When thinking about a career in the insurance industry, do you know what employers are looking for in qualified applicants?

Joanne Aldridge, talent acquisition specialist at Desjardins General Insurance Group, hires for “all areas of the business: claims, sales and service, underwriting, marketing, business development, actuarial, billing, training, legal, human resources, IT, and business intelligence.”

Aldridge, along with many insurance professionals, is stating that insurance is not just about sales and brokers anymore. She creates the ideal person working in insurance as reliable, confident, responsible, self-motivated, self-disciplined, resourceful, flexible, coachable, and persuasive.

Candace Ryding is a certified human resource professional and is the HR manager atThe Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company. She says that someone who has sound judgment and a sense of humour is always welcome in the insurance industry. Both she and Aldridge agree that the perfect candidate would also possess strong customer service and communication skills, as well as the ability to work well within a team.

Educational requirements

Ryding and Aldridge typically look for someone with a postsecondary background. Although preference is given to those with a business or insurance-related degree, candidates can come from any postsecondary background paired with a desire for continuous learning and the potential to move up within the company. Because insurance includes a variety of tasks and deals with every type of person, an atypical educational background can sometimes pay off in the long run.

Aldridge adds that Desjardins offers a reimbursement program in support of an employee’s professional growth. “We strongly encourage employees to take insurance courses through the Insurance Institute and attain their Chartered Insurance Professionals (CIP) designation, the cost of which is covered under our Education Reimbursement Program,” she explains.

“There are insurance programs in the college and university programs that lead directly to insurance careers,” she says. “There is also no harm in taking an insurance course through the Insurance Institute of Canada to better understand the industry; thePrinciples & Practices course is a great starting point.”

Additionally, Ryding agrees that a “commitment to taking CIP and/or FCIP (Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional) courses is highly preferred. Taking a few CIP courses not only will give you a feel for the subject matter but it will add strength to your resume.  If you wish to break into the industry, those CIP courses under your belt will give you an edge.”

The easiest way to get into a career in insurance is to network. Both Aldridge and Ryding offer the same advice: it’s essential to network with professionals in the industry and request informational interviews. Getting those networks will allow candidates to “better understand our realities and see where their knowledge and experience may fit,” Aldridge explains.   

A day in the life

Entry-level employees are not expected to have previous experience in the insurance industry when they first start out. Desjardins, for example, has its own training department that offers “training programs ranging from 10 to 12 weeks for our auto physical damages claims advisors, accident benefit claims advisors, and property and casualty insurance agent positions.” Both Desjardins and The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, like many insurance companies, offer a supportive atmosphere that encourages professional growth and development within the companies and industry.

An area of insurance that always needs candidates is property and casualty (P&C) insurance, as well as underwriting and claims adjusting. Aldridge says that “P&C insurance is a very large and stable industry that offers a variety of challenging and rewarding career opportunities. There is no recession-proof role out there, but insurance comes pretty close. It is an essential financial product—mandatory, in the case of auto insurance—protecting the valuable assets of individuals and businesses.”

Ryding details some of the tasks performed by junior underwriters: “review submissions; assess exposure; determine proper rates, terms, and conditions of coverage; request additional information for prudent risk assessment; some data entry; and maintain excellent relationships with our brokers.”

Insurance may not always be a first thought for students when it comes to an education; however, “the insurance industry has many opportunities available and is a great place to build a career,” advises Aldridge. Ryding adds that “there are so many exciting and rewarding careers in insurance waiting for you. You just need to open that door.”

Since 1899, the Insurance Institute of Canada has offered training and seminars that certifies individuals with their CIP or FCIP designation in property and casualty insurance education. For more information on a career in insurance, visit Career Connections and the Insurance Institute’s website.

Photos: Dražen Lovrić/Thinkstock