What's your job about?
We are a brokerage firm that provides general insurance services to our clients, with those being inside of the construction industry. My job is to work in the new business development team and assist the other team members with general administration tasks. These include quotes, declarations, transactions and providing certificates of insurance. I also act as the first point of contact for new business enquiries on both an internal and external level. There is a relatively steep learning curve for beginners, but if you put the effort in, it becomes very rewarding to learn the functions and process within the insurance industry.
What's your background?
I grew up in Sydney’s north and have gone to school and university there too. The most important stages of my personal life were the completion of my black belt after seven years of training and attaining my university degree. In a more professional sense, attaining my first full-time job was also a big deal for me, especially as it had come during Covid19 where there was a lot of speculation about, the job market. I personally believe that what helped me get the job in the first place was doing work throughout university and getting experience in a whole bunch of different fields. Being exposed to other people and other work practices makes the adjustment to the workforce much easier than it might have otherwise been.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes, someone without my background could definitely do my job. In fact, most, if not all of the people that work with me do not have the qualifications that I have done. They have come from all walks of life; in terms of the degrees, they have done and the qualifications and experiences that they have achieved over the years too. With my job, in particular, you need to have very good attention to detail and confidence in person-to-person interaction. There is a lot of speaking to clients and prospects in this job, so you need to be comfortable in doing so.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The coolest thing about my job is how all the processes seem to flow together. I know this may seem expected, but not every job has such a streamlined process where you can see the first to the last process be completed. Another massive benefit is the parking located onsite; this easily saves 30 minutes of commuting for me each day.
What are the limitations of your job?
There are two sides to every coin. I am limited by my qualifications for insurance-specific tasks. I am required to have a tier-one in insurance broking if I can provide advice to clients. Until I have this, the tasks that I can/ can do have been “locked out”. It would be beneficial if one was to attain this qualification before joining the company or the industry. But again, most places will pay for your training in this area too.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...
It is not all about internships or unpaid work. This is a misconception that has led to people taking up jobs and positions in industries they have no intention of ever working in. Find a casual or part-time job that pays you money. Learn to work with others and to have small amounts of responsibility, and most importantly, enjoy life before it gets all too serious.