17 Personal Lines Account Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Personal lines insurance account managers work with clients to ensure they have the coverage they need for their homes, automobiles, and other personal property. They also work with insurance companies to ensure that claims are processed efficiently and that policyholders receive the coverage they are entitled to.

If you’re interested in a career as a personal lines insurance account manager, you will need to be able to demonstrate your customer service, sales, and negotiation skills. You will also need to be familiar with the insurance industry and the products that are available to consumers.

In this guide, we will provide you with some sample personal lines insurance account manager interview questions and answers that you can use to prepare for your interview.

Are you familiar with the types of insurance policies we offer here?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of their company’s products and services. It also helps them determine whether you have experience working with similar policies in the past. In your answer, try to highlight any specific policies that you’re familiar with and explain why they are important.

Example: “I am very familiar with all of the types of insurance policies this company offers. I’ve worked with personal lines policies before, so I understand how each policy works and what it covers. For example, I know that homeowner’s insurance protects against damage to property while renters insurance protects against damage to personal belongings. I’m also aware that auto insurance provides coverage for damages caused by an accident.”

What are some of the most important qualities for a successful personal lines account manager?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personal qualities and how they relate to the role. They want someone who is organized, detail-oriented, empathetic and able to work well with others. When you answer this question, try to focus on specific examples of when you’ve demonstrated these qualities in your past roles.

Example: “I think one of the most important qualities for a successful personal lines account manager is empathy. I understand that insurance can be confusing for customers, so it’s my job to make sure they feel comfortable asking me questions. In my last position, I helped a customer who was having trouble understanding their policy after an accident. I took time to explain everything clearly and even drew diagrams to help them better understand.”

How would you build trust with a potential client during a sales call?

Trust is an important part of any relationship, and the interviewer will want to know how you would build trust with a potential client. Use examples from your experience where you have built trust with clients in the past.

Example: “I find that it’s important to be honest when speaking with a potential client during a sales call. I let them know what they can expect from our company and explain why we are the best option for their insurance needs. If there are any concerns or objections they may have, I try my best to answer them as thoroughly as possible so they feel comfortable moving forward with us.”

What is your experience with working on a sales team?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your experience working in a team environment. They want to know how you interact with others, share information and solve problems together. In your answer, try to describe what made the sales team successful and highlight any skills or experiences that helped you succeed as part of a team.

Example: “I’ve worked on several sales teams throughout my career. I find it’s important to work well with others because we all have different strengths and ideas. When I first started out in insurance, I was fortunate enough to be placed on a team with some experienced account managers. They taught me so much about the industry and how to sell personal lines policies. We also had a great relationship where we shared our leads and supported each other when needed.”

Provide an example of a time when you successfully overcame a challenge while selling a policy.

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your problem-solving skills and how you use them in the workplace. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation where you had to overcome an obstacle while selling policies and how you used your skills to solve the challenge.

Example: “When I first started working as a personal lines account manager, I was having trouble closing sales with customers who were hesitant to buy insurance because of their age. I realized that many people my age felt uncomfortable buying insurance because they didn’t know what questions to ask or how to compare different policies. So, I developed a presentation on how to choose the right policy for someone my age. After presenting the information, I found that most people understood the importance of purchasing insurance and were willing to do so.”

If a client already has a policy with your company, how would you convince them to upgrade or renew?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you would approach a client who is already satisfied with their current policy. It also helps them see if you have any unique selling techniques or ideas that could benefit their company. In your answer, try to show that you value customer satisfaction and want to provide clients with the best possible service.

Example: “I believe it’s important to always be looking for ways to improve our services and products. If a client is happy with their current policy, I would ask them what they like about it and what they don’t like. Then, I would use that information to find a new policy that addresses their concerns while still offering similar coverage at an affordable price.”

What would you do if you made a mistake while quoting a client on a policy?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you respond to challenges and errors. In your answer, try to show that you are willing to take responsibility for your actions and learn from your mistakes.

Example: “If I made a mistake while quoting a client on a policy, I would first apologize to them and explain what happened. Then, I would contact my supervisor or manager to discuss what went wrong and ask if they could correct it. If there was no way to fix the error, I would offer the client a discount on their next policy.”

How well do you understand risk management?

Risk management is an important part of being a personal lines account manager. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the necessary knowledge and skills to manage risk for their clients. Before your interview, read through the job description to see if there are any specific areas they want you to focus on. If so, prepare examples that show how you would apply those skills in this role.

Example: “I understand that risk management is one of the most important parts of my job. I know that it’s essential to find ways to reduce risk while also finding new opportunities to increase revenue. In my last position, I worked with a client who was looking for ways to lower his insurance costs. We found that he could save money by switching to a different provider. However, we also found that he could save even more money by increasing his deductible. He decided to do both, which saved him quite a bit of money each month.”

Do you have experience working with insurance claims?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of experience with handling insurance claims. If you have relevant experience, share a story about how you helped resolve a claim or assisted customers with their claims. If you don’t have direct experience working with claims, you can talk about how you’ve handled customer service issues in the past and how you resolved them.

Example: “I haven’t worked directly with insurance claims before, but I do have experience helping customers navigate through their claims. When I was an account manager for my previous employer, I had one client who called me every week to ask questions about his policy. After talking with him for a few weeks, I realized he didn’t understand how his policy worked. So, I scheduled a meeting with him to explain everything from start to finish. He understood it better after our meeting and stopped calling me so often.”

When selling a policy to a client, what is your process for ensuring they understand all the terms and conditions?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach selling policies to clients and whether you have a process for ensuring they fully understand all of the terms and conditions. Use your answer to highlight your communication skills, ability to explain complex concepts and attention to detail.

Example: “I always make sure that I thoroughly explain every aspect of a policy to my client before we sign any paperwork. This includes explaining what each term means and answering any questions they may have about it. If there are multiple pages to the contract, I will go through each page with them one at a time so they know exactly what they’re signing.”

We want to increase our market share. If you had to come up with a sales strategy, what would it look like?

This question is a great way to see how you approach sales and marketing. It also allows the interviewer to get an idea of your strategic thinking skills. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about what strategies have worked for you in the past.

Example: “I would first look at our current market share and compare that to our competitors. I would then create a plan to increase our market share by 10% within six months. To do this, I would focus on increasing customer satisfaction while also finding new customers through targeted advertising.”

Describe your experience with using insurance software.

This question can help the interviewer determine your comfort level with using software to complete tasks and manage client information. Use examples from previous work experience to describe how you used insurance software to complete projects, organize data and communicate with clients.

Example: “In my last position as a personal lines account manager, I used an insurance software program called PolicyPal to create policies for customers, track customer interactions and monitor policy performance. The software helped me stay organized by allowing me to create folders for each customer’s file and upload important documents like proof of coverage forms and claims documentation. It also allowed me to send emails directly to customers through the software so that I could communicate with them quickly.”

What makes you stand out from other personal lines account managers?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your unique skills and abilities. They want to know what makes you a valuable asset to their company. When answering this question, think of two or three things that make you stand out from other personal lines account managers. These can be specific skills or experiences that you have.

Example: “I am extremely organized and detail-oriented. I always keep track of important information for my clients and my team members. This helps me stay on top of deadlines and tasks. Another thing that makes me stand out is my communication skills. I am very good at listening to others and communicating clearly. This allows me to solve problems quickly and effectively.”

Which insurance policies do you think are the most important for individuals and families to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine your knowledge of insurance policies and how you might advise clients. Use examples from your own experience to highlight your expertise in personal lines insurance.

Example: “I think it’s important for individuals and families to have health, life and home insurance. These types of insurance are essential because they protect against some of the most common risks that people face. In my last role as a personal lines account manager, I worked with several clients who had questions about their current coverage or wanted to make changes to their policy. I helped them understand what each type of insurance covered and helped them find new providers if necessary.”

What do you think is the most challenging part of this job?

Employers ask this question to see if you are aware of the challenges that come with the job. They want someone who is willing to work hard and overcome any obstacles they might face. In your answer, try to be positive about the role while also acknowledging its challenges. Try to think of a specific challenge you have faced in the past and how you overcame it.

Example: “The most challenging part of this job would probably be managing client expectations. I find that clients often expect us to know exactly what their needs are without having to explain them very much. It can be difficult to balance being empathetic with providing excellent customer service. However, I always make sure to listen carefully to my clients so I understand their concerns fully. Then, I do my best to provide solutions for their problems.”

How often do you make sales calls?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach sales and customer service. Your answer should show that you are comfortable with making calls to customers, but also that you know when it’s appropriate to do so.

Example: “I make sales calls at least once a week, usually on Mondays or Tuesdays. I find this is an optimal time for most people because they’re back in their offices after the weekend and have had some time to review their insurance policies. However, if I notice someone hasn’t reviewed their policy in a while, I’ll call them more often until we get them to renew.”

There is a common misperception about a policy you’ve sold to a client. How do you address it?

This question is a great way to assess your communication skills and ability to manage client expectations. It also shows the interviewer how you would handle a situation where you need to correct misinformation about an insurance policy.

Example: “I once had a client who thought that their homeowner’s policy covered them for any damage caused by a hurricane. I explained to them that they needed separate coverage for wind damage, which was not included in their current policy. They were surprised but understood when I explained it further. I always make sure to explain policies thoroughly so there are no misunderstandings between me and my clients.”