Predestined to be in Insurance
“Pre-destined” isn’t a word most folks want to hear nowadays, as it is in direct conflict with the principles and values set forth by the American Dream.
The “Dream” is a noble idea, and it promotes the notion that with hard work and perseverance, when we set our minds to something, we can achieve anything in life. This may be true for a lucky few, but for the majority of us, pragmatism wins the day.
Childhood Dreams
As kids, many of us may have unrealistic dreams of what we want to be when we grow up. I myself, like many seven-year-olds, dreamed of flying among the stars as a NASA astronaut.
As I grew older and my interests shifted, as was also typical with most kids my age, I began to develop an affinity for professional sports and, specifically, soccer. My new goal was to represent and play for the U.S. Men’s National Team in the World Cup.
Of course, after a few years and some additional maturity and insight under my belt, I quickly realized this wasn’t a feasible career given my skills didn’t quite align with the level of competition out there.
But I did know early on that in a career, I wanted three things:
- Upward mobility
- The opportunity to make an impact and help the broader community
- To live fairly comfortably
A Family Affair
For as long as I can remember, I always admired my father’s work. He had been in insurance claims restoration and always seemed to thoroughly enjoy himself and his work throughout the years. He got to work alongside a friendly and responsive crew, make a meaningful impact on the lives of his customers, and provided a solid income in support of our family.
The summer after high school, extra cash before college was on my mind, so I decided to help my father and make it a truly family affair. The experience was extremely positive and only served to reaffirm my previous assumptions: as strange as it was for me to admit out loud, I was genuinely interested in the insurance industry.
This was a far cry from my aspirations of sharing a seat on a spacecraft with astronauts or a pitch alongside the American heavyweights of professional soccer, but I was confident I was making the right decision and pursued it vigorously.
During college, I majored in business administration and was selected for an internship in insurance sales, which laid the foundational groundwork for the career I’m pursuing today. I was promptly assigned a market and tasked with making sales, which at first was a daunting proposition. It was by far the most challenging summer of my life, but the training and experience I attained would quickly prove indispensable.
I realized then, though, that while I loved the challenge of the insurance industry, I personally did not enjoy the sales aspect of it.
Realizing Your Goals
It was my junior year in college, and once again, I was strapped for cash. Searching through Indeed.com, I found a unique opportunity with Farmers Insurance in their Talent Acquisition department as an intern.
I had previous exposure to Farmers Insurance Property adjusters through my work with my father, and was always impressed by their positive demeanor and consummate professionalism. Due to my previous experience, I was selected for the position and have been with the organization ever since.
Three and a half years later, I’ve had four different roles within the company, moving both laterally and vertically within the Talent Acquisition department, and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to grow as a young professional.
“Pre-destiny”, as contrasting as it may sound to the American dream, was actually the best thing that could have happened to my career and professional development.
It has provided me so much more than I bargained for, and I get to be challenged every single day at a job that I love. The position checked every box for me: upward mobility, work-life balance, and the chance to be part of an engaging culture with talented colleagues that truly care.
Tyler Pascoe
Farmers Insurance