Social Networking Things That You Should be Doing to Prepare for Your Next Job Search – Even though you are completely happy with your current job

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!!  I hope you all survived the kick off to the holiday season.  If you were pepper sprayed at Walmart I hope that you are on the road to recovery.  I am proud to say that I've decorated my office – bonus points go to anyone that can tell me where this decoration came from:

“I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It's not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.”

Now on to the slightly less important stuff.  One of the things I common see with my candidates is that they operate under the assumption  that they will always have their job and that they will never have to look for one again.  I wish that this were true.  However, unforeseen things happen all of the time and it is wise to be ready for it.  Social networking provides you with a way to be prepared without actively looking.  Below are a couple of tips that you should be doing right now – just to be prepared.

1.  Build a Meaningful and Professional On-Line Profile

This one is really important.  You should have a LinkedIn and Facebook profile that is full of information about you.  FaceBook is kind of tricky.  I personally believe that it is a tool that is underutilized.  However, if you are going to use it you need to make sure that it is professional and all of those pictures and posts have been taken down.  If you are unwilling to do this – which is OK – just make sure that you have your privacy settings on hyper lock down.  This is a good idea regardless of if you are in job search or not.

LinkedIn is another story.  You need to have a well crafted profile that is updated at all times.  My best suggestion is to take your resume and put it in there. First of all it will help you professionally right now but it will also have you ready to go if you need to look for a job.  Things you should include are:

• A picture
• Areas of expertise
• Your job history  with details about what you do
• NO GRAMMAR ERRORS

I personally believe that you should have it viewable to all at all times.  Its like a free advertisement about you.  Even if you have no interest in a new job it will allow for others to see you and keep you in mind.

2.  Make Connections

Working with social networking is like growing a garden.  You have to plant seeds and it will become something huge.  Try to spend some time each week connecting to people that you know professionally and personally.  Here is who you should try to get in touch with:

• Current Co-workers
• Previous to co-workers
• Customers
• Personal relationships that work in a similar profession

All of these people are contacts that you want when you have to look for a new job.  These are people that (hopefully) will think highly enough of you to recommend you for positions or make you aware of jobs that they know of. 

3.  Be an Active Participant

This one is the hardest to do but it really is helpful.  Try to spend a little bit of time joining the community.  Find a group that fits your profession and join it.  Take a look at posts that people make and comment on them.  This doesn’t need to be a time suck but if you spend just a little bit of time each week you will be in a position to aggressively use these tools when you really need it.

So go out and social network.  It will help you land your next job – even if you don’t think that you will ever need it.

As always please feel free to email me at sthompson@insurance-csg.com with any comments.

Check out some of my recent articles on the blog here:

Forward Emails:  The Silent Killer

The Six Biggest Challenges Faced by Insurance Producers

How Insurance Producers Can Use Social Networking to Increase Sales

Four Skills that Every Account Manager Needs to Succeed

Job Hunting Myths Exposed

How Account Managers can Improve their Resumes

Three Things that Account Managers Should Do

Six Interview Tips Part I

Five Things Employers Do In the Interview Process

Hob Jobs out West - WA, OR, AZ, NM, CO, UT, ID

Hi Everybody!  Welcome back from the long weekend.  I hope that you had a terrific Thanksgiving and a fruitful Black Friday.  I’m working on some awesome opportunities out west and wanted to share them with you.  Each are terrific spots with well respected organizations and I’d love it if you had any suggestions or interest.  I've broken them down by state and have included brief descriptions followed by a link to the full job description.  Please let me know if you have any suggestions, questions or would like to apply.

Account Manager Service Positions

Employee Benefits Account Manager – Seattle, WA

This is a great opportunity for a very well respected independent agency.  Our client is looking or a strong account manager that can take on a large book of middle market business in the 100 - 500 life range.  They need someone with good self funded experience and good client facing skills.  Let me know if you know of anyone or have an interest yourself!

Seattle Employee Benefits Account Manager Job Description

Group Benefits Analyst – Seattle, WA

 This is a great job for someone with a strong underwriting or analytical background working with employee benefits.  Our client is a one of the top agencies in Utah and they are in need of someone that can gather and assess data in preparation to market to carriers.  Please let me know if you have any suggestions or are interested.

Seattle Group Employee Benefits Analyst Job Description

Group Benefits Analyst – Salt Lake City, UT

This is a great job for someone with a strong underwriting or analytical background working with employee benefits.  Our client is a one of the top agencies in Utah and they are in need of someone that can gather and assess data in preparation to market to carriers.  Please let me know if you have any suggestions or are interested.

Salt Lake City Group Benefits Analyst Job Description

Commercial Lines Account Manger – Salt Lake City, UT

This is a great opportunity to be a part of one of the most well respected agencies in the west.  My client is a strong independent agency that needs an account manager in their risk management practice.  They are looking for a strong personality with good commercial lines skills that can step in and hit the ground running.

Salt Lake City Commercial Lines Account Manager Job Description

Sales Positions

Commercial Insurance Producer – Portland, OR

This is a really exciting opportunity in Portland for a client that is looking for a strong producer. Our client is a middle market commercial agency that is looking to hire new talent in their Houston office.  They are open to several different profiles that would include:

• An established producer that could bring business with them
• A producer with less than five years of experience that is looking to grow their business       

Portland Commercial Lines Producer Job Description

Personal Lines Producer – Boise, ID

Our client is one of the most well respected agencies in the mountain west region and they are looking for a strong personal lines producer.  Their goal is to find someone that has been exposed to high net worth and affluent business and has a strong independent agency background.  The right person will have a strong drive to succeed and an aggressive sales personality.

Boise Personal Lines Producer Job Description

Commercial Lines Producer – Denver, CO

This is a  really exciting opportunity in Denver for a client that is looking for a strong producer. Our client is a middle market commercial agency that is looking to hire new talent in their Denver office.  

Commercial Lines Producer - Denver, CO

Employee Benefits Sales Executive - Albuquerque, NM

This is a terrific opportunity for an employee benefits producer that has leadership skills and the drive to build something in a great location.  Our client is a strong agency that calls middle market size groups working with both fully and self funded accounts.  They need a true hunter with consultative skills that can aggressively call on business in this growing market.

Albuquerque Employee Benefits Sales Executive Job Description

Regional Marketing Manager – San Francisco or Los Angeles

Our client is a well respected carrier that is a leader in accident and health coverage.  They are seeking someone that is currently a sales rep, business development rep or carrier rep with a group medical carrier that is experienced working with large national accounts (1,000 life plus) to step into a business development role managing a multi-state region.  If you have any suggestions please let me know.

California Regional Marketing Manager Job Description

Management Positions

Director of Commercial Insurance Sales – Phoenix, AZ

This is a terrific opportunity for a proven sales leader.  Our client is seeking someone with a strong property and casualty background that can grow a satellite office for a large, regional independent agency.  This person must absolutely have a strong vision, sales leadership skills and the ability to develop new producers.  This client plays in the large middle market and risk management arena and needs someone with similar experience. 

Director of Commercial Insurance Sales Job Description

Commercial Lines Client Service Team Leader – Midwest

This is an awesome opportunity for an account executive to step into a leadership role.  Our client is a large independent agency that is a player in large middle market risks.  They are looking for someone to step in as an account executive on their most prestigious book and manage  their commercial lines staff.  Our client is looking for someone with a lot of horsepower and experience working with risks in the $40K - $100K revenue range.  Must be able to relocate and have experience working with claims, marketing and higher level service.

Commercial Lines Client Service Team Leader Job Description

Check out some of my recent articles on the blog here:

Forward Emails:  The Silent Killer

The Six Biggest Challenges Faced by Insurance Producers

How Insurance Producers Can Use Social Networking to Increase Sales

Four Skills that Every Account Manager Needs to Succeed

Job Hunting Myths Exposed

How Account Managers can Improve their Resumes

Three Things that Account Managers Should Do

Six Interview Tips Part I

Five Things Employers Do In the Interview Process

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope that everybody has a safe, happy and healthy Thanksgiving!!!!

If you find yourself thinking about a new job this weekend please take a look at some of my most popular articles this year from the blog.

Check out some of my recent articles on the blog here:

Forward Emails:  The Silent Killer

The Six Biggest Challenges Faced by Insurance Producers

How Insurance Producers Can Use Social Networking to Increase Sales

Four Skills that Every Account Manager Needs to Succeed

Job Hunting Myths Exposed

How Account Managers can Improve their Resumes

Three Things that Account Managers Should Do

Six Interview Tips Part I

Five Things Employers Do In the Interview Process

Regional Marketing Manager - San Francisco or Los Angeles

Our client is a well respected carrier that is a leader in accident and health coverage.  They are seeking someone that is currently a sales rep, business development rep or carrier rep with a group medical carrier that is experienced working with large national accounts (1,000 life plus) to step into a business development role managing a multi-state region.  If you have any suggestions please let me know.

Regional Marketing Manager - Los Angeles or San Francisco

Our client is a global provider of specialty lines insurance. They offer a range of insurance products—including Personal Accident, Business Travel, Accident and Sickness and other specialty health coverages. They presently offer an opportunity to join their growing organization as a Regional Marketing Manager in four different locations to include: Atlanta, GA;  Los Angeles or San Francisco, CA;  Dallas or Houston, TX; Chicago, IL. While the product line will be A&H, the best fit for my client's needs will likely be someone from an employee benefits sales background calling on a defined territory. This position will actively promote Client's A&H products and services to brokers, consultants and any other distribution sources in their assigned territory.  The Regional Marketing Manager will provide the necessary servicing to these producers to make sure they are satisfied and to maintain strong working relationships with these individuals and be responsive to their needs.     

Regional Marketing Manager Responsibilities:

• Frequent sales calls to brokers and consultants in all parts of the assigned territory
• Identify new distribution sources to sell A&H products and services
• Educate the producer community about A&H products and services
• Develop new broker relationships within territory
• Work with VP of Sales on a regular basis visiting producers in the defined territory  

Regional Marketing Manager Requirements:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in the group benefits and/or A&H business
• Minimum of 7 years of sales experience in the group benefits and/or A&H business
• Strong existing relationships with brokers and agents within assigned territory
• Strong written, oral and presentation skills

Please contact Scott Thompson for immediate confidential consideration and additional details.  Email:  sthompson@insurance-csg.com  Phone:  515-987-0242 ext 17. See our website at, www.csgrecruiting.com/ins_opportunities.htm for a complete listing of nationwide opportunities.

Check out some of my recent articles on the blog here:

Forward Emails:  The Silent Killer

The Six Biggest Challenges Faced by Insurance Producers

How Insurance Producers Can Use Social Networking to Increase Sales

Four Skills that Every Account Manager Needs to Succeed

Job Hunting Myths Exposed

How Account Managers can Improve their Resumes

Three Things that Account Managers Should Do

Six Interview Tips Part I

Five Things Employers Do In the Interview Process

Employee Benefits Sales Executive - Albuquerque, NM

This is a terrific opportunity for an employee benefits producer that has leadership skills and the drive to build something in a great location.  Our client is a strong agency that calls middle market size groups working with both fully and self funded accounts.  They need a true hunter with consultative skills that can aggressively call on business in this growing market.

Employee Benefits Producer

Our client is a large regional insurance brokerage with offices in several states looking to expand in their Albuquerque office.  They seek an Employee Benefits Sales Executive to step right into an existing book of business and build upon it with aggressive new business development goals.  The ideal candidate will have a strong track record of success, a burgeoning pipeline of professional networks in the area, and the ability to close new deals and renewals alike. 

Employee Benefits Sales Executive Responsibilities

• Ability to create an aggressive business marketing plan to drive revenue in a 3-5 year period.
• Ability to network at the C-level to determine the customer's business needs and subsequent insurance requirements.
• Cross-selling additional lines of coverage to round out accounts.
• Up-sell and renew existing clients with additional products and services. 

Employee Benefits Sales Executive Requirements

• 8-10 years of experience working in an independent agency or applicable direct marketing.
• Must possess applicable state insurance license, with additional professional designations a plus.
  
  
  Please contact Scott Thompson for immediate confidential consideration and additional details.  Email:  sthompson@insurance-csg.com  Phone:  515-987-0242 x17  Fax 515-987-0004  See our website at, www.csgrecruiting.com/ins_opportunities.htm for a complete listing of nationwide opportunities.
  
  
  Check out some of my recent articles on the blog here:
  
  
  5 Dumbest Things You Can Say in an Interview
  
  
  The Six Biggest Challenges Faced by Insurance Producers
  
  
  How Insurance Producers Can Use Social Networking to Increase Sales
  
  
  Four Skills that Every Account Manager Needs to Succeed
  
  
  Bad Customer Service Experiences
  
  
  Thank You Notes vs. Thank You Emails
  
  
  Three Things that Account Managers Should Do
  
  
  Six Interview Tips Part I

Commercial Lines Producer - Denver, CO

This is a  really exciting opportunity in Denver for a client that is looking for a strong producer. Our client is a middle market commercial agency that is looking to hire new talent in their Denver office.  They are open to several different profiles that would include:

• An established producer that could bring business with them
• A producer with less than five years of experience that is looking to grow their business and get in with a larger agency

Commercial Insurance Producer
Our client has been in the risk management business since 1910 and is one of the largest independent insurance brokers in the western United States.  They cater to both small and large market business clients and offer a diverse product line that includes employee benefits, safety consulting and contract surety.  They seek motivated, aggressive professionals that want to develop a career in retail insurance sales.  Primary responsibilities include actively generating new business revenue and retaining current, profitable clients.  You will serve as a risk management advisor to middle market and large market clientele.  You will also oversee a team of account executives and customer service representatives responsible for policy review and account maintenance.  To be considered you must hold a bachelor's degree and have knowledge of property & casualty or employee benefits coverage. 

Senior Commercial Insurance Producer Responsibilities:
Set a three year organic marketing plan designed to target middle market and risk management accounts around spheres of influence.
Work towards market specialization where the agency can hire trained client support experts to support your book; additionally your lead generation comes through referral with less dependency on cold calling.
Identify underserved geographic markets throughout the Pacific Northwest and northern California to expand the agency's regional reach.

Senior Commercial Insurance Producer Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree with importance placed on continuing insurance education (CIC, AU, ARM, CPCU).
At least 3-5 years of proven success in new business commercial insurance sales.
Maintain a high standard of marketing and client service through consultation and not price-driven sales.
Work well in a team based sales environment; develop internal sales relationships for partnership and cross selling opportunities.

Please contact Scott Thompson for immediate confidential consideration and additional details.  Email:  sthompson@insurance-csg.com  Phone:  515-987-0242 x17  Fax 515-987-0004  See our website at www.csgrecruiting.com/ins_opportunities.htm for a complete listing of nationwide opportunities.

Check out some of my recent articles on the blog here:

Forward Emails:  The Silent Killer

The Six Biggest Challenges Faced by Insurance Producers

How Insurance Producers Can Use Social Networking to Increase Sales

Four Skills that Every Account Manager Needs to Succeed

Job Hunting Myths Exposed

How Account Managers can Improve their Resumes

Three Things that Account Managers Should Do

Six Interview Tips Part I

Five Things Employers Do In the Interview Process

Personal Lines Insurance Producer - Boise, ID

Our client is one of the most well respected agencies in the mountain west region and they are looking for a strong personal lines producer.  Their goal is to find someone that has been exposed to high net worth and affluent business and has a strong independent agency background.  The right person will have a strong drive to succeed and an aggressive sales personality.

Personal Lines Producer

Our client is an independent insurance agency recognized for its full service property and casualty program offerings. Providing personal lines insurance solutions is an important way the agency can provide additional resources for business owners and their insureds' employees.  As Personal Lines Producer, you'll be responsible for helping the agency's producers promote personal lines for the first time to current insureds handled from the Boise office.  You'll pay particular attention to the higher valued clients with needs insuring valuable homes, automobiles and other luxury items.   

Personal Lines Producers Responsibilities:

• Create a sales plan to identify new business personal lines accounts.
• Partner with the commercial and benefits producers to capitalize on internal referrals and cross selling opportunities.
• Develop third party referral streams through centers of influence in the financial services and professional community.   

Personal Lines Producer Qualifications:

• At least 1-3 years of independent personal lines sales experience; background writing larger personal lines accounts is highly desired.
• Responsible for achieving new business goals through outside sales prospecting.
• Active ID P&C license.
• Experience rating and marketing business through multiple personal lines markets like Progressive, AIG/Chartis, Fireman's Fund, Travelers, etc.

Please contact Scott Thompson for immediate confidential consideration and additional details.  Email:  sthompson@insurance-csg.com  Phone:  515-987-0242 x17  Fax 515-987-0004  See our website at www.csgrecruiting.com/ins_opportunities.htm for a complete listing of nationwide opportunities.

Check out some of my recent articles on the blog here:

Forward Emails:  The Silent Killer

The Six Biggest Challenges Faced by Insurance Producers

How Insurance Producers Can Use Social Networking to Increase Sales

Four Skills that Every Account Manager Needs to Succeed

Job Hunting Myths Exposed

How Account Managers can Improve their Resumes

Three Things that Account Managers Should Do

Six Interview Tips Part I

Five Things Employers Do In the Interview Process

Commercial Insurance Producer - Portland, OR

This is a  really exciting opportunity in Portland for a client that is looking for a strong producer. Our client is a middle market commercial agency that is looking to hire new talent in their Portland office.  They are open to several different profiles that would include:

• An established producer that could bring business with them
• A producer with less than five years of experience that is looking to grow their business and get in with a larger agency

Commercial Insurance Producer
With a strong reputation for client service and program innovation, our client has grown to be a substantial part of the insurance fabric in the Pacific Northwest market. Organic growth is a major component of the agency's 2011 growth initiative.  An experienced producer who can take advantage of cross selling opportunities amongst several of the agency's offices as well as identify niche specialties which will be supported through significant marketing and account executive expertise.

Senior Commercial Insurance Producer Responsibilities:
Set a three year organic marketing plan designed to target middle market and risk management accounts around spheres of influence.
Work towards market specialization where the agency can hire trained client support experts to support your book; additionally your lead generation comes through referral with less dependency on cold calling.
Identify underserved geographic markets throughout the Pacific Northwest and northern California to expand the agency's regional reach.

Senior Commercial Insurance Producer Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree with importance placed on continuing insurance education (CIC, AU, ARM, CPCU).
At least 3-5 years of proven success in new business commercial insurance sales.
Maintain a high standard of marketing and client service through consultation and not price-driven sales.
Work well in a team based sales environment; develop internal sales relationships for partnership and cross selling opportunities.

Please contact Scott Thompson for immediate confidential consideration and additional details.  Email:  sthompson@insurance-csg.com  Phone:  515-987-0242 x17  Fax 515-987-0004  See our website at www.csgrecruiting.com/ins_opportunities.htm for a complete listing of nationwide opportunities.

Check out some of my recent articles on the blog here:

Forward Emails:  The Silent Killer

The Six Biggest Challenges Faced by Insurance Producers

How Insurance Producers Can Use Social Networking to Increase Sales

Four Skills that Every Account Manager Needs to Succeed

Job Hunting Myths Exposed

How Account Managers can Improve their Resumes

Three Things that Account Managers Should Do

Six Interview Tips Part I

Five Things Employers Do In the Interview Process

Commercial Lines Marketing Specialist/Account Executive - Greensboro, NC

This is an update on a previous search that I've been working.  My client is a well respected agency that is seeking someone with strong commercial lines experience to step into a marketing role.  Our client is looking for a strong technician and is open to someone that has been in an account executive/account manager role or a commercial lines underwriting role.

Commercial Lines Marketing Specialist
Our client is a regional insurance agency with the capacity to provide insurance and risk management programs for complex, high risk insureds.  The marketing department exists to provide client advocacy, internal support to the sales teams and navigate complex negotiations with commercial insurance companies. 

Account Executive, Marketing Leader Responsibilities:
Oversee the accurate compilation and timely release of prepared submissions to market.
Assist in the ongoing training of account managers and producers with respect to automation, online rating, submissions, proposals and renewal marketing.
Take a multi-discipline approach to the sales and service process; meaning you participate in planning meetings on complex accounts, you advocate cost savings with underwriters based on a variety of client claims and loss data, and you create programs and market access for producers to capitalize on while prospecting new business.
Seek out appropriate relationships within standard and E&S markets; work closely with wholesale brokers and insurance companies as the agency's primary point of contact for contract negotiations, premium commitments, etc.
Contribute to the overall business and sales strategies of the agency's Mid-Atlantic operations.

Account Executive, Marketing Leader Qualifications:
At least five (5) years of commercial insurance experience directly working with middle market and risk management cases; prior commercial lines underwriting, agency marketing leadership, agency sales or Client Service Executive/Account Executive experience will be considered.
Proficient in several areas of program design, strategic marketing and policy review for General Liability, large property, commercial auto, professional liability and workers compensation. 
Ability to partner with sales executives, client service staff and marketing specialists to analyze risk, strategize renewals and help advise clients on appropriate insurance programs.
Must have extensive regional carrier and wholesale brokerage relationships to provide an advantage when negotiating the best coverage and rates available.

Please contact Scott Thompson for immediate confidential consideration and additional details.  Email:  sthompson@insurance-csg.com  Phone:  515-9216-5455 Fax 515-987-0004  See our website at, www.csgrecruiting.com/ins_opportunities.htm for a complete listing of nationwide opportunities.

Check out some of my recent articles on the blog here:

Resignations: The most painful and most overlooked part of the process

Jumping Through Hoops: Frustrating Parts of the Interview Process that Seem Pointless

Five Dumbest Mistakes You can Make in an Interview

Five Things Employers Do in the Interview Process that Suck

The Four Skills that Every Insurance Account Manager Needs to Succeed in Their Career

So You Got Fired…  What Do You Say in an Interview?

Counter Offers - The worst Mistake You Will Ever Make!!

Five Things You Should Know When Working with a Recruiter

Ten Common Job Seeking Mistakes

Self Defeating Job Search Moves

Forward Emails:  The Silent Job Search Killer

Six Biggest Challenges Faced by Insurance Producers

Back to Basics:  Five Interview Tips You Need to Follow

Answering the Salary Question

The Four Worst Interview Tips

Five Biggest Resume Mistakes

Five Keys to a Great Resume!

Five White Lies that Cost People Jobs!

Five White Lies Continued:  It was a Mutual Decision

Five Things You Need to Know When Negotiating a Salary

Group Benefits Analyst - Seattle, WA

This is a great job for someone with a strong underwriting or analytical background working with employee benefits.  Our client is a one of the top agencies in Utah and they are in need of someone that can gather and assess data in preparation to market to carriers.  Please let me know if you have any suggestions or are interested.

Group Benefits Analyst
Our client is a progressive insurance brokerage deeply rooted in its group benefits consulting platform.  Providing important solutions and valuable resources to clients with as few as 100 lives up to several thousand active and retired employees allows the agency to insure a broad range of businesses. This position, Group Benefits Analyst, works within the agency's group employee benefits service team to analyze health insurance data in preparation for submission and renewals. 

Group Benefits Analyst Responsibilities:
Collecting and evaluating monthly claims data (medical, dental, disability, life),
Preparing client quarterly reports and attending client meetings.
Using tools for benefit modeling and cost modeling; Benchmarking benefit and cost information.
Compiling data and assembling Requests for Proposal for all lines of coverage.
Evaluating RFP responses and creating qualitative and quantitative assessments of each.

Group Benefits Analyst Qualifications:
BA/BS preferred.
At least three (3) years of group  health plan experience, either as an underwriter or as a analyst for a benefits consulting firm. 
Proficient with Microsoft Excel.

Please contact Scott Thompson for immediate confidential consideration and additional details.  Email:  sthompson@insurance-csg.com  Phone:  515-987-0242 x17  Fax 515-987-0004  See our website at, www.csgrecruiting.com/ins_opportunities.htm for a complete listing of nationwide opportunities.

Check out some of my recent articles on the blog here:

Forward Emails:  The Silent Killer

The Six Biggest Challenges Faced by Insurance Producers

How Insurance Producers Can Use Social Networking to Increase Sales

Four Skills that Every Account Manager Needs to Succeed

Job Hunting Myths Exposed

How Account Managers can Improve their Resumes

Three Things that Account Managers Should Do

Six Interview Tips Part I

Five Things Employers Do In the Interview Process

Group Benefits Analyst - Salt Lake City, UT

This is a great job for someone with a strong underwriting or analytical background working with employee benefits.  Our client is a one of the top agencies in Utah and they are in need of someone that can gather and assess data in preparation to market to carriers.  Please let me know if you have any suggestions or are interested.

Group Benefits Analyst
Our client is a progressive insurance brokerage deeply rooted in its group benefits consulting platform.  Providing important solutions and valuable resources to clients with as few as 100 lives up to several thousand active and retired employees allows the agency to insure a broad range of businesses. This position, Group Benefits Analyst, works within the agency's group employee benefits service team to analyze health insurance data in preparation for submission and renewals.

Group Benefits Analyst Responsibilities:
Collecting and evaluating monthly claims data (medical, dental, disability, life),
Preparing client quarterly reports and attending client meetings.
Using tools for benefit modeling and cost modeling; Benchmarking benefit and cost information.
Compiling data and assembling Requests for Proposal for all lines of coverage.
Evaluating RFP responses and creating qualitative and quantitative assessments of each.

Group Benefits Analyst Qualifications:
BA/BS preferred.
At least three (3) years of group  health plan experience, either as an underwriter or as a analyst for a benefits consulting firm.
Proficient with Microsoft Excel.

Please contact Scott Thompson for immediate confidential consideration and additional details.  Email:  sthompson@insurance-csg.com  Phone:  515-987-0242 x17  Fax 515-987-0004  See our website at, www.csgrecruiting.com/ins_opportunities.htm for a complete listing of nationwide opportunities.

Check out some of my recent articles on the blog here:

Forward Emails:  The Silent Killer

The Six Biggest Challenges Faced by Insurance Producers

How Insurance Producers Can Use Social Networking to Increase Sales

Four Skills that Every Account Manager Needs to Succeed

Job Hunting Myths Exposed

How Account Managers can Improve their Resumes

Three Things that Account Managers Should Do

Six Interview Tips Part I

Five Things Employers Do In the Interview Process

Forward Emails: The Silent Job Search Killer!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  Since we have an abbreviated week going on I’m going to keep things short – I’ve got five days of work to cram into three.  This week I’m going to get up on my soapbox a little bit and talk about an important issue that too many people mess up.  Forward or Chain Emails.

You’ve all been there.  Some close friend of yours passes along an email that pulls at your heart strings or really gets you fired up.  The subject lines look something like this:

Obama is Trying to Pass a Law to Outlaw Dog Food – (For once can we just think about the puppies?)

Cancer Stricken Orphan Wants Christmas Cards

Pedophiles are Trying to Access Your Facebook through McDonald’s Wifi

While all of these are obviously made up subject lines (God I hope so – those poor puppies) they are fairly representative of the things total strangers send me.  And if these total strangers in job searches are willing to send me these forwards then I must assume that they also send it to hiring managers as well that they have had contact with in the past.

Here’s the deal.  When you are in a job search these types of emails will not help you in any way shape or form.  I can tell you with full certainty that I have never had someone hired because of a witty poem someone forwarded on about how some republocrat (nice word – it’s a portmanteau of republican and democrat – I’m very PC) is scheming to ruin Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanzaa.  However, I do know of people that have lost interviews because of forwarding something on like this.  Full disclosure here, I make money by helping people find jobs and as a capitalist I’m willing to overlook these indiscretions if it puts food on my table.  However, potential employers will not if the emails offend or annoy them. 

Now – before you feel that I’m condemning you for sending these out please know that I understand how it happens.  Whenever you send an email to someone on any of the free email services it gives you the option to add that person to your address book.  Sounds like a great idea – after all that thank you note you sent after your interview was to your future boss right?  The problem is that you do this and then you forget.  Then when that forward comes in that just gets you going and you NEED everybody you have every known to call their congressman to make sure they don’t ban dog food it goes to the future employer along with all of your friends. 

So what’s the harm?  Actually there is a lot of harm that can be done.  In fact this is something that can kill your job search if it goes to the wrong person.  Here’s why:

1. It Offends the Recipient

As I said before I get paid to read your emails and will always side with my bottom line which makes me willing to overlook being offended.  The same doesn’t go for a potential employer.  Just think of the case about those poor puppies that will have nothing to eat.  What if the employer is a cat person?  What if they got bitten by a dog on the way to work?  What if their spouse is a mailman?  All of these things could give them a reason not to hire you.  All joking aside you need to remember that if the forward sent to you got you so upset that you NEEDED to send it out then there is a pretty good likelihood that there are people on the other side that are equally as passionate about it.  This is what creates controversy.  Again – no employer will hire you because they agree with something that you didn’t write but felt compelled to send to them.  They will choose not to though if you offend them.

2. It Annoys Them

Most people come to work to work – that is why it is called work.  If they came to work to read dumb emails it would be called leisure time and they wouldn’t bet getting paid for it.  So even if your email doesn’t offend them you could annoy them – this isn’t much better.  Again these things have the ability to create a negative perception about you.

3. It Makes You Look Unprofessional

So – you’ve gone through the interview with a nice suit on.  You’ve (hopefully) sent a handwritten note that sets you apart and you’ve followed up with an email.  You showered before the interview and even shined your shoes.  The potential employer has one opinion of you – you are one professional bada$$.  Why would you put a chink in that armor? 

4. It Makes You Look Stupid

The reason that most of these controversial emails get you going is because it suggests some outlandish claim and typically leaves out relevant and important pieces of information.  Going with the dog food theme these types of emails typically leave out that the real legislation being passed is that it is trying to outlaw dog food made from radioactive horse hooves – that certainly changes things.  I’m no sociologist but I imagine that the people the sit around and write these forwards are people that either have an agenda and aren’t afraid to twist the facts or are people that just like to stir up trouble.  That said, if you buy it hook, line and sinker then you are the one that looks dumb. 

A good way to combat this is to google the email after you read it and add the word Snopes after it.  Snopes is a pretty objective website that compiles these emails and other internet rumors and affirms or debunks them.  In most cases these emails are completely untrue or at least misleading.  Do you want to be attached to something like that? 

So… there is my diatribe against forward emails.  Please heed my words.  They can really hurt your job search.  There is no way around it.  I call it the silent killer because an employer won’t come out and tell you that they decided to go in a different direction because you sent it.  Instead, they will tell you they found another person.  Go out and eat lots of turkey this week and have a great holiday!!!!

As always you can reach me at sthompson@insurance-csg.com.

Check out some of my recent articles on the blog here:

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Six Interview Tips Part I

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