u/Suspicious_Intern_37

I'm 22 and recently graduated with a BBA in Operations Management. I've been working in insurance underwriting in an assistant level role for a little over 3 months now.

I actually really enjoy insurance so far and I'm not looking to leave the industry. I'm more trying to figure out what I should start building toward while I'm still really early in my career.

One path I've been seriously considering is data analytics, preferably within insurance.

What attracts me to analytics is the possibility of working more independently, having good hybrid/remote opportunities, doing mostly computer based work, and potentially combining technical skills with the insurance knowledge I'm gaining now.

I'm willing to put in the time to become comfortable with Excel, SQL, Power BI/Tableau, and eventually Python. I'd also want to build actual projects and skills rather than just collect certifications.

I wouldn't say data analytics is some lifelong passion of mine though. It just seems like a career that could fit the type of work and lifestyle I'm looking for.

One of my biggest concerns is AI.

I'm hesitant to spend the next couple of years developing analytics skills if a significant portion of entry level analyst work could eventually be automated. I realize nobody knows exactly what the job market will look like 10 or 20 years from now, but job security is important to me and I'm trying to think long term.

I'm especially curious whether having industry/domain knowledge changes that. For example, would someone who understands insurance underwriting and also has strong analytics skills be in a better position than someone who only has the technical skills?

My biggest career priorities are:

1. Hybrid/remote flexibility
2. Good long term pay
3. Job security/stability
4. Being able to work fairly independently
5. Advancement opportunities

Long term, I'd like a realistic path toward around $90k-$100k+.

I strongly dislike sales, customer service, constant presentations, and jobs where I'm talking to people all day. I also value work life balance and would prefer a job that has natural busy and slower periods rather than being slammed with urgent requests constantly.

For people actually working in data analytics:

Does having insurance underwriting experience provide any meaningful advantage when applying for insurance analytics or BI roles?

Is a BBA in Operations Management a reasonable educational background for analytics if I develop the technical skills myself?

Is Excel + SQL + Power BI/Tableau + some Python still the right general skill set to focus on?

How concerned should someone entering the field today realistically be about AI?

Do you think analyst jobs will mostly evolve alongside AI, or do you expect the number of entry level positions to shrink significantly?

Does having strong industry/domain knowledge make an analyst any less vulnerable to automation?

How realistic is fully remote or heavily hybrid work once you have a few years of experience?

What is the actual workload like? Are there natural slower periods, or are you generally juggling requests all day?

Are there certain types of analytics roles that would fit my preferences better, such as BI analyst, reporting analyst, underwriting analytics, insurance analytics, product analyst, etc.?

And if you were 22 and already had your foot in the door at an insurance company, would you pursue analytics or stay closer to the traditional insurance/underwriting career path?

I'm completely open to hearing that some of my expectations are unrealistic. I'm mainly trying to make a smart decision now while I still have plenty of time to build the right skills.

I’m 22 and pretty early into my career. I graduated with a degree in Operations Management and I’ve been working in insurance underwriting for a little over 3 months now.
I actually like insurance so far and I’m not looking to leave my current job anytime soon. Right now I mostly want to learn as much as I can, get experience, and understand the industry better.

At the same time, I’ve been thinking a lot about where I want my career to go long term. Data analytics is something that keeps standing out to me.
Rather than completely leaving insurance later on, I’ve been wondering if I could eventually combine the two and move into some type of data analyst or analytics role within the insurance industry.

I feel like having actual insurance experience could potentially be useful compared to trying to break into a completely unrelated industry, but I honestly don’t know how much underwriting experience translates to analytics.
On the technical side, I’m basically starting from scratch. My plan is to get really comfortable with Excel and then start learning SQL and Power BI. Eventually I’d like to work on some projects and build enough technical knowledge to actually be qualified for an entry level analytics role.
I’m also not trying to rush this. I’m thinking more about what I can do over the next couple of years while I continue working in underwriting and gaining experience.
For anyone who works in insurance analytics or has made a similar transition, how realistic is this?

Are there certain analyst roles within insurance that would make sense for someone coming from an underwriting background?

Would it be better to eventually try to make an internal move into analytics rather than applying elsewhere with no professional analytics experience?

And if you were in my position, what would you focus on learning over the next year or two?

I know Excel, SQL and Power BI are commonly recommended, but I’m curious if there are other skills that are especially valuable within insurance.

I’m really just trying to take advantage of being early in my career. I don’t expect to take a couple online courses and suddenly become a data analyst. I’d rather spend the next few years gradually building the right experience and skills so that when I do decide to make a move, I’m actually prepared for it.

Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who works on the analytics side of insurance or has seen people make this kind of transition.

I’m 22 and pretty early into my career. I recently finished my degree in Operations Management and I’ve been working in insurance underwriting for a little over 3 months now.

My normal schedule is 4 days in the office and 1 day WFH. My company is also pretty flexible about working from home if I have a legitimate reason. If I’m sick, have an appointment, or something else comes up, I can usually work from home and nobody really questions it or makes a big deal about it.

I’ve had to work from home a little more than usual recently, and it’s honestly made me realize just how much I prefer it.
I know WFH definitely isn’t for everyone, but I feel like I’m the complete opposite of the people who say they go crazy being home all day. I love being able to wear comfortable clothes or pajamas, work in my own space, make my own food, not deal with the commute, and just be comfortable in general.

I still get my work done. If anything, I feel less mentally drained at the end of the day.

It’s kind of hard to explain, but when I work from home it feels like work takes up way less of my life even though I’m still working the exact same number of hours. I can close my laptop at the end of the day and I’m already home. No commute, no getting ready for the office, no feeling like my entire day revolved around going to work.

Long term I’ve been thinking about moving into data analytics, preferably still somewhere within the insurance industry since I’ll already have some experience in it. I’m basically starting from scratch on the analytics side and plan on learning things like Excel, SQL and Power BI over time.

Obviously I’m not expecting to jump into some great fully remote job tomorrow with barely any experience. I know I’m really early in my career.

But working from home has made me realize that being remote, or at least mostly remote, is something I’d genuinely like to work toward long term. Even something like 4 days WFH and 1 day in the office would be pretty much perfect for me.

For those of you who are fully remote now, was that something you intentionally worked toward as your career progressed? Did having a few years of experience make it noticeably easier to find remote opportunities?
Or did you mostly just happen to end up at a company or job that allowed it?

I’m curious how other people got to the point where remote work became their normal setup, especially if you started your career in an office or hybrid environment like I am now.
I genuinely just really enjoy working from home. I feel more comfortable, less drained, and like I have a much better separation between work and the rest of my life even though I’m physically working in the same place.
Would love to hear how it worked out for other people.

I recently started as an underwriting assistant in E&S. I’m still pretty new and learning tasks like new business, binds, endorsements, renewals, cancellations, audits, forms, etc.
I feel like I understand the basics, but there are so many little details, exceptions, state requirements, and things you only learn by doing. Some days I feel like I’m improving, and other days I feel like I know nothing.
For anyone who started in a similar role, how long did it take before you felt comfortable and actually fluent in the job? Is it normal to still feel pretty confused in the first couple months?
When should I work on my AINS certification?
Any advice for getting better faster and avoiding mistakes would be appreciated.