Emma Brossard: 2019 Graduate Financial Services and Insurance Technology

Dreams of a Career in Insurance

When Emma Brossard chose to attend Vanier it was because it was the only English Cegep offering the Financial Services and Insurance Technology program she wanted. And the program gave her what she needed because she was hired by Intact Insurance soon after she graduated. At the age of 20, she started a job paying her $50,000 a year including benefits!

Emma's mother works in the insurance industry and Emma herself had held summer jobs at her mother's place of business. "I talked to my Mum's colleagues, so I already had an idea of what it meant to have an insurance career," says Emma. "It's a good job. You can move up in the company and it's a stable area because there is always a need for insurance agents and companies are always looking for new people."

The program was exactly what Emma expected.

"It was challenging in a good way and taught me things I never thought of. It was a daily pleasure. I like the complex topic of insurance and I like explaining things to clients. All day you are on the phone answering their questions and giving information on new policies. I am shy, but when I know and understand and like something, I am fine and happy talking to clients."

"I loved the atmosphere at Vanier. The program was small and we felt like a family. We were close to the teachers and it felt personal. The teachers know you and stay in touch with students even after they graduate."

The program prepared her perfectly for immediate entry into an insurance career, because although students can also choose to pursue university studies after Cegep, that was not Emma's choice. "I always knew I wanted to go straight to work after Cegep and not attend university. The Financial Services and Insurance Program was perfect for me. And when companies learn you have a DEC in Insurance, they are very impressed because most people seem to stumble into insurance."

Ready for work from the very start

"The reaction when they find out about my studies is 'Wow! You have a DEC and you have already passed your AMF exams before even starting to work.' The AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers) exams are required to obtain an insurance permit that allows you to sell insurance and advise clients. Very few people pass them before starting to work. Normally you have to take courses on top of work in order to be able to write the exams."

"It was great to be able to pass those exams as part of my program. But the program prepared me in other ways as well. The courses I liked best were the people-oriented classes, the ones that taught you how to deal with customers. I like learning a lot and every day you learn something new and interesting."

"The Vanier teachers prepared me well for the job I'm doing. They share so much with students telling them what clients might say and how to deal with them. And on the job I found it was exactly how they described it."

"I'm shy, but Vanier helped me open up more easily to a variety of kinds of people, which is great. I like helping people and I like the kinds of small details that are important in dealing with insurance. I like being able to help people with their car insurance or their house insurance."

After a few months on the job, Emma had enough knowledge and experience to start taking client calls. "My first month taking calls at my workplace, I ranked number 6 in sales, which I think really highlights how well Vanier prepared me for this role! Especially because the agency is made out of over 50 agents, all of which have been working there for months and even years."

Excellent way to launch and establish a career

"The Financial Services and Insurance Program is an excellent program to help you establish a career. It's easier to get a job with this program than others. Companies are always looking for people with a Cegep diploma and if you are bilingual, have some customer service experience and you are a friendly person, you have a very good chance of finding a job right after you graduate. Once you are working, they also offer other types of courses that lead to accreditations that increase your salary. The courses are sometimes paid for by the company. So you keep learning and advancing in your career at the same time."

"I am thrilled with the work I am doing, and I've already starting saving up to buy my first house. Eventually, I would like to go toward commercial insurance – insurance for buildings. I think that would be very interesting.