How to Become a Debt Consolidator
Receive your high school diploma or equivalency., Apply for a degree in higher education., Gain work experience in a sales environment., Obtain a debt management license in your state., Look for jobs at private or non-profit debt consolidation...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Receive your high school diploma or equivalency.
Debt consolidation firms may have different educational prerequisites for different jobs.
Some customer service jobs will only require the equivalent of a high school education to be a good candidate. -
Step 2: Apply for a degree in higher education.
Although this is not strictly necessary, you should consider it as a way to ensure success in the debt management field.
The following are good educational paths to take.
Seek an associate's degree in financial management or business management.
This 2-year degree will allow you to learn the basics of risk management, investments, debt and credit and financial law.
These programs can include online and night classes if you are currently working.
Seek a bachelor's degree in financial management, business administration, economics or finance.
These degrees will give you an in-depth background on how to manage a business and finances.
A finance or business degree will also give you some sales and customer management skills that will help you to work in the debt consolidation environment. , Working in telesales will introduce you to working with a sales quota, something you will face in the debt consolidation environment. 2 years of sales experience, while in school or right after, is seen as excellent experience, especially if it is in the financial sector. , Inquire whether you are required to obtain a license with your state licensing board or secretary of state.
While license requirements will differ from state to state, working as independent debt manager will usually require you to submit an application, undergo a practice and ethics exam and pay a licensing fee.
A debt consolidator may not be required to become licensed if you are hired and trained by a company.
A debt manager title may fall under the licensing requirements of a financial manager, and thus be more highly policed by your state's licensing agency. , Look online for customer service, information technology, debt consolidator and debt manager positions.
Also, look in your local newspaper or classified boards to find local debt consolidation agencies.
Create a resume that you can change and focus for each job application.
Resumes and cover letters should be tailored to each job description, since no single debt consolidation job is the same.
Applying for several different positions may help you discover the best job for you within the debt consolidation industry. , The following are paths you can take, depending upon your interests:
Seek a job with a for-profit debt consolidation company.
These companies may offer high commissions for their best consolidators.
You will work in a sales environment where you will be required to sell a product to debtors and seek excellent terms from credit card companies.
Check that these companies are licensed and accredited before applying.
Check their reviews on the Better Business Bureau website to make sure they maintain a high standard of services and ethics.
Seek a job with a non-profit debt consolidation company.
Most states have non-profit services that help to provide debt consolidation services.
In these jobs, you will be mainly working with secured loans, rather than variable loans, and counseling people on changing the way they think about debt and money management.
You are likely to work in an environment that values education and counseling over sales quotas.
They may offer lower salaries and few sales incentives to their employees.
Become a private debt manager.
If you are licensed in your state independently, you may choose to market yourself directly to debtors.
This path is best taken after 5 to 10 years of experience in financial services or risk management.
You can offer personal plans and services that are more in depth than most telephone-based consolidation companies.
You may also be able to find a position as an independent worker in a financial services firm. , The success of a debt consolidator is often measured by the terms they can negotiate when they contact a creditor for a debtor.
Working as a third party debt consolidator means that you rely on your customer service and negotiation skills while still retaining relationships. -
Step 3: Gain work experience in a sales environment.
-
Step 4: Obtain a debt management license in your state.
-
Step 5: Look for jobs at private or non-profit debt consolidation agencies.
-
Step 6: Apply for jobs according to your industry preferences.
-
Step 7: Develop excellent relationships with creditors.
Detailed Guide
Debt consolidation firms may have different educational prerequisites for different jobs.
Some customer service jobs will only require the equivalent of a high school education to be a good candidate.
Although this is not strictly necessary, you should consider it as a way to ensure success in the debt management field.
The following are good educational paths to take.
Seek an associate's degree in financial management or business management.
This 2-year degree will allow you to learn the basics of risk management, investments, debt and credit and financial law.
These programs can include online and night classes if you are currently working.
Seek a bachelor's degree in financial management, business administration, economics or finance.
These degrees will give you an in-depth background on how to manage a business and finances.
A finance or business degree will also give you some sales and customer management skills that will help you to work in the debt consolidation environment. , Working in telesales will introduce you to working with a sales quota, something you will face in the debt consolidation environment. 2 years of sales experience, while in school or right after, is seen as excellent experience, especially if it is in the financial sector. , Inquire whether you are required to obtain a license with your state licensing board or secretary of state.
While license requirements will differ from state to state, working as independent debt manager will usually require you to submit an application, undergo a practice and ethics exam and pay a licensing fee.
A debt consolidator may not be required to become licensed if you are hired and trained by a company.
A debt manager title may fall under the licensing requirements of a financial manager, and thus be more highly policed by your state's licensing agency. , Look online for customer service, information technology, debt consolidator and debt manager positions.
Also, look in your local newspaper or classified boards to find local debt consolidation agencies.
Create a resume that you can change and focus for each job application.
Resumes and cover letters should be tailored to each job description, since no single debt consolidation job is the same.
Applying for several different positions may help you discover the best job for you within the debt consolidation industry. , The following are paths you can take, depending upon your interests:
Seek a job with a for-profit debt consolidation company.
These companies may offer high commissions for their best consolidators.
You will work in a sales environment where you will be required to sell a product to debtors and seek excellent terms from credit card companies.
Check that these companies are licensed and accredited before applying.
Check their reviews on the Better Business Bureau website to make sure they maintain a high standard of services and ethics.
Seek a job with a non-profit debt consolidation company.
Most states have non-profit services that help to provide debt consolidation services.
In these jobs, you will be mainly working with secured loans, rather than variable loans, and counseling people on changing the way they think about debt and money management.
You are likely to work in an environment that values education and counseling over sales quotas.
They may offer lower salaries and few sales incentives to their employees.
Become a private debt manager.
If you are licensed in your state independently, you may choose to market yourself directly to debtors.
This path is best taken after 5 to 10 years of experience in financial services or risk management.
You can offer personal plans and services that are more in depth than most telephone-based consolidation companies.
You may also be able to find a position as an independent worker in a financial services firm. , The success of a debt consolidator is often measured by the terms they can negotiate when they contact a creditor for a debtor.
Working as a third party debt consolidator means that you rely on your customer service and negotiation skills while still retaining relationships.
About the Author
Natalie Sanchez
Enthusiastic about teaching creative arts techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: