Question Overview: This is a simple question that can tell you a lot about the interviewee's motivations. It can help you understand their goals, how they see your company and what they think they can get out of the job.
Sample Answer: I've always been interested in the insurance industry and I've been trying to find a way to get into it for a while. I think your company is a good place to start because of its reputation in the field. I like that you are expanding into new markets and I think I can help you do that.
Question Overview: This is a standard interview question that helps you assess the interviewee's self-awareness. You want to make sure they are aware of their own strengths and weaknesses, and that they can articulate them.
Sample Answer: I think my biggest strength is my ability to work with people. I've been told that I'm a good listener and that I can help people come to a decision. My biggest weakness is that I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I like things done right the first time, but sometimes this can cause me to take longer than necessary.
Question Overview: This question helps you gauge the potential hire's experience level and how that experience informs on their reasoning and analytical skills. The interviewee should be able to list common problems in the industry and what to do.
Sample Answer: Any clients who have charges on their records that have remained there for a long time present a potential risk to the company. If I can see that a client did not read the policy stipulations, that is also a problem.
Question Overview: This is a classic interview question that helps you gauge how the interviewee will handle a tough question. You can use this question to see how the potential hire will respond to a negative question.
Sample Answer: I'm not always the best at delegating tasks. I tend to take on too much and spread myself too thin. I'm working on improving this.
Question Overview: This question is a good way to gauge the interviewee's interest in the position. It also helps you understand how they might approach the job.
Sample Answer: I have been working in this industry for a long time and I feel like I have a good grasp on the challenges and opportunities it presents. I think I can help your company grow.
Question Overview: This question is designed to gauge the interviewee's personality and sense of humor. It can also help you learn a bit about their interests and what they like to do in their spare time.
Sample Answer: I would love to be able to fly. I think it would be fun to see the world from a bird's eye view.
Question Overview: This question is a great way to see how the interviewee handles stressful situations. It also gives you a sense of how they communicate with others.
Sample Answer: I had to tell a client that his policy was being cancelled. He had not been paying his premiums for a long time, and I had to explain why he was not eligible for coverage anymore.
Question Overview: This question is a great way to gauge the interviewee's self-awareness and their ability to articulate their strengths. You want to hire someone who knows what they bring to the table and can communicate that effectively.
Sample Answer: I have a lot of experience in the insurance industry and I've been working in underwriting for over five years. I have a lot of experience with the Applied Epic software and I think it would be a great fit for your company.
Question Overview: A good leader can inspire and motivate a team to achieve goals. This question helps you gauge the potential hire's leadership skills and how they might apply to your company.
Sample Answer: A good leader needs to be able to inspire and motivate a team to achieve goals. They need to be able to handle difficult situations and conflicts in a productive way.
Question Overview: This question helps you gauge the potential hire's career goals and how they might fit with your company. It also helps you understand how the potential hire might grow with your company and how they might fit into your long-term plans.
Sample Answer: I would like to be a senior underwriter for a large company in 5 years. I would like to have a lot of experience under my belt and be able to work with a variety of different clients.
Question Overview: You want to hire someone who can clearly and effectively communicate with clients, co-workers and other professionals. This question helps you gauge the potential hire's communication skills and how they might improve your company's performance.
Sample Answer: A good communicator must be able to listen to the other party and understand their needs. They must also be able to clearly explain their own position in a way that is easy for the other party to understand.
Question Overview: Underwriters often have to deal with clients who are upset about the nature of their business. You need to know that your potential hire has the interpersonal skills to deal with this situation effectively.
Sample Answer: I try to be as understanding as possible when a client is upset. I take time to explain the situation and let them know that I am there to help them.
Question Overview: This question is a classic. It gives you a chance to see how the interviewee presents themselves and how they answer questions. It also gives you a chance to gauge their personality and how they might fit into your company's culture.
Sample Answer: I'm a very hard worker who is always looking to improve my skills. I'm a team player who is always willing to help out and learn from my co-workers.
Question Overview: Any good underwriter needs to be able to resolve disputes and conflicts in a professional manner. This question helps you gauge the potential hire's interpersonal and professional problem-solving skills at the same time.
Sample Answer: I have had some experience with people who disagreed on documents we needed to sign. I've always understood that the primary goal is to get to the "agree" stage. I used negotiation tactics to make a point while reaching an amicable compromise.
Question Overview: This question is designed to gauge the interviewee's risk-taking ability. You need to know that your potential hire will be able to make decisions that could affect your company's bottom line.
Sample Answer: I once underwrote a policy for a client who had a very low credit score. I knew that the risk was high, but I also knew that the client had a steady job and was making payments on time. I decided to take the risk because I knew that the client would be able to pay.
Question Overview: Underwriters need to be able to focus on the task at hand, and that means being able to ignore distractions. This question tells you about the potential hire's ability to focus on the task at hand and ignore distractions.
Sample Answer: I've found that it is important to have a quiet place to work. I also like to have a routine that I stick to so I can focus on the task at hand.
Question Overview: This question is designed to gauge the interviewee's interpersonal skills and their ability to work well with others. It also helps you understand how they might handle conflict or difficult situations.
Sample Answer: I've always tried to be positive and upbeat in my work environment. I've found that if I'm positive, it makes it easier for others to be positive as well.
Question Overview: This question is designed to gauge the interviewee's understanding of the importance of combined ratios. A good underwriter will understand that a lower combined ratio is better, even if it means taking on more risk.
Sample Answer: I would take the $100Mill book of NWP with a 99% combined ratio. The lower combined ratio means that I am taking on less risk and can offer better rates to clients.
Question Overview: This question is a bit of a curveball, but it's designed to see how the interviewee thinks on their feet. The question is designed to see how the interviewee thinks about a problem and how they might solve it.
Sample Answer: I would try to educate drivers on the dangers of driving in the right lane. I would also try to make it illegal for people to drive in the right lane.
Question Overview: This is a classic brainteaser question that is used to gauge the interviewee's ability to think outside the box. It can also help you determine how creative your new hire might be when faced with a problem.
Sample Answer: I'm not sure I know the exact number, but I would guess that it would depend on the size of the school bus.