Question Overview: This is a simple question that can tell you a lot about the interviewee's motivations. It can help you understand their goals, how they see your company and what they think they can get out of the job.
Sample Answer: I've always been interested in the insurance industry and I've been trying to find a way to get into it for a while. I think your company is a good place to start because of its reputation in the field. I like that you are expanding into new markets and I think I can help you do that.
Question Overview: This is a standard interview question that helps you assess the interviewee's self-awareness. You want to make sure they are aware of their own strengths and weaknesses, and that they can articulate them.
Sample Answer: I think my biggest strength is my ability to work with people. I've been told that I'm a good listener and that I can help people come to a decision. My biggest weakness is that I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I like things done right the first time, but sometimes this can cause me to take longer than necessary.
Question Overview: This question helps you gauge the potential hire's experience level and how that experience informs on their reasoning and analytical skills. The interviewee should be able to list common problems in the industry and what to do.
Sample Answer: Any clients who have charges on their records that have remained there for a long time present a potential risk to the company. If I can see that a client did not read the policy stipulations, that is also a problem.
Question Overview: This is a classic interview question that helps you gauge how the interviewee will handle a tough question. You can use this question to see how the potential hire will respond to a negative question.
Sample Answer: I'm not always the best at delegating tasks. I tend to take on too much and spread myself too thin. I'm working on improving this.
Question Overview: This question is a good way to gauge the interviewee's interest in the position. It also helps you understand how they might approach the job.
Sample Answer: I have been working in this industry for a long time and I feel like I have a good grasp on the challenges and opportunities it presents. I think I can help your company grow.
Question Overview: This question is designed to gauge the interviewee's personality and sense of humor. It can also help you learn a bit about their interests and what they like to do in their spare time.
Sample Answer: I would love to be able to fly. I think it would be fun to see the world from a bird's eye view.
Question Overview: This question is a great way to see how the interviewee handles stressful situations. It also gives you a sense of how they communicate with others.
Sample Answer: I had to tell a client that his policy was being cancelled. He had not been paying his premiums for a long time, and I had to explain why he was not eligible for coverage anymore.
Question Overview: This question is a great way to gauge the interviewee's self-awareness and their ability to articulate their strengths. You want to hire someone who knows what they bring to the table and can communicate that effectively.
Sample Answer: I have a lot of experience in the insurance industry and I've been working in underwriting for over five years. I have a lot of experience with the Applied Epic software and I think it would be a great fit for your company.
Question Overview: A good leader can inspire and motivate a team to achieve goals. This question helps you gauge the potential hire's leadership skills and how they might apply to your company.
Sample Answer: A good leader needs to be able to inspire and motivate a team to achieve goals. They need to be able to handle difficult situations and conflicts in a productive way.
Question Overview: This question helps you gauge the potential hire's career goals and how they might fit with your company. It also helps you understand how the potential hire might grow with your company and how they might fit into your long-term plans.
Sample Answer: I would like to be a senior underwriter for a large company in 5 years. I would like to have a lot of experience under my belt and be able to work with a variety of different clients.
Question Overview: This question can help you gauge the interviewee's work ethic, and it can also help you understand how they have been influenced by others. This question is a good way to learn about the interviewee's professional background and how they have developed their work habits.
Sample Answer: My father was a good role model for me. He always worked hard and was very dedicated to his job. I've always tried to emulate his work ethic.
Question Overview: This question is designed to see how the potential hire will handle a situation where they need to go above and beyond the call of duty. It also helps you gauge their interpersonal skills and how they might act in a customer-facing situation.
Sample Answer: I once had to help a client who was having trouble with their policy. They had been in an accident and the company was refusing to pay out. I spent a lot of time on the phone with them, helping them understand their policy and how it worked. In the end, I was able to get them paid out.
Question Overview: As an underwriter, you will often be tasked with meeting multiple deadlines. You need to know that your potential hire has the skills to prioritize and meet the most important deadlines.
Sample Answer: I've had this happen a few times in my career. I always try to meet the most important deadline first. If I can't, I try to get as much done as possible before the deadline and then finish up the rest after.
Question Overview: This question helps you gauge the potential hire's problem-solving skills and how they handle situations where they need to make decisions without a lot of information.
Sample Answer: I was given a project with very little direction. I had to figure out what was needed and how to accomplish it. I used my knowledge of the company's goals and objectives to make a plan.
Question Overview: This question is designed to gauge how well the interviewee will do in a position that requires them to travel to new places. It also helps you understand how they will react to new situations and how they will perform under pressure.
Sample Answer: I have travelled to many different places for work. I've always found it helpful to do a little research on the area before I go. I've found that this helps me get around easier and feel more comfortable.
Question Overview: As a manager, you need to know that your new hire can communicate effectively with their co-workers. This question helps you gauge the interviewee's ability to do so in a professional manner.
Sample Answer: I always try to give feedback in a private setting. I try to make sure that I am not interrupting the person's work and that they have time to listen. I also try to make sure that I am not too harsh or critical.
Question Overview: This question is designed to test the interviewee's knowledge of the field. It also helps you gauge their ability to research information quickly and effectively.
Sample Answer: National debt relief is a process by which a company can reduce the amount of money they owe to creditors. This is done by restructuring the debt and making it more manageable.
Question Overview: This question is designed to test the interviewee's math skills. It is a simple question, but it can tell you a lot about the potential hire's ability to perform basic calculations.
Sample Answer: I would take the smaller of the two numbers and divide it by the larger number. Then I would multiply that number by 100 to get the percentage.
Question Overview: This question gives you a chance to gauge the interviewee's motivation for changing jobs. You can use this information to determine whether they are likely to stay with your company for a long time.
Sample Answer: I've been working in the insurance industry for a long time and I'm ready for a change. I'm excited about the opportunity here and I think it will be a good fit.
Question Overview: This question is a great way to see how much research the interviewee has done on your company. It also gives you a chance to gauge their level of interest in the position.
Sample Answer: I've read up on your company and I've been impressed with your commitment to customer service. I've also seen that you have a lot of experience in the industry.