Underwriting Service Assistant
Pros
Awesome benefits, w/401k matching, merit % bonuses every year, tuition reimbursement, continuing education, etc.. Paid job training is provided and extensive. Fast paced and the people are nice. It's a good entry job to get your foot in the door and earn experience, though I wouldn't recommend it long-term. Plenty of job openings in claims every couple years to move up and/or out if you so choose. A lot of company changes - This is a con depending on who you ask. I am glad to see the company trying to get out of the technological dark ages. Other things you need to know: This is a data entry and/or call center position that mainly uses metrics to determine how good of an employee you are. Meaning you need to be comfortable with computers. Nothing crazy but if you type with two fingers and don't know how to copy/paste via keyboard shortcuts, you're going to have a bad time. In addition, you need to do well with change and learning new things and applying them on a daily basis. Underwriting Guidelines and state laws change all the time, it's just part of the job. Many people were left behind if they did not remain diligent in reviewing company resources or ask questions when they didn't understand.
Cons
Desk-job, sitting long hours. Starting pay could be better. Typical large company, corporate environment. Difficult to move up in the Underwriting department due to large number of tenured employees. Many reviews discuss micromanaging. This can be dependent upon your supervisor and how well you're doing. Out of the 4 supervisors I had, only one had a problem with too much micromanaging and that was just him as a person. Aside from that, from my experience, those who are stressed due to micromanaging are the ones not doing well or those who didn't prepare themselves for the demands of the job. As mentioned, it focuses on metrics and quality due to high customer needs. It's a job that requires you to think, make decisions in a timely manner, and stay up-to-date on resources. Just know what you're getting into.
