You’re preparing for an insurance interview. What do you need to know before you go?

1 Know the company

Before you apply for any job, you should research the company and its products, services, values, and goals. This will help you tailor your resume, cover letter, and interview answers to show how you fit in and what you can offer. For insurance companies, you should also learn about their target markets, competitors, financial performance, and industry trends. You can find this information on their website, social media, annual reports, and news articles.

2 Know the role

Another important step is to understand the role you're applying for and the skills and qualifications it requires. You should review the job description carefully and identify the key responsibilities, tasks, and expectations. You should also think of examples from your previous experience that demonstrate your abilities and achievements in those areas. For insurance roles, you may need to show your skills in sales, customer service, risk assessment, underwriting, claims handling, or compliance, depending on the position.

3 Know the questions

To prepare for the interview questions, you should practice answering common and specific questions related to the insurance industry and the role. Common questions might include why you want to work in insurance, what the main types of insurance are, how you handle difficult customers, how you cope with stress and pressure, or how you work in a team. Specific questions might cover generating leads and closing sales, assessing and managing risk, handling claims and disputes, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, or using technology and data in insurance. When responding to these questions, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers with confidence, clarity, and honesty.

4 Know the scenarios

In your insurance interview, you may be asked to demonstrate your problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills in realistic scenarios or case studies. For example, you may have to sell an insurance product to a potential customer, evaluate a claim and decide whether to approve or deny it, analyze a risk profile and recommend a suitable coverage, resolve a conflict or complaint from a customer or colleague, or implement a new policy or procedure in your department. To prepare for these scenarios, it's important to review the relevant concepts and principles of insurance such as premiums, deductibles, exclusions, liabilities, and benefits. Additionally, you should use a logical and systematic approach to explain your actions and reasoning while considering the possible outcomes and consequences.

5 Know yourself

Finally, you should be aware of your strengths, weaknesses, goals, and values. You should be able to explain why you're interested in the insurance industry and the role, what motivates you, what challenges you, and what you're passionate about. Additionally, prepare to ask some questions of your own to demonstrate your curiosity and enthusiasm. Examples include inquiring about the main goals and priorities of the department or team, how performance is measured and rewarded in the role, opportunities for learning and development in the company, how they foster a positive and collaborative culture in the company, and what are the current or future challenges or trends in the insurance industry. Knowing yourself will help you present your personality, fit, and potential in the interview.