Creating a strong resume for an insurance underwriter position is crucial. This article will show you proven resume examples and offer strategic advice tailored to the industry. You will learn key elements to include, like relevant experience and technical skills. Follow our tips to improve your resume and increase your chances of landing a job.
Next update scheduled for
Here's what we see in the best resumes for insurance underwriters.
Results With Numbers: Show your impact using numbers. Common metrics include
Include Job-specific Skills: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are
Quantitative Evaluation: Employers value analytical ability. Use phrases like
Want to know if your insurance underwriter resume stands out? Our resume scoring tool gives you a clear picture of where you excel and where you can improve. It checks for key criteria that recruiters in the insurance industry look for.
Upload your resume now for an unbiased assessment. You'll get a score and tips to make your application stronger for underwriting positions.
As an underwriting professional, where you place your education on your resume can make a big difference. If you recently finished a relevant degree or certification, put this at the top of your resume. This shows you are up to date with the latest industry knowledge and skills. Courses related to finance, risk management, or business are good examples. For those with a solid work history, your education can follow your experience section.
Your most applicable education should be easy for hiring managers to find. Include degrees pertinent to insurance underwriting, such as actuarial science or economics. If you have certifications like Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), these can strengthen your position as a knowledgeable candidate. Remember to keep it simple and clear for managers to see your qualifications quickly.
Highlight your analytical skills by showcasing any experience with data analysis or software used in insurance underwriting. This is important as it shows your ability to evaluate risk and make decisions on insurance policies.
Include instances where your analysis led to successful outcomes, such as reduced loss ratios or improved client satisfaction. This provides proof of your expertise in the field.
Keep your resume short and focused. If you are beginning your career in underwriting or have less than 10 years of experience, aim for a single page. This helps you highlight your most relevant qualifications. Showcase your knowledge in risk assessment and decision-making skills upfront. Remember, it's not just about the length, but about presenting your best and most pertinent skills and experiences quickly.
For those with extensive underwriting experience or advanced positions, two pages are acceptable to cover your depth of experience. On the first page, prioritize details like your most recent role, significant achievements, and specialized underwriting skills. Insurance underwriting involves analysis and precision, a well-organized and concise resume reflects those qualities in you. Avoid tiny fonts and margins. Clarity matters more than squeezing in less critical information.
Mention any industry-specific certifications like Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) or Associate in Commercial Underwriting (AU). These certifications show specialized knowledge and commitment to the field.
Include any ongoing training or professional development courses related to risk assessment or insurance law. This indicates your continuous effort to stay updated in the industry.
When applying for jobs, it's key to know how resume screeners work. These systems, called Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), sort and rank your resume. They compare your resume to the job description to see if you're a good fit. To get through the ATS, you need to match your resume to what the job asks for.
Here are a few tips for insurance underwriting roles:
Remember to keep your resume format simple. Fancy designs can confuse the ATS. Stick to text and avoid images or graphics.
You need to show you're a good fit for an underwriter role. Look closely at the job description. Use similar words and phrases to explain your skills. This makes it clear you have the right experience.
When you write your resume, keeping the job descriptions specific is important. As an insurance underwriter, you must show your skills in risk assessment and decision-making. You should not just list job duties like 'Assessed risk' or 'Managed accounts.' Instead, give examples of the types of insurance policies you've worked on and decisions you've made, like 'Assessed risk for over 200 commercial property policies with a 98% client retention rate.'
Make sure you use numbers and facts. For example, you can say 'Improved policy underwriting process, reducing assessment time by 25%,' rather than simply stating 'Improved efficiency.' Be clear and direct to show exactly what you did and what results came from your work.
When you apply for a role as an insurance underwriter, the right action verbs can help you demonstrate your ability to assess risks and make informed decisions. Choose verbs that show your active participation in tasks and showcase your skills in a clear and direct manner.
Good verbs can make your resume stand out. They highlight your achievements without complicated language. Below is a list of verbs that can help emphasize your strengths in risk evaluation and decision-making.
Want inspiration for other action verbs you can use? Check out synonyms to commonly used action verbs like Complete, Orchestrated, Assist, Established, Execute.
When crafting your resume as an insurance underwriter, focus on your achievements instead of just listing your daily tasks. You want to show how you've made a real impact in your roles, rather than just what was required of you. Think about how you've improved processes, reduced costs, or positively affected your team's success.
Instead of saying 'Assessed risk for policy applicants,' transform this responsibility into an accomplishment: 'Enhanced risk assessment accuracy by implementing a new analytical model, leading to a 15% reduction in claim payouts.' Similarly, don't just state 'Reviewed and updated company underwriting guidelines;' demonstrate your success with 'Spearheaded a review of underwriting guidelines, achieving a 20% increase in process efficiency.'
By converting responsibilities into tangible accomplishments, you make it clear to hiring managers that you've not just fulfilled your role but excelled within it.
When crafting your resume, include specific skills that show you are a good fit for an insurance underwriter role. Your skills section should highlight your technical expertise in this field. Here are some key skills you might consider:
Include these skills in a dedicated section on your resume. This helps automated tracking systems (ATS) used by many companies to recognize your qualifications. ATS can filter resumes based on specific skills, so including them can help your resume get noticed.
Remember, you do not need to include all these skills. Choose those that best match your experience and the job you want. For instance, if you specialize in life insurance, stress your knowledge in related areas. If you work more with property and casualty, focus on those relevant skills. This tailored approach will show employers that your skills are a good match for their specific needs.
As someone aiming for an underwriting position, showing any leadership roles or promotions you've had is key. It tells hiring managers that you are ready to take on more responsibility and that you can lead a team.
Think about your work history. Have you ever led a project or a group of colleagues? Even if you weren't in a formal leadership role, any time you took charge can count. For example, if you led an initiative that improved risk assessment strategies, make sure to highlight it.
If you've been promoted, it's important to show the progression of your roles. List the titles you've held, and next to each one, include accomplishments that led to your next role. This will show that you've grown and succeeded in your field.
Using numbers to show your impact helps employers see the value you've added to past roles. It's vital in underwriting, where decisions are data-driven and results-oriented. When you're unsure about exact figures, think through your experience to estimate the impact.
Remember, even estimated numbers can significantly strengthen your resume, as they provide a tangible measure of your professional abilities and achievements.
When you apply for underwriter positions, consider the company size. For larger firms like AIG or Liberty Mutual, focus on your ability to manage significant risk portfolios. Show your understanding of complex regulatory environments. You might include phrases like 'experienced in high-volume risk assessment' or 'proficient in navigating industry regulations.'
For smaller companies or startups, such as Lemonade or Metromile, highlight your adaptability and hands-on experience. Smaller firms value direct involvement, so use phrases like 'adept at personalized risk solutions' or 'skilled in collaborative risk evaluation.' Remember to keep your language simple and your sentences short, to ensure your message is clear.