TAL is one of Australia’s leading life insurers. In 2021, we paid $2.7 billion in claims. TAL offers life insurance through Retail, Direct and Group channels. TAL strives to help Australians lead a life full of choices, options and freedoms, to support them when they need us most.
Currently, I am in my final rotation in the Group channel, working under the Growth & Partnerships team. My responsibilities have included managing the entire tender process to be appointed the Life Insurer on one of Australia’s Superfunds, project managing an Underwriting process improvement project, supporting on 2 superfund renewal processes and providing project support on internal development aspects within the Partnership team. So, as you can tell, my role is quite diverse!
To give further insight, the tender process has been nothing short of incredible. As a graduate at TAL, you are often given opportunities to work on projects that are not often ‘expected’ of Graduates, and while this may seem scary, it really is a testament to the kind of leadership opportunities TAL provides. Throughout the tender, I led the tender team of over 20+ people, coordinated signoffs with General Managers and the Chief Commercial Officer and ensured that all tasks and relevant documents were completed prior to submission.
Daily, many meetings, PowerPoint presentations, emails and conversations are completed between my varying projects. I also sit on the TAL Community Foundation Council as the volunteering program lead, so I have an opportunity to give back while working on projects!
I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and moved to Australia when I was 8 with my mother. Unfortunately, when I was 5 years old, my father passed away unexpectedly, making his Life Insurance policy ever more important for my Mom and me, which formed a large part of my decision to work for TAL
I grew up in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, attending Bellevue Hill Public School for Primary School, moving to Moriah College for High School.
Upon graduating High School, I took a gap year abroad, travelling for 6-months in Israel and Europe before jetting off to Montana to play soccer in the United States. Growing up, I was always passionate about playing soccer and it became a dream of mine to play in the U.S. on a soccer scholarship. 6-months in, I decided to come home to Australia as I felt it was time to return.
Coming home, I went straight into a Business & IT Degree at UTS and joined the Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS), eventually taking on positions of Campus Secretary, NSW Events Co-ordinator, and finishing off as National Vice President and sitting on the Board of Directors.
During my time at Uni, I worked at my local IGA for 2-years, moving into an Assistant Manager role, eventually having left to complete my role as Vice President at AUJS. I also completed an internship in Project Management at Mastercard and then worked as a Customer Service Representative at ClickView while applying for Graduate roles in Sydney.
I have been at TAL for 2-years now, completing 4 separate rotations in Project Management, Mental Health, Retail Sales and Growth and Partnerships across the company, and I have loved every minute so far!
Yes! Being a Business Graduate, you are yet to specialise in any 1 area, meaning any type of degree qualification can take on this role, even if that does come with its own challenges.
The one thing I hear (apart from Actuaries) is that a lot of people joined TAL without necessarily growing up wanting to work in Life Insurance, so we come from many diverse backgrounds and skillsets.
However, to complete this role, you need to be driven, proactive, analytical, and motivated to succeed. Above all, the culture of TAL is extremely friendly and supportive, meaning that whoever you are, you will be given the tools and guidance to succeed.
Put simply, work is work, but people are everything, and the people at TAL are what I love most. When I was interviewing with TAL, the one question I made sure to ask was “Why do you work for TAL?”. It really gave me an insight into the people who were essentially showcasing TAL as an organisation, and as much as you are interviewing for TAL, you are interviewing them as a potential employers!
I know I am enjoying the work when I get to work with people who make it interesting. For me, if the work is challenging, forces me to learn new things, and is wide-ranging, I know that I have what I am looking for. Examples for me have included designing a spreadsheet for managing a tender, putting together a pack for Financial Adviser Professional Development, or supporting the design of the Mental Health Strategy.
There are two sides to every coin.
The biggest limitation of my job would have to be the learning curve. Growing up, you don’t really learn much about Life Insurance as a concept unless you are affected by it, or study it. As a business graduate, you learn an incredible amount in the 2-year program. Many people I work with are still learning!
However, this isn’t to say you won’t pick it up. As a company, everyone is willing to teach you, and questions are never a bad thing, so ask away!
Working weekends, long-hours are never expected at TAL, and as long as you complete your set work, you are golden. Responsibility is something you gain over time as a graduate, and constant communication with your manager is always imperative to ensure you are both challenged and supported.