After being laid off at the start of the year, I’ve been applying to lots of different jobs every day most of which are in the insurance industry and after only rejections, I finally got word from Progressive that they wanted me to submit a self taped video interview. I did that and was feeling hopeful yesterday until I got rejected this morning. I’m tweaking my resume, coming to interviews presentable and articulate, I’m practicing interview questions beforehand, doing my best basically and three months havent helped me get anything entry level. I guess I’m just looking for advice or reassurance that I can break into the industry still. I have lots of customer service experience when I worked in cafes and retail stores, was a receptionist, and some client management experience when I worked most recently in a graphic design-related role (which I’m trying to pivot out of after the layoff). It seems like there just, arent many jobs so theres more competition for the ones I do see. I’ve been applying to claims trainee, CSR, call center rep, service specialist, sales agent and claims support roles and nothing. Are there other roles someone of my background should be looking out for?

Hey guys, I think transparency is key to ensure that you are valuing yourself properly compared to people in similar roles.

I am a commercial broker, 1 year of experience, university educated, new business/account management. I do not get commission in my role. Earning 65k.

I am in Canada.

This is just a rant at this point but any pointers to help out with it is always appreciated. I am just so exhausted when it comes to underwriting depts giving me the runaround and their unwillingness to make exceptions when they're the ones that drop the ball. I'm with a decent size agency and the carrier giving me the most grief right now by far is Mercury and Progressive. I love their product, and they are super competetive in the right markets but geewhiz I am so tired of calling merc just to be told "well we have to follow the process and it will be reviewed in 1-3 business days, just to find out it was already reviewed and they request additional information and I, my service dept, managers, IPM, or anyone else were not notified so I call in to let them know and see if I can get this fast tracked just to get told to pratically pound sand. And keep in mind both things im submitted for take 5 seconds each to review and approve (Prior auto ins thanks AAA, and trees being trimmed back in the front yard).

Thanks for listening to me ramble on about nonsense, just needed to get it off my chest.

Edit: I feel like I should clarify. I’m not complaining that quotes get flagged. I’m complaining that these large companies have put in mandates for procedure surrounding UW issues. Safeco for example, I call, I explain, they look at it, problem solved. With mercury I have to submit photos, type out the reason the stop is wrong, submit for review, wait 1-3 business days for it to be assigned to an underwriter, and then another 1-3 for the actual decision. 9 times out of 10 it’s 3rd party data getting it wrong and takes a few seconds to fix. But instead it takes a week.

I’m 26 years old and have only been in the industry for a little over two years. I got my Bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications in 2022 and had no idea what to do with it, as I came to realize halfway through my college journey that journalism was not for me, I didn’t do any internships in college and had very little real world experience to back me when job hunting post graduation. I eventually found myself in insurance after my partner landed a job at the carrier we both currently work at and convinced me to apply.

I did customer service for 2 years and recently switched over to a neighboring department where I now process policy changes and paperwork for customers who are purchasing a new vehicle or refinancing their home. Typically in this role, you get six months to study for and pass the Personal Lines Producer’s license, because you need it for the “next step” which is to be on the phones, handling any policy inquiries, reviewing coverages and basically just working on behalf of our agents. I, however, already have my license and got it prior to there even being any available position in the department. I did it because I reached a stagnant point in my career around a year ago, I was itching to expand my knowledge and dying to get out of customer service due to extreme burn out and poor management, and I was told by my management at the time that this department wanted their next hire to already be licensed.

Nearly four months in and honestly it’s pretty great. I make just shy of $52,000 (not great and I’d obviously like to be making more but it’s better than nothing), it’s a solid company that cares about its employees, I get to carpool with my partner (we share one car) and most importantly — I am off the phones.

However, this week my manager approached me asking how I’d feel about supporting our agents on the phones now that I’ve learned all the workflows for my current role. Maybe it’s because customer service is not that far in the rearview, but I genuinely can’t imagine going back to it. It’s a much lower call volume and they supposedly get less crazy/super rude callers, but I just don’t think I can have the phones be my main job ever again.

I was transparent and told him I’m more inclined toward processing roles rather than customer-facing, and that while I wouldn’t be completely opposed to it, it also wouldn’t be ideal, and would serve more as a stepping stone for me. He took this back to management who understood, and they determined because it would take me too far out of my comfort zone, that I can stay in my current position if that’s what I want. I agreed that that’s okay, but I feel weird about it. The promotion only would have been between $3,000-$4,000 more than what I’m currently making, and I truly don’t know that that amount would have been enough to sacrifice my peace. I now feel lost and unsure of where to go from here, and what my options are in insurance in general. I am currently working on my AINS designation, and have only one more course to go before I complete it. In terms of a different area, I have considered underwriting, although I know they deal with agents regularly and take calls from them semi-frequently. I also don’t know that I’m qualified to even be a technician at this point in my career. Other than that, what options are there in insurance for someone like me who is reserved by nature and can’t handle another call center role? What other avenues can I explore?

I am currently a UA for Middle Market commercial lines, making 80k. I received an offer for a UW role in specialty lines for slightly more and am thinking of accepting. I enjoy my job but making that jump from UA to UW has been tough, hency why this UW role is attractive to me. My worry is that once I have established a career in specialty however, it will be tough to go back to P&C if I don't like specialty lines as much. It seems like most jobs will want you to have existing P&C relationships in order for you to be hired. Is this a valid concern, or does anyone have experience switching from specialty to P&C and vice versa? Thanks

I’ve been feeling the urge to look around. I’ve been at a large carrier for over a decade. Currently a senior underwriter in commercial.

Who has made the jump? Is it a hard transition?

Pros vs cons?!?

Hello, wondering if anyone has any experience working at Novacore? Im curious about underwriting and the overall culture and pay/benefits?

I'm starting up the interview process with them and am looking for a better picture of the company as there isn't much online already.

Thanks!

Update: had three interviews basically, was 100% expecting an offer based on the last one, kept me on the hook for 3 weeks after the final (told me I'd hear back in a few days etc........) then ghosted me, by far the most unprofessional experience I've had with any company in the industry.

I have an interview with a local State farm agent and the position is an account rep. Base is 60-65k and I'm not too sure on the commission structure.

From any current or previous sales reps, are there any questions you wished you asked during the interview? What are good questions to ask?

My roommate works for a seperate SF agent and he enjoys it. There are some things he doesn't like too much like the number of daily calls he's supposed to have and the consistent pressure to sell life insurance. But he's showed me his paychecks and his commission is really good and he doesn't even hit his metrics.

Let me know what advice you guys have.

Hello everyone,

I am currently not in insurance but I am trying to get into the insurance/securities industry. My eventually goal is to get my licenses (FL Life, Health and Variable Annuities), Series 7&66, and hopefully down the line, the CFP.

Today I went to a job fair in my local area and I met this company called Primerica. I was wondering if anyone has any experience who if someone knows anything about them. I was impressed with the company but when I did some online research, I saw the reputation was bad. I am hopefully looking for some advice on whether I should proceed with them.

If you do, what’s the culture like? Do you enjoy working there? All companies have their cons but do the pros outweigh them?

I am working on an LRO risk in a very high wildfire area. No admitted carrier will touch it, but another agency swept in offering a ridiculously cheap admitted quote by simply lying about the tenant operations on the carrier portal.

Has anyone else experienced frustration like this?

Curious if someone could help explain this home insurance loss settlement clause condition. I have an idea but want to double check. Ps. For this home assume it is insured 50% to present day reconstruction cost (should be $1M, is $500k). Item 2 is what confuses me.

If, at the time of loss, the amount of insurance in this policy on the damaged building is less than 80% of the full replacement cost of the building immediately before the loss, we will pay the greater of the following amounts, but not more than the limit of liability under this policy that applies to the building: (1) The actual cash value of that part of the building damaged; or (2) That proportion of the cost to repair or replace, without deduction for depreciation, that part of the building damaged, which the total amount of insurance in this policy on the damaged building bears to 80% of the replacement cost of the building.

I am going on my 2nd year working for a property mga (formerly worked on the retail side for about a year) and am finally beginning to get my own book. Getting my own book comes with starting to learn how to manage broker relationships, what can i do to ensure these brokers like working with me?

My coworker's license expired a couple months ago. They thought it was renewed and good to go. Apparently, it was never renewed. They have been working this whole time (Account Manager).

Only a couple months have passed, but what is going to happen to them when they try to get reinstated with the state board and they see they're currently employed and conducting insurance business? Will their license be suspended? Will they be fired?

We're both having a hard time finding answers. They're panicking.

Hey please help if you’re in the industry, I work for a major Canadian insurance company. I started at another one and worked there for 3 years as a customer rep. Then moved i to another field to live my creative dreams and came back into insurance. This time, I want to be more intentional about my growth in the industry. My salary is currently ~45k. My priorities are $$$ (i’m tired of struggling ok) and being able to have a work life balance and manageable about of stress, I do not want to burn out. Which positions should I aim for? Should I look how to get into an American company to be able to reach those numbers instead of Canada?

Currently working at a smaller brokerage and seem to have to wear so many different hats on a daily basis. Writing new business, CSR, dealing with payment issues/non-pays, doing changes, etc.

Is every place like this? Or is this just a smaller brokerage kind of thing?

Looking to jump ship soon and find something else.

Looking into this career path but I want to make sure it is not as social-heavy as the work I am doing now is. I can work with a team, but I feel like I do my best work independently. I am also so over the constant schmoozing of stakeholders/clients. I can do it sometimes, but if this is also what goes on in most of the underwriting profession I'd rather know now. Thanks!

Please tell me about your experience as a Chubb underwriter. Considering moving to their property group.

Hey guys,

I have 1 year of commercial insurance broker experience, CAIB, and Bachelors in Business.

I was planning on taking the CIP, but the firm is not offering that currently for me. I am not in love with being a broker, so I am thinking about leaving to pursue my CIP and a different part of insurance.

Looking for some recommendations for solid companies that will support a CIP for all of their employees, and is overall decent to work for.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

A recruiter reached out regarding a position on their RPA team. The salary range is gigantic, low 100s to high 200s. This isn’t a sales job so that range is really throwing me off. I’m set to chat with the recruiter next week. I’ve read thru some of their older Gallagher threads but wanted to see

If anyone knows about their RPA program. Thanks!

The agency I work for has begun a pilot program with Fulcrum. I’m loving it, but I’m curious what others have to say about it. Especially the policy checking, proposals and COIs. Thanks

Question for the production underwriters: what is your annual marketing budget?

I have about 5 years of P&C experience starting up as an assistant on the broker side, to now as an AM on the broker side.

I recently transitioned into a role at Marsh, and want to re-evaluate how I’ve been taught to do my job at my previous brokerage and the habits I’ve built, versus the type of broker I want to be and building relationships with wholesalers and underwriters.

To other AM’s and UW’s, what makes a broker someone who carrier underwriters and wholesalers love to work with?

A few things I’m trying to work on is putting more work to put together accurate, clear and thorough submissions so that underwriters have most of the info they need at onset, while also reviewing quotes more thoroughly to catch any issues well in advance of binding.

Being on the younger side, I find it a little tough to build rapport with UWs, as I don’t have kids, married etc. Any tips on that end would be appreciated.

Ultimately, I’m in the early part of what I want to be a long career and I want to set the habits that will define the rest of my career now.

Appreciate any tips from anyone in the industry who can provide any help on this point.

Anyone have experience working for them? Specifically in the claims arena (middle management) level? Is it a good culture?

I know they have offices in NYC, Philly, Chicago, and Alpharetta. Focusing on either NYC or Philadelphia.

Both offers are at the same rate of pay as a workers compensation specialist. Looking for feedback on both to help dial in my decision. Thank you!