There are many career opportunities for new grads in the insurance industry

The insurance industry is big. The jobs available are many. So it makes sense that the university or college concentrations applicable to insurance careers are also in large numbers. In particular, there are plenty for science and technology graduates…

“Insurance is an ever-changing industry where no day is the same, with a flexible work environment and work-life balance,” said Shachi Bhatt, a claims adjuster. “Insurance is the only industry I can think of where there’s employment for people of all types of backgrounds.”

 An unexpected choice

Bhatt has been working in insurance for almost seven years, but it wasn’t a career she thought about pursuing during school. She had a fascination with the human body which led her to complete the Pharmacy Technician program at Sheridan College. But, like many who work in insurance, she ended up in the industry by chance.

“I was looking for a job with good benefits and a flexible work environment. I knew a few people who worked for insurance companies who encouraged me to apply, and here I am today,” she said.

As a claims adjuster, Bhatt’s duties include adjudicating a claim for a fair resolution and managing the claim’s legal, medical and investigation aspects. She also coordinates with different departments to use their expertise and helps clients recover from their loss.

All knowledge and skills are welcome

Insurance also is very versatile. According to Career Connections, a job in insurance enables you to use your skills, whether you’re people-oriented, great at math or extremely organized, the industry will always have a career that matches those skills.

At first glance, it may look as though Bhatt doesn’t apply her pharmacy diploma knowledge in her job. But she uses the skills she learned on a daily basis.

“Part of claim adjudication includes understanding a claimant’s injuries and prognosis. My pharmacy background provides a good base to understand this aspect of human physiology,” she said.

In addition to her pharmacy technician diploma, Bhatt also completed her Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation from the Insurance Institute and her Canadian Risk Management (CRM) designation—both of which helped her in her career and were completed with the support of her employer while already working in the industry.

“The CIP and CRM provided me with an out-of-the-box view of my decisions and how it impacts not just my claims but the overall industry,” Bhatt said.

Overall, Bhatt’s journey in the insurance industry since graduation has been both challenging and rewarding.

“The insurance industry is an ever-changing industry. There are always new case laws and new court decisions based on the changing society,” she said.

Just go for it

Bhatt said she had grown a lot in her career because insurance provided her ample opportunities to develop. She says insurance companies are abundant, so there’s no shortage of employment opportunities for new graduates.

“They always need talented individuals who are willing to grow within the company. Most people I know have moved around a lot in various departments due to support and encouragement from their employers,” she said.

For those who are still skeptical about where science and technology fits within insurance, Bhatt says they go well together.

“Science and technology go hand in hand. Science uses a lot of technology to support their theory, and most of these resources are used by insurance companies,” she said.

A perfect example of this at work, she said, would be an accident reconstruction report where a “technology and aerodynamic study is used to support science theory and human body kinematics.”

Bhatt encourages science and technology majors thinking of finding a job in insurance to just “go for it.”

“The insurance industry is generous enough to support and sponsor you for further education if you have a willingness to grow in your career,” she said. “It is not just a job. It will allow you to build a career.”