Auto Club Looks To Add 100-Plus

Costa Mesa-based Automobile Club of Southern California is looking to hire more than 100 people in the next three months.

The auto, home and life insurance company, known for its roadside towing service and AAA membership discounts, held a job fair last week to give applicants a chance to meet several company executives.

The job fair was held at the company’s Costa Mesa headquarters, where Auto Club is looking for workers to add to its insurance sales and service operations.

It also is looking for workers for two offices it plans to open in the county this year.

“The Auto Club is fortunate to be able to grow its insurance sales force at a time when new jobs are needed in the economy,” said Jim Philipp, vice president of human resources.

Auto Club, which is run as not-for-profit mutual benefit corporation on behalf of members, has yearly revenue of $3.8 billion and is the third-largest privately held company here.

The hiring comes after Auto Club cut insurance rates last year, spurring business, Philipp said.

“We found we needed more people to handle the work load,” he said.

Auto Club is looking to add about 75 field sales agents and about 30 based at its Costa Mesa headquarters and at other Southern California offices.

The company also is seeking applicants online and in person at Auto Club offices, including at its headquarters, Philipp said.

“We get a lot of walk-in traffic,” he said.

Auto Club new hires undergo 42 days of classroom and online training, Philipp said.

The mixed training is new for Auto Club, which in the past taught the majority of classes at its headquarters.

“We have been rebuilding our training model because we are now in 22 different states and had to have a different strategy to provide training across such a dispersed market,” Philipp said.

After training, employees are expected to be placed in various offices to help with member support and sell insurance policies.

“They start primarily with auto and homeowners insurance,” Philipp said.

After that, agents take on selling life insurance and other policies.

Salespeople also are expected to work with members who have questions about their policies.

“We’re not likely to hire someone who can do nothing but sell because we want someone who will develop a relationship,” Philipp said.

Auto Club also is looking to hire 24 workers in Long Beach and 16 in Burbank for its roadside assistance crew.