New Year, New Career Goals

Tablet PC computer with 2013 New Year counter isolated on white background. Vector illustration.

This is the time of year when everyone resolves to shed bad habits and adopts healthy new ones. It’s also a good time to adopt some healthy new habits for your career. Whether you want to find a new job or just move up the ladder, here are some career tips for the new year.

Spruce up your LinkedIn profile
Whether or not you’re seeking a new job, your LinkedIn profile should be complete and current. Even if you aren’t currently in the market, it will help you make connections and network with people in your industry
One word of caution: if you are making several changes to your profile at once, you might want to go into your settings and turn off your activity feed so your current boss doesn’t see your edits. Even if you’re just updating and not job searching, it might be misinterpreted!

Freshen up your resume
It’s always good idea to have your resume ready to go, even if you’re not in the job market. You never know when opportunity might knock and you’ll need a current resume to send out.

Take some time to add your current or last job to your resume. It will be easier to remember key achievements and accomplishments now while they’re fresh in your mind.

Think about your career goals
It’s easy to get complacent in your job, especially if you’ve been there a number of years. The new year is a good time to make some goals for your professional development. Whether it’s taking a class, attending a seminar or simply committing to reading an article a day about your industry, it all helps.

If you’d like some advice on updating your resume, your LinkedIn profile, or general career planning assistance, please contact us. Also, please be sure to check out our latest list of job opportunities and send us your resume if you see something that looks like a good match.

Networking in the Insurance Industry

It’s not true that everything is about who you know, but knowing people who can vouch for you certainly helps in the world of job searching. Networking isn’t always easy, however, and since we’ve been talking about jobs in the insurance industry we thought we’d spotlight some opportunities to network within that industry. We’re based in Corpus Christi, Texas, so these resources are either local to that area, or based online.

Insurance Professionals group on LinkedIn
With over 63,000 members, you’re sure to find people who can help you on your way to a job in insurance in this group! LinkedIn designates it “Very Active” so be wary about sending auto-updates to your inbox— but there will almost always be someone around to chat with.

Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce
Business owners and workers of all type attend the various events at the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce. Be sure to bring your business cards!

Insurance Networking News
In addition to blogs that you can comment on to meet and discuss with others, this site offers information on a variety of online and offline seminars and meetups.

Insurance Campus
This basic social network allows insurance industry professionals to connect easily online. Check it out!

And remember, you can always count on The Wilson Group to keep you in touch with the insurance industry as well. Check out our job listings or contact us directly today!

There’s More to Insurance than Sales

When people think of the insurance industry they often think of insurance sales and claims adjusters. Both of these are important positions, but there’s a great deal more to the insurance industry than these two positions! Here are some examples:

Administration
Like most industries, insurance relies heavily on administrative staff to keep their businesses running smoothly. This can include everything from answering phones to data entry and more. Administrative experience is helpful, especially if it’s an industry that is relevant to the insurance company such as healthcare, auto, etc.

Account Management
Some insurance companies work primarily with consumers, such as auto, homeowners, and some health insurance firms. However, the bulk of insurance companies work with other businesses: employers, law firms, etc. In these cases an account manager serves as the primary contact between their insurance company and a particular client, processing enrollments and generally facilitating communication between the two companies. This position generally requires an undergraduate degree and/or relevant experience.

Underwriter
An underwriter determines risk and reward for each insurance holder. That is to say, they determine how much coverage the holder should receive, and how much they should pay for it. Like account management, an underwriter usually has a bachelor’s degree or significant relevant experience. To advance in the insurance industry ranks, an underwriter will generally acquire a Direct Endorsement (DE) or other certification.

Are you interested in working in the insurance industry? Be sure to contact us today!

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