My name is Brian Ellis and I work in the insurance industry with
qualifications now.
The Qualification Need
My job seemed fairly safe with my firm. I was a good worker, no
problems and achieved my targets without any problems. My bosses were
obviously happy enough for me to continue working there.
However, due to new requirements being brought in by the regulatory
authorities who govern financial type companies I needed a
qualification. It wasn't concrete, but it seemed fairly certain that to
continue to work there I would eventually need the 'Insurance
Foundation Certificate'. Oh dear I need my job and I wasn't any good at
studying I failed miserably at school.
The Course
The certificate study course consisted of two large volumes, levels I
and II and a 2 hour exam for each level. Each volume was studied in a
classroom once a week for 6 months with homework.
Difficulties Faced
Level I wasn't too difficult apart from being a very uninteresting
subject to study. Think about it, the background of insurance and how
it works etc. Level II, however, was going to be the problem. I knew
that there was a 70% failure rate for this exam. As soon as I saw the
material we had to learn I could see why.
What I did
At the beginning of studying for level I there was a need for me to
find out the best way to study due to the large amount of technical
data and jargon. I asked my tutor, got books from the library (boring)
asked friends and scoured the internet. What did I learn? Just the same
old methods everyone seems to be using. I began to think that there
just wasn't a better way and face up to the fact that I'll just have to
do my best and keep my fingers crossed.
However, one day I saw an ebook advertised on eBay called "Study
Method:Remember in 30 Minutes a Day". I must admit I was skeptical at
first due to all the rubish I had already seen. But after checking the
sellers' feedback rating, I noticed an academic had included a thumbs
up comment. So as it was only 1.99 I placed a bid and won.
When I got it I was surprised that it was only 3 pages long. However, I
found it easy to understand and apply straight away. I decided to test
it on learning all the spirits and prices down the local pub. It worked
with surprising ease.
My Study Day
Straight away I got out my study volume and following the instructions
starting filling up a 100 leaf duplicate book. On the bus to work each
day I'd get it out, fly through it and that was it. Thank goodness, no
more evenings having to stir myself to get out the volume in an attempt
to memorise what was there. Ok I admit it, I didn't do this everyday,
but it didn't seem to make a lot of difference.
No Revision
Coming up close to the exam the tutor starting blasting us with the
words "don't forget to revise" and we were given test papers in order
to give us practice for the exam. Not just to the surprise of my tutor
but also myself, I either came first or second in these mock exams.
When others were revising, allegedly, I found I didn't need to as the
way I was studying was just an efficient way of revising anyway.
My Confidence
When the first exam came up we went to the hotel that was booked for us
to take the exam. There must have been 150 people there. We were all
told to turn our papers over. I found it surprisingly easy and finished
in 45 minutes. I had to wait because we weren't allowed to leave until
60 minutes. I was one of the first 5 to finish. Guess what? I passed.
Concerns
Level II was somewhat different, a lot more difficult. However, I
continued to study in the same way.
Before the exam I was a bit more worried whether I would pass due to
the publicity of the 70% failure rate. I didn't find the exam as easy
as the first but I was able to answer with confidence.
The Results
During the wait period for the results me and other staff had found out
that very few had passed this time. My heart sank at the news expecting
failure. Then it came, I was asked to call personnel for my verbal
results. What a sense of ellation when I heard the words, "I am pleased
to tell you that you have passed. Congratulations." Yippee. What me?
The x school dunce. Thank goodness, no more boring study of the world
of insurance.
The Future
This is such a good way to study, I am planning to go to night school
and try to get better qualifications. Then I can get a, hopefully,
higher paid job.
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