses and found new ways to save money.”

6. Do you have any sales experience?

American National Insurance is a sales position, so the interviewer may ask this question to see if you have any experience selling insurance. If you do, share an example of how you helped your company meet its goals. If you don’t have sales experience, explain why and talk about what skills you have that are helpful in sales.

Example: “I’ve never worked as a salesperson before, but I am very outgoing and enjoy talking with people. In my previous job, I was responsible for finding new clients for our company. I would call businesses and introduce myself and our services. I found that many companies were interested in learning more about our products, so I scheduled appointments with them to come into our office and learn more.”

7. Tell me about a time where you had to build rapport with a difficult client.

American National Insurance is looking for employees who can work with clients and build relationships. This question helps employers determine how you handle difficult situations, as well as your interpersonal skills. In your answer, try to show that you have the ability to communicate effectively and empathize with others.

Example: “I once had a client who was very upset about his insurance claim. He called me multiple times in one day asking when he would receive his money. I spoke with him on the phone each time he called and tried to calm him down. Eventually, we scheduled a meeting where I could explain everything to him face-to-face. After our meeting, he felt much better and agreed to wait until the next week to receive his payment.”

8. What are some things that you think the insurance industry needs to change?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of the industry and how you might fit in. It also allows them to see if you have any ideas that could help their company. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention something specific about American National Insurance or the insurance industry as a whole.

Example: “I think one thing that the insurance industry needs to change is its reliance on outdated technology. I’ve seen many instances where customers had issues with online portals or mobile apps, which caused delays in claims processing. If I were working at an insurance company, I would suggest implementing more automated systems that are easier for customers to use.”

9. What is your greatest strength?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you have the skills and abilities necessary for this role. When answering, it can be helpful to think about what you are most proud of in your career so far.

Example: “My greatest strength is my ability to work well with others. I am always looking for ways to help my coworkers succeed, which has helped me build strong relationships with many people throughout my career. In fact, I would say that one of my strengths is my communication skills. I feel comfortable speaking in front of large groups and enjoy helping others understand complex topics.”

10. What is your greatest weakness?

This question is a common one in interviews. It allows you to show your ability to self-reflect and identify areas for improvement. When answering this question, it can be helpful to choose a weakness that isn’t too important or relevant to the job.

Example: “I am an extremely organized person, which has helped me immensely throughout my career. However, I have found that sometimes I get so focused on organization that I forget to take care of other things like customer service. In my last position, I learned how to balance these two aspects of myself. For example, if I was working on something that required more focus, I would put off some of my organizational duties until later.”

11. How did you handle an angry customer?

American National Insurance is a customer-focused company, so it’s likely that you’ll have to interact with customers at some point in your career. Your answer should show the interviewer how you can remain calm and professional when faced with an angry customer.

Example: “I once had a customer who was upset because they didn’t receive their insurance card on time. I apologized for the inconvenience and explained why the delay occurred. The customer calmed down after hearing my explanation and agreed that it wasn’t entirely our fault. We discussed alternative ways to ensure this wouldn’t happen again, and the customer left satisfied.”

12. Have you ever handled a claim before? How did you approach it?

This question is a great way to see how you handle challenges and apply your skills. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention the steps you took to complete the task and what you learned from the experience.

Example: “When I worked at my previous job, we had a client who was in an accident and needed help with their claim. The first thing I did was gather all of the information about the incident that I could. Then, I called the insurance company to find out if they would cover the expenses. They said no, so I contacted the other driver’s insurance company to see if they would pay for any damages. Unfortunately, they also declined.”

13. What is your availability?

Employers ask this question to make sure you are available for the job. They want someone who can work full-time and be committed to the company. When answering, let them know your availability and what days you are not working. If you have a flexible schedule, mention that as well.

Example: “I am currently only working part-time at my current job, but I would love to transition into a full-time position with American National Insurance. My availability is Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., however, I am willing to work overtime if needed.”

14. What are your salary expectations?

Employers ask this question to make sure you’re not overvaluing your skills and experience. They want to know that you understand the job market in their area and are realistic about what you can expect to earn. Before your interview, research salary information for similar positions in the same geographic region. You can also use Glassdoor’s Salary Explorer tool to see how much people with your education and experience level typically earn at American National Insurance.

Example: “I’m looking for a position where I can apply my customer service skills and financial knowledge. Based on my research, I believe $50,000 is a fair salary for someone with my qualifications. However, I am open to negotiation based on the value I can bring to the company.”

15. If you could sell any type of insurance, which one would you choose and why?

This question is a great way to see if you have any experience selling insurance. It also helps the interviewer determine what type of insurance American National offers and whether your skills are a good fit for their company. When answering this question, make sure to mention which types of insurance you’re familiar with and why you would choose one over another.

Example: “I’ve worked in both property and casualty insurance, so I’m comfortable selling either. However, my favorite type of insurance to sell is life insurance because it’s such an important product that can help people secure their future. I enjoy helping customers find the right policy for them and explaining all of the different options they have.”

16. What are the most important skills needed to be successful in this position?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you have the skills and abilities needed for this role. When answering, it can be helpful to list a few of the most important skills and then explain how you possess them.

Example: “The most important skill I think an American National Insurance representative needs is excellent customer service skills. This position requires me to interact with customers on a daily basis, so I need to be able to provide them with quality support and information. Another important skill is problem-solving ability. As a representative, I will often encounter issues or concerns from customers, so I need to be able to solve these problems quickly and efficiently.”

17. Have you ever worked from home?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential employer’s expectations. If you’re applying for an independent contractor position, the interviewer may want to know if you have experience working from home and how it went. If you’re applying for a traditional employee role, they may be looking for ways to ensure you can work independently while still being productive.

Example: “I’ve worked from home before, but only as an independent contractor. I find that I’m much more productive when I’m in an office setting, so I prefer not to work from home unless absolutely necessary. However, I do understand the importance of having employees who are self-motivated and able to get their work done without supervision.”

18. What kind of goals do you set for yourself?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a person and how your goals align with those of American National Insurance. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a few professional goals that you have set for yourself in the past and what steps you took to achieve them.

Example: “I’ve always been someone who sets challenging goals for myself. In my last position, I had a goal of increasing sales by 10% each month. To do this, I researched different marketing strategies that could help me reach my goal. After implementing some new techniques into our marketing plan, we were able to increase sales by 15% per month.”

19. What do you consider to be excellent customer service?

American National Insurance is a company that provides insurance to individuals and businesses. As such, they are likely looking for candidates who can provide excellent customer service to their clients. When answering this question, it can be helpful to give examples of how you have provided great customer service in the past.

Example: “I consider excellent customer service to be when I am able to listen to my client’s needs and respond with solutions that help them feel comfortable and confident in their decision-making process. In my last position as an insurance agent, I had a client who was unsure about which policy would best suit their needs. After asking several questions, I determined that they were more concerned with coverage than price. We then discussed different policies and came up with one that met all of their requirements.”

20. What would you say if I told you we don’t pay commission?

This question is a way for the interviewer to see how you would respond if they offered you a position that didn’t include commission. It’s important to show your commitment to the company and its goals, even if you’re not being paid commission.

Example: “I understand that American National Insurance doesn’t pay commission, but I’m still very interested in working here because of the company’s reputation as an industry leader. I know that by doing my job well, I can help the company succeed, which will benefit me in the long run.”