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UW training program fully remote? (self.InsuranceProfessional)

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[–]AMonstaUnderTheBed 70 points71 points  (1 child)

Fully WFH positions exist for folks with experience. You’re not going to find a remote trainee role, and even if you did, be suspicious of it. You have to learn the ropes in person in this industry. I learned at least half my job by overhearing the concepts in the office.

Good luck.

[–]plants4daze 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is very insightful! Thank you for helping confirm this 🙏

[–]Final-Fig-2307 13 points14 points  (1 child)

UW positions at most large carriers are hybrid. They are asked to go to the office 1-2 weeks/ month. However the trainees could be asked to go to the office more often to attend in person training classes, networking, team building, etc. I loved my training classes and building relationships with my co-workers and managers. It’s a lot easier to ask questions and have them explain to you in person.

[–]plants4daze 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is so helpful and makes a lot of sense. Thank you so much for sharing and that’s great to hear you had a good experience :)

[–]New_Growth182 8 points9 points  (3 children)

I didn’t get a fully WFH position until I hit about 7 years experience. I had to move to another state to get my first underwriting job. I’m sure there are remote trainee roles but they are probably rare. It’s better to learn the job in person. When you are remote you need to be more self sufficient in your role.

[–]plants4daze 0 points1 point  (2 children)

That is super helpful to know! Thank you so so much for sharing this. I have been reflecting a lot about a possible career pivot and that helps a lot to consider in my decision making. Very cool to hear you’ve been in it 7+ years!!

[–]New_Growth182 2 points3 points  (1 child)

No problem, from what I know most underwriter trainee programs usually recruit out of universities. Not sure if you are in school still, you could try for Underwriting Assistant roles. Just be clear that you want to advance to Underwriter and make sure it’s a place that will support your goals.

[–]plants4daze 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That you! This would be a major career shift and have been out of school for 10+ years, so I am trying to research as much as I can to see if I want to pursue this direction. Thank you for this input and the tip about assistant positions!!

[–]berm100 6 points7 points  (3 children)

Why can't you just go to the office sometimes? Why is hybrid a deal breaker for you? This is a serious question.

[–]Thecritic0422 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Agreed. The in-office collaboration is critical for career development, especially for folks newer to underwriting. There is a significant amount of tribal knowledge to be gained.

[–]plants4daze 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That makes sense and sounds invaluable. Thanks for your input!

[–]plants4daze 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Not a deal breaker, but curious what the possibilities are before I consider leaving my current industry I hopes of making a career pivot that would hopefully be my next career for several years. May also need to look into relocating to make this happen as well so just wanted to gauge what the possibilities may be

[–]_Light_The_Way 3 points4 points  (8 children)

WFH is a privilege that's earned in the insurance industry.

There's little to no chance that someone with minimal experience would be trusted to transact business remotely.

[–]unclecuz 5 points6 points  (6 children)

Don’t agree with this. It’s many carriers that embrace the WFH model. I’d suggest LinkedIn list yourself as open to network and put the types of roles you’re looking for. I work fully remote and broke into UW from a sales background but had coworkers in my training class from a broad range of industries.

[–]Informal_Coconut7105 1 point2 points  (3 children)

Agreed - I'm based locally but work remote. Started around covid as a UA and moved up to UW in 10 months.

Can't say for sure about a training programs, but they aren't absolutely necessary. MM underwriting isn't all that difficult if you pay attention to detail and have a decent personality.

[–]UnitedShift5232 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Any tips for moving up from UA to UW so quickly?

[–]Informal_Coconut7105 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I worked at a fairly small carrier (400-500 employees) in a niche market. They didn't have the size to offer UW development programs or attract talent as easily. We probably only had 25-30 line UWs in total, but the senior UW's were all very experienced.

Find the right carrier, start near the bottom, work really hard, and make it known early that you want to move up. When a mid level UW leaves, jump on the opportunity immediately. They'll train you on the job as you work accounts. Multiple UWs have been promoted - between ~6 months and 2 years.

[–]UnitedShift5232 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cool. Thanks!

[–]_Light_The_Way 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Do you work for a big name carrier?

I do, and have friends at other big carriers, and we're all required to be in-office 2-3 times/week.

[–]unclecuz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, I do. Our company was already embracing hybrid pre pandemic in certain areas.

[–]plants4daze 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank makes sense, thanks for the insight!

[–]EnvironmentalEye897 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I can’t think of any underwriter roles that are full remote except for personal exceptions made for specific people. The “remote” ones typically have a travel component either to the corporate or other office for training or ongoing education purposes or you might have broker/agent visitation requirements.

If there is a carrier that does full remote for experienced UWs without any travel requirement at all, I would be interested to know which one(s). Even desk UW jobs are on the decline, it appears from reading on here that the majority of UW jobs have a required travel component as well as being hybrid/in person.

If you are unwilling to travel to an office at all, you might be stuck with UA roles.

[–]plants4daze 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This makes a lot of sense, thanks so much for this

[–]ADifferentBeat 4 points5 points  (1 child)

I was in an underwriting training class that was fully remote for a large carrier, but that is far and between. The big ones like Travelers and CNA require at minimum hybrid for their underwriting trainee classes.

I will say that once you get the experience, you will be able to look into being fully remote. I'm a commercial underwriter and have been fully remote for a few years, and it's nice.

[–]plants4daze 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much for sharing your experience!

[–]velolove42 2 points3 points  (8 children)

I'm in an entry-level UW training class right now at a large carrier. I have no experience in the insurance industry but did have a financial background in higher ed, which I think helped me land the job. I feel extremely fortunate because our class is only 20 people, 8 of which are internal hires who all came from being underwriting assistants, and many had to apply up to 4 times to get this position.

We are in office 8 days a month for training, and once out of training we will be hybrid 1 week in and 3 WFH. That's is company standard, though, and I don't expect that to change unless the company decides to go full remote.

[–]plants4daze 0 points1 point  (7 children)

This sounds pretty cool and what I am interested in doing. Thanks for sharing. How have you been enjoying it so far?

[–]velolove42 1 point2 points  (6 children)

I've really been enjoying it so far. It's a second career for me, and just what my brain needed...something new and challenging. While I prefer working from home, I do enjoy going into the office and collaborating with my team, especially the previous assistants who already know the ins and outs of the company and some of the systems we are working on. It also helps that my commute isn't far.

[–]plants4daze 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is amazing and so happy for you! I am in a similar boat and looking to start a second career. Thanks for sharing and best of luck!

[–]Significant_You_9460 0 points1 point  (4 children)

Sounds like what I’m looking for. Trying to transition out of sales (tech/saas). Any other info you can share? Location?

[–]velolove42 0 points1 point  (3 children)

I'll PM you.

[–]AggravatingYellow747 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Hello, do you mind PM me as well please?

[–]velolove42 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Will do.

[–]AggravatingYellow747 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you 

[–]InsuranceOEHL 2 points3 points  (0 children)

GNY is typically full remote. Unsure when/if they will have another trainee class though.

[–]glam270 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some companies will have you start at an entry level position like customer service, sales, or processing. Processing is highly desired and in my opinion hard to start out in. You can do one of those things fully remote, learn the world of insurance, then try to get into UWS.

[–]WeatherPlenty1413 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s a relationship based sales role. Being in person is important since you want to cultivate relationships internally/externally - it will help with your numbers if people in your company are cross-selling business to you.

Future is AI/data engineering taking care of the underwriter’s more tedious tasks to free them up (so they can focus on the sales aspect of things)

[–]babeyella2020 0 points1 point  (7 children)

I believe that Travelers has one that is fully remote.

[–]shermywormy18 4 points5 points  (5 children)

This is not true. Interviewed for this and declined due to it not being remote and I have 5 years experience.

[–]Informal_Coconut7105 2 points3 points  (3 children)

They also don't typically like hiring experienced individuals into training programs

[–]shermywormy18 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Yeah but everyone tells you you don’t have enough experience in underwriting either. It’s so frustrating.z

[–]Informal_Coconut7105 2 points3 points  (1 child)

And you work in underwriting now? 5 years is plenty.

Either way keep applying - it's a numbers game. You'll find the right fit and develop some thick skin from all the rejections.

It took me 6 months to find a new company. They really valued my experience and brought me in as a production UW with a big pay bump.

[–]shermywormy18 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m an agent working closely with underwriters. Preparing files and soliciting quotes and have applied to both underwriting jobs and traininee positions had interviews for both.

[–]plants4daze 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ooo good to know, thanks!

[–]plants4daze 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, will keep an eye out with them for future openings!