RMI graduate struggling to break into the insurance industry, looking for advice from people who have been there
Hi everyone, I'm hoping to get some advice from people who have been in the insurance industry for a while, especially anyone who had a difficult time landing their first position.
I'm 24 and graduated from the University of Georgia with a BBA in Risk Management & Insurance. I also have my Georgia Property & Casualty license and am located in the Metro Atlanta area.
I chose RMI because I genuinely found the industry interesting and saw it as something I could build a long-term career in. The problem is that I've had a much harder time getting my foot in the door than I expected. I've been searching since around the time I graduated and have applied to underwriting assistant/associate roles, underwriting trainee programs, client service positions at agencies/brokerages, claims, risk analyst positions, insurance operations, etc. I've had a handful of promising conversations and interviews along the way, but nothing has turned into an offer.
One issue I keep running into is experience. For example, I interviewed for an entry-level client service position and was told during the interview that my lack of Applied Epic experience wasn't an issue because it was an entry-level role. I was later told they decided to move forward with candidates who had Epic experience. I completely understand why an employer would prefer someone who already knows the system, but I'm struggling with the catch-22 of figuring out how you're supposed to gain that experience before someone gives you the opportunity to use it.
Most of my actual work experience comes from working throughout college. I worked in customer service at Publix and spent over four years in a high-volume restaurant. I worked and paid my way through college myself, so while those jobs aren't directly insurance-related, I do think they taught me a lot about communication, dealing with people, working under pressure, reliability, and just showing up and working hard. I'm not expecting to walk into a glamorous position or make a huge salary right out of school. I'm completely willing to start at the bottom,learn the business, and prove myself. I'm particularly interested in underwriting, risk analysis, commercial insurance, and client/account management. I'm much more interested in the analytical/client-service side of the industry than pure insurance sales. At this point, I'm trying to figure out whether I'm targeting the wrong positions, presenting myself incorrectly, or simply dealing with a difficult entry-level job market.
For those of you already in the industry; If you were in my position today, what would you do to get that first real opportunity? Are there certain job titles, types of agencies/carriers,wholesalers, MGAs, brokerages, or areas of insurance that I may be overlooking? Are there skills or relatively attainable certifications that would actually make you take an entry-level candidate more seriously? And if you struggled to get your first insurance job, what eventually got someone to take a chance on you? I'm not looking for sympathy, and I haven't given up on the industry. If anything, the process has made me more determined to figure out what I'm doing wrong and improve it. I know I'm capable of doing the work once someone gives me the opportunity to learn. I'd genuinely appreciate any advice, criticism, or perspective from people who have been on either side of the hiring process.
Any input helps, Thanks!!