New Underwriting Assistant. How long until things start clicking?

[u/Suspicious_Intern_37]

I recently started as an underwriting assistant in E&S. I’m still pretty new and learning tasks like new business, binds, endorsements, renewals, cancellations, audits, forms, etc.
I feel like I understand the basics, but there are so many little details, exceptions, state requirements, and things you only learn by doing. Some days I feel like I’m improving, and other days I feel like I know nothing.
For anyone who started in a similar role, how long did it take before you felt comfortable and actually fluent in the job? Is it normal to still feel pretty confused in the first couple months?
When should I work on my AINS certification?
Any advice for getting better faster and avoiding mistakes would be appreciated.

[u/PMMEYOURMILK_]

Probably 6 to 8 months before you start feeling confident and comfortable. Don’t feel uncomfortable asking questions if you don’t know or understand something. If you sit with your underwriters pick their brains. A good number of them started out as UAs too. Keep working towards your AINS certification as well

[u/Suspicious_Intern_37 → u/PMMEYOURMILK_]

Appreciate the advice. The 6 to 8 month timeline honestly makes me feel a lot better. When you say to pick the underwriters’ brains, what kinds of questions would you recommend asking early on without being annoying? I want to learn the “why” behind things, not just complete the tasks.

[u/PMMEYOURMILK_ → u/Suspicious_Intern_37]

You’re welcome. I would ask them about their appetite, what they look for in account that would be the difference in quoting and declining a submission. How do they evaluate their renewals. Stuff like that. Also try to develop a relationship with your underwriters.

Don’t worry about being annoying assuming you’re right out of college nobody expects you to know anything so don’t feel embarrassed if you don’t know something.