Insurance as a Career: Best Kept Employment Secret by Lee-Ann Vansteenkiste, Chief Operating Officer at Salus Mutual At the beginning of the pandemic, hearing the phrase, ‘Essential Services’ allowed me to view the Insurance Industry in a different ‘essential’ light. Many of my peers and I joke that when we are at a party and someone asks us what we do for a living, we are quite nervous to say, ‘We work in insurance,’ because we then hear some horror stories of high premiums and crazy claim experiences akin to some great urban legends. From the people I have met in my career, the opportunities for personal and professional growth I have experienced, and from the insight I’ve gained into how this industry positively contributes to society, I have been richly blessed. What our industry has not done well is to share with others the value that the insurance industry brings to our communities and the fantastic opportunities for people to engage in an enriching career. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the Property and Casualty Insurance Industry employed approximately 134,300 people across Canada in 2021. Below is a quick sample of some of the different roles you can find in insurance. Office Administrators: the glue that holds everything together. These are the folks who first answer the phone -- and the door, and provide the triage that directs the customer to the best person to service their needs. They aid customers and staff and ensure that all the fine details of good customer service and ease of transactions are met. % Why is that small number SO BIG?
Accountants: As our CFO says, finance is fun! This role assists us with all finance functions, internally and externally. Underwriter: an underwriter manages the risk for the insurance company and the policyholder. This role is an amazing opportunity to offer people insight into how the things that matter most can meet the criteria for coverage and, if not, what they can do to mitigate their risk. Sales: an agent or broker has an incredible opportunity to meet the public, understand what is most important to them, and then educate them as to what is in the marketplace to best protect what is most valuable to them. Claims Adjuster: an adjuster has an incredible opportunity to assist the policyholder in their time of need. If a claim occurs, an adjuster helps the policyholder to be restored to the place they were in at the time of the loss. Marketing: not only is this the fun job of promoting the company, but it also affords an incredible opportunity to inject donations, sponsorships and engagement into our communities. This is a rewarding role that allows for creative thought, collaboration, and goodwill. These are a few of the highlights but there are so many more roles in an insurance company; being employed in the industry also allows for engagement with other fields involving committees, education, community events, and so much more -- topics for another article, for sure. For a good start to learn more about our great industry, I encourage you to Google the Insurance Bureau of Canada and the Insurance Institute of Canada!
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Real Living • Summer 2023 • Page 15
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