Most of these companies are looking for sales personnel to push products. The candidates would have to sit for an exam and procure a licence from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA). Once recruited; the agents are given a commission based on sales. “Recession has not had an effect on this sector. In fact, in the next year or so, there will be 22 insurance companies that will have a presence in Pune,” said Umesh Agarwal, sales manager, Agency, Future Generali.

Agarwal said they were looking to hire as many sales people as they could. “Earlier, we would get only people with a commerce background. Now, recruits from other sectors are coming in as well,” he said.

“Despite slowdowns, insurance is essential and people will continue to buy,” said Shankar Sahembekar, chief advisor of LIC, which has about 17 branches in the city. Nearly two months back, another branch was opened at the Sinhagad Road, he said.

“Expansions are on and business is steady. We are looking at recruiting around 40 sales agents,” he said.

A sales officer from SBI Life also said they were recruiting agents and added that the slowdown had not had any particular effect on the insurance sector.