Exploring the Different Types of Insurance Jobs Available

Insurance is a huge market that offers a range of roles in different areas. From Claims Adjusters to Underwriters, we explore the variety of roles the insurance industry has to offer to help you decide which area you want to develop in.

Why choose a job in insurance?

Working in insurance allows you to work in an ever changing industry that provides high earning potentials, along with giving you skills that can be easily transferred into other insurance specialisms.

Furthermore, working in insurance gives you the opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives through helping those in need. This will also help to improve communication and empathy skills that are essential to both your working and personal life.

What can you specialise in?

There are many avenues you can take when developing a career in insurance, meaning you don’t always have to stay in the same sector. For example you could move from being an Insurance Sales Adviser to a Technical Underwriter, Claims Adjuster or Corporate Broker with the right training and qualifications.

Adding on to this, not all roles require you to gain a qualification or degree, meaning you can join at any level and develop your skills throughout your job role. A great way of doing this is through undertaking an apprenticeship, as you can gain real world experience and training at the same time.

Below are a few examples of careers available within insurance:

Claims Handler

A claims Handler is responsible for guiding the customer or client through the process of making a claim. This can be a stressful time if the customer has been in an accident, lost their property or had a business catastrophe, so a high level of customer service is required and combined with an analytical mindset. This is done through conducting interviews and inspecting the relevant documentation as well as determining whether they should pay out a customer's claim or flag any suspicious activity.

Career progression for a Claims Handler could look like:

  • Becoming a manager
  • Specialising in a specific area of insurance
  • Moving into Loss Adjusting

Insurance Sales Agent

Insurance Sales Agents usually sell multiple types of insurance and work for insurance brokers to expand their customer base. They’re basically in charge of looking for new clients or offering additional services to existing customers to ensure the customer is protected properly. They often specialise in either Personal or Commercial insurance.

Sales Agents can also become:

  • An Insurance Broker
  • An Account Executive
  • An Account Handler

Account Handler

Account Handlers are a vital role in an Insurance Broker as they are responsible for managing the administration of existing accounts and supporting the sales team. They are responsible for handling the day to day client accounts – handling any amendments, adjustments, issues and updates on the accounts. They will also liaise with Insurers to get up to date pricing on these changes, as well as for new potential clients.

Developing a career as an Account Handler can allow you to:

  • Become a  Senior Account Handler
  • Become a Team Manager
  • Become an Broking Manager
  • Move into an Account Executive role

Risk Surveyor

Risk Surveyors carry out surveys to assess potential risks on items people want to insure. They work with Risk Managers to report their survey results to other parties like Loss Adjusters, Underwriters or business owners in order to minimise the chance of an accident or claim.

Progression opportunities for Risk Surveyors include:

  • Becoming a Senior Surveyor
  • Becoming an Insurance Loss Adjuster

Underwriter

Underwriter’s issue and decide what policies a company should offer, as well as the price they should sell it for. This is completed by analysing information from prospective holders and looking at the risks and likelihood of the customer making a claim.

Career progression for Underwriters could involve:

  • Becoming a Senior or Specialist Underwriter
  • Becoming a Development Underwriter or Business Development Manager
  • Becoming a Risk Manager
  • Becoming a Catastrophe Modeller

Insurance Loss Adjuster

Insurance Loss Adjusters investigate large or complicated claims to try and lower loss and get businesses back up and running with minimal disruption. Those who work within this role, usually visit sites to survey damage, gather evidence, request evidence from specialists and advise claimants on how to avoid further losses.

For those wanting to progress within this area, they could:

  • Specialise in a particular type of claim
  • Move into management

How can Insurance Jobs help you find your perfect role

With Insurance Jobs you can use our job board to view vacancies across all levels within Actuarial, Broking, Claims, Compliance, Sales and Marketing, Reinsurance, Underwriting and Lloyd’s of London markets.

See the latest insurance jobs here or check other related FAQs for insurance jobs here.