Tuesday, May 29, 2012

New Insurance Jobs in Chicago, IL


Hello World!  I hope you all enjoyed your long weekend!  If getting back into the swing of things this morning was more difficult than usual, maybe it's a sign that you need a new job.   I’m working on some really great stuff in Chicago right now.  Below I’ve listed my top searches followed by a brief description and a link to more information.  Please take a look and let me know if you have any suggestions or ideas.  Thanks again and enjoy the holiday!




Commercial Lines Producer – Chicago, IL
This is a great spot for a seasoned producer that has experience working in the middle market arena.  My client is looking for someone with at least five years of commercial lines agency production experience that can take advantage of their resources to build a book from scratch.  My client is comfortable paying a strong starting salary and has a strong market presence.


Employee Benefits Producer – Chicago, IL
This is an awesome opportunity for an up and coming producer.  My client is looking for an employee benefits producer with experience calling on benefit accounts in the 100 - 300 life segment. They are seeking an established producer that has prior agency sales experience and would prefer someone that has ties to the area.  This is a unique situation as there is a book of business that comes with the position.


Work Comp Claims Rep – Chicago, IL
Our client is a leading independent agency in the Midwest that has been in business for nearly 50 years and ranks in the top 100 insurance agencies in the country.  They have an immediate opening for a Claims Representative with previous Work Comp experience.  The ideal candidate will have current responsibility for claims interactions regarding clients with a significant percentage of routine claim issues.  For the right person, they will allow the individual to work from home after a training period.


Medical Malpractice Producer – Chicago, IL
Our client is an insurance company that specializes in medical malpractice in the state of Illinois.  They are looking for a dynamic sales-oriented Producer to join their team in Chicago.  You will assist in day-to-day administration of the company's business development, marketing, and sales programs in accordance with the policies and goals established by management.  Along with the VP of Sales you will contribute to the development of the company's strategic plan.


Check out all of our postings here:


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




























Thursday, May 24, 2012

Medical Malpractice Producer - Chicago, IL


Our client is an insurance company that specializes in medical malpractice in the state of Illinois.  They are looking for a dynamic sales-oriented Producer to join their team in Chicago.  You will assist in day-to-day administration of the company's business development, marketing, and sales programs in accordance with the policies and goals established by management.  Along with the VP of Sales you will contribute to the development of the company's strategic plan.

Medical Malpractice Producer
Assess risk and conduct field underwriting with prospects and clients.
Participate in the renewal process on the existing book of business.
Make sales calls for prospective clients.
Promote and encourage innovation in processes, procedures, products, and services in the organization.
Responsible for directing research and analysis of business opportunities, assessing potential markets, competitor insurance programs, consumer research, and other marketing opportunities.
Building and maintaining successful relationships with key insureds, medical societies, medical group manager associations and other industry organizations in all target markets.

Commercial Lines Producer, Medical Malpractice Requirements
Bachelor's degree preferred or applicable industry experience.
3-5 years experience working with professional liability products such as medical malpractice.

Please contact Scott Thompson for immediate confidential consideration and additional details.  Email:  sthompson@insurance-csg.com  Phone:  515-216-5455  See our website at, www.csgrecruiting.com/ins_opportunities.htm for a complete listing of nationwide opportunities.


Check out all of our postings here:


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




























Work Comp Claims Rep - Chicago, IL


Our client is a leading independent agency in the Midwest that has been in business for nearly 50 years and ranks in the top 100 insurance agencies in the country.  They have an immediate opening for a Claims Representative with previous Work Comp experience.  The ideal candidate will have current responsibility for claims interactions regarding clients with a significant percentage of routine claim issues.  For the right person, they will allow the individual to work from home after a training period.


Work Comp Claims Representative
Mitigate Workers Compensation exposure through action planning, alternative handling methodologies, and reserve validation.
Provide client education such as WC101, WC102, Claims Mitigation, etc.
Communicate with internal and external clients and staff.
Manage claims review in accordance with claims service guidelines and follow up appropriately.
Analyze and guide in areas of liability and litigation.
Be familiar with and follow agency procedures.
Perform related duties as assigned or as situation dictates.

Work Comp Claims Representative Requirements
Bachelors degree or equivalent professional experience.
2-3 years of work comp claims handling experience at an agency or insurance carrier.
Illinois Insurance License a must at time of hire or shortly thereafter.

Please contact Scott Thompson for immediate confidential consideration and additional details.  Email:  sthompson@insurance-csg.com  Phone:  515-216-5455  See our website at, www.csgrecruiting.com/ins_opportunities.htm for a complete listing of nationwide opportunities.

Check out all of our postings here:


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




























Employee Benefits Producer – Chicago, IL


This is an awesome opportunity for an up and coming producer.  My client is looking for an employee benefits producer with experience calling on benefit accounts in the 100 - 300 life segment. They are seeking an established producer that has prior agency sales experience and would prefer someone that has ties to the area.  This is a unique situation as there is a book of business that comes with the position.

Employee Benefits Producer 
With a very long and storied history, our client is among the most well established and reputable agencies in the greater Chicagoland area.  Of regional size, they offer an entrepreneurial culture where sales executives are well supported and given every opportunity to succeed. They currently have an existing book of group benefits business to grant an incoming producer to get started.  As an experienced Employee Benefits Producer, Account Executive, you'll serve as the primary point of contact for clients with a focus on retaining and growing this book moving forward.

Employee Benefits Producer, Account Executive Responsibilities:
Routinely consult with clients, by phone and in-person, to discuss the company's benefits programs, make adjustments as needed and prepare for renewals.
Work closely with the account management team to address client inquiries, enrollments and renewal preparation in a timely and efficient manner.
Work with the agencies other producers to identify areas for account rounding, new business development and full utilization of the agency's resources.

Employee Benefits Producer, Account Executive Qualifications:
At least three (3) years of group medical sales and service experience.
Prior work as a producer or Account Executive for an independent agency is important.
Have success with a relationship and retention focused sales style.
Active IL L&H license.
Bachelor's degree as well as completion of continuing education courses, sales training or professional designations is preferred.

Please contact Scott Thompson for immediate confidential consideration and additional details.  Email:  sthompson@insurance-csg.com  Phone:  515-216-5455 Fax 515-987-0004  See our website at, www.csgrecruiting.com/ins_opportunities.htm for a complete listing of nationwide opportunities.

Check out all of our postings here:


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





























Commercial Lines Producer - Chicago, IL

This is a great spot for a seasoned producer that has experience working in the middle market arena.  My client is looking for someone with at least five years of commercial lines agency production experience that can take advantage of their resources to build a book from scratch.  My client is comfortable paying a strong starting salary and has a strong market presence.



Commercial Lines Producer Job Description

Our client offers a tremendous opportunity for insurance producers in Chicago seeking to join a privately held, family oriented agency.  Well known and respected in the Chicago area for over 50 years, their success has always been the result of bringing both junior and senior level producers together under the agency's common goals.  .

They seek an experienced commercial lines producer currently working for an independent agency in Chicago.  Perhaps it’s a lack of marketing support, frustration with a public traded brokerage, or location.  Whatever your motivation, you want to join an agency who's executives not only continue to produce but can help provide you with ongoing mentorship to achieving a $750k-$1MM book of business.  To be considered a senior producer you offer approximately 7-10 years of commercial insurance experience.  You understand the sales and marketing cycle on middle market business generating at a minimum $7,500-$10,000 in agency commission.

Compensation is commensurate with experience but provides a lucrative base salary with bonus/commission structure based on new business sales.

Please contact Scott Thompson for immediate confidential consideration and additional details.  Email:  sthompson@insurance-csg.com  Phone:  515-216-5455  Fax 515-987-0004  See our website at, www.csgrecruiting.com/ins_opportunities.htm for a complete listing of nationwide opportunities.


Check out all of our postings here:


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




























Tuesday, May 22, 2012

What to do when your Boss Friends you on Facebook! The Answer to this and Five other Social Media Career Problems



 Good morning blogosphere, twitterverse, Facebookians and all of you others out there.  I hope you are having a terrific week leading up to a three day weekend!  Things are going terrific here in the Thompson household.  Baby Kai is almost sleeping through the night, we are getting our new puppy next wee and I’m very proud to report that my oldest daughter, Ava, caught her first fish this weekend!

I'm such a proud Papa!!!


As you all know I’ve become a pretty big proponent of harnessing social media to help your career.  However, as with anything terrific, there are drawbacks.  Social media can be a huge headache for your career.  Today I’m going to talk about six situations that can cause problems in your career and how to handle them.  Here we go!

1.  Your Boss Friends You on Facebook
This is such a tricky situation.  When you get the message that Mr. Burns wants to be your friend on Facebook, many of you start asking why.  Is he checking up on me? Did I do something wrong?  Is there something on my profile I should be afraid of?  If I say no will he feel disrespected or have his feelings hurt?  These are all valid concerns.

What do you do when this guy friends you?  It's probably innocent...

 First of all, lets talk about why your boss is friending you.  The most likely reason is because they like you.  You need to remember that for some people Facebook is this addicting  platform where people collect connections to make them feel better about themselves.  Everyone has a different filter for what they call a friend on Facebook.  I would wager that 95% of the time they are just being friendly.  However, having your boss on there does pose some problems.  What if there is stuff you don’t want him to see…

So…you have two options:

  • Say Yes – you can do this if you think it would hurt their feelings to say no.  Also it is probably easiest solution provided that your profile doesn’t have anything embarrassing on it. 
  • Say No – This is the hardest one, but you can do this and preserve your relationship with your boss.  What you need to do is to find a time to talk to them alone and explain to them that to you Facebook is a private thing and that you only use it to connect to very close friends and family.  They will most likely understand that unless… you are friends with everyone else in the office.  If that is the case you either need to roll the dice and risk making them mad or just accepting them and cleaning up your profile.

2.  You have co-workers or friends that post inappropriate thing on your wall
This is a really common problem.  There are some people out there – you probably don’t know who you are – that either just like to complain or have no filter – by no filter I mean they have absolutely no capacity to understand what is appropriate to share with everyone or not.  You know these people – they typically say something wrong and when you look at them funny they say –What?  If you know these people like I do – please know I’m not condemning you – you can’t change them.  It’s in their DNA.  These are the friends that think it is hilarious to tag a picture of you they snapped at 3 AM with a great caption telling the world what you did.  So what do you do?  You can try talking to them about it – this probably wont’ work.  You can also de-friend them but nobody likes drama.  There is a pretty simple solution here.  Go to Facebook’s privacy settings and click on edit settings for Timeline and Tagging – in here there is an option for you to review posts that you are tagged in before they appear in your timeline.  This will help you screen it.

3.  You Interview for a Job and the Hiring Manager connects to you on LinkedIn or Facebook

This one is a little trickier and each network poses a different problem.  If the hiring manager  does this on Facebook it is most likely because they are checking up on you.  Most companies don’t do this because of liability issues but some do it on purpose.  This shouldn’t be a problem if you have already been proactive about cleaning up your Facebook page.  However, it still might feel like an invasion of your privacy.  In this case I suggest thinking long and hard about how much you want this job.  If you really want it then maybe it is a hoop you should jump through.  If you are on the fence…just ignore it and move on.  If you are asked about it just say that you aren’t on Facebook very much and hadn’t checked it yet. 

LinkedIn is only tricky because it is a professional forum and most likely you are connected to your boss.  It might look suspicious if you take a morning off and later that day adding a connection from a competitor.  If you are uncomfortable accepting the invite then send the person an email and explain your situation – tell them that your boss is a suspicious person that micro manages you and that it would be problematic to accept them immediately.  Suggest that you will connect to them in the future.  At the end of the day, the biggest concern you have here is that you inadvertently offend someone by not accepting their invitation.  A little bit of communication will go a long way.

4.  Your Facebook Profile is Unsavory
Here’s the deal.  Try as you might it is really hard to hide all aspects of your Facebook profile.  The internet is literally a vast blackhole of opportunities to hurt your career if you allow the wrong information to get out there.  Before you post something or accept to have a picture of you tagged think about what a future employer might think.  Better yet use this rule of thumb:

“Would I be embarrassed if my Mom saw this?”

Make your momma proud!


For all of you with hardcore partying moms – please just go with the example and replace mom with some other easily offendable relative that you don’t want to upset.  Just be careful – it can hurt you.  For more on this read the end of this article I wrote earlier this year:


5.  Your Resume Doesn’t Match Your Profile
This is a big area that catches people up.  Many people choose to have an abbreviated version of their resume on LinkedIn.  They leave out information that isn’t important or unflattering in order to make themselves appear more marketable.  This in itself isn’t a problem.  Your profile is a walking advertisement that should make you look good.  However, you need to make sure that important information matches up.   Say you worked for a company for six months and it is on your resume.  Some people embellish their LinkedIn profile and add that time to a longer job to make them appear more stable.  This is a big turnoff.  Instead of embellishing just make sure that the dates add up and leave the less important stuff off.  Don’t lie – even if it is unintentional you can seriously hurt your career.

6.  Employer asks for your Facebook or LinkedIn log in information
This is a practice that is somewhat common in certain industries.  Essentially some companies feel that this is a valid way to conduct a reference.  I’m not going to levy my judgment on the practice on this one.  Honestly, how I feel about it doesn’t really matter – it doesn’t help people get jobs.  Instead, I’ll tell you how to deal with it.  You have two options:

  1. Scrub your profile and give them log in – this depends on how much you need the job
  2. Take a moral stand and walk away – if you feel that this is an invasion of your privacy you should politely say that you aren’t  comfortable giving out this information and ask if there are any alternative solutions.  If they say no (companies with this policy most likely will), then tell them politely that you would like to remove yourself from consideration.

Please understand that the key here is to be polite.  It is a very small world out there and no matter how egregious the request of a potential employer you need to be gracious in your negative response.  If you have a strong impression and tell them how you really feel the run the risk that it will be misconstrued to others in the industry. 

So there you go – it’s a strange new world we are living in!  What do you think?  Please feel free to leave comments or email me at sthompson@insurance-csg.com.

Check out all of our postings here:


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


























Friday, May 18, 2012

Managing Producer - Nashville, TN



I'm working with a client that is looking to enter the Nashville market and make a splash.  They are looking for a high profile producer that has a strong track history of success in the area that can grow a book organically and eventually build an office in the area.  This organization is a strong middle market and risk management player with excellent market access and resources.  Additionally, they would be open to bringing a team of producers over as well or make an acquisition.  Below is a brief job description.



Managing Producer - Nashville, TN

Our client is an established independent broker with large scale business operations on the deep south.  With the resources to insure a multitude of commercial, life and health and personal insurance risks, they have the capacity to provide programs for clients on a national scale.

VP, Managing Producer Responsibilities:
You're responsible for achieving personal new business sales goals; you'll develop and manage other producers by example of your own production.
You'll play an active role in total client consultation, working closely with the service staff and shared agency resources to provide the appropriate risk management, claims and marketing advocacy.
You'll be the face of the agency's operations in northeast Mississippi by furthering marketing relationships, referral streams with local business professionals and become active in community organizations.
You'll weigh in on strategic decisions that affect the Tupelo office, from decisions on P&L to staff training, product diversification and new employee hires.

VP, Managing Producer Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree is required.
At least seven (7) years of independent agency sales experience; expertise can be either in commercial lines or group employee benefits provided your expertise is not in small group but middle market/mid-sized group business.
Ability to assume non-sales responsibilities like operations, marketing and employee development including producer training.
Can create and execute a business plan that thrusts the agency's new business revenue towards middle market accounts in the general region spanning northern Mississippi, Memphis, Little Rock and Birmingham.
Entrepreneurial; can reach out and ask for resources; understands how to draw in other divisions like group benefits, HR, loss control and claims to create a consultative service platform.

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 all of our postings here:


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



























Thursday, May 17, 2012

Personal Lines Producer - Memphis, TN


This is an awesome position with one of the most well respected agencies in Tennessee.  My client is looking for a consultative seller to focus on their personal lines products. This is a terrific opportunity for someone working at a smaller agency or a captive that would like to transition into the high net worth and affluent arena.  While they want someone with strong cold calling skills they are most interested in someone that knows how to develop referral streams from trusted advisers of affluent clientele like lawyers, CPA's and financial advisers.



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 offers additional resources for business owners and its employees.  As Personal Lines Producer, you'll be responsible for helping the agency promote personal lines through cross selling opportunities, new social media advertising, targeting affluent buyers or expanding the agency's footprint in Arkansas and north Mississippi.

Personal Lines Producer 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:
Bachelor's degree in insurance and risk management or related degree.
At least 1-3 years of independent property and casualty sales experience; background writing larger personal lines accounts is highly desired.
Responsible for achieving new business goals through outside sales prospecting.
Active TN P&C license.

Please contact Scott Thompson for immediate confidential consideration and additional details.  Email:  sthompson@insurance-csg.com  Phone:  515-216-5455  Fax 515-987-0004  See our website at, www.csgrecruiting.com/ins_opportunities.htm for a complete listing of nationwide opportunities.


Check out all of our postings here:


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



























Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Managing Producer - New Orleans, LA


I'm working with a client that is looking to enter the New Orleans market and make a splash.  They are looking for a high profile producer that has a strong track history of success in the area that can grow a book organically and eventually build an office in the area.  This organization is a strong middle market and risk management player with excellent market access and resources.  Additionally, they would be open to bringing a team of producers over as well or make an acquisition.  Below is a brief job description.



Managing Producer - New Orleans, LA

Our client is an established independent broker with large scale business operations on the Gulf Coast.  With the resources to insure a multitude of commercial, life and health and personal insurance risks, they have the capacity to provide programs for clients on a national scale.  

VP, Managing Producer Responsibilities:
You're responsible for achieving personal new business sales goals; you'll develop and manage other producers by example of your own production.
You'll play an active role in total client consultation, working closely with the service staff and shared agency resources to provide the appropriate risk management, claims and marketing advocacy.
You'll be the face of the agency's operations in northeast Mississippi by furthering marketing relationships, referral streams with local business professionals and become active in community organizations.
You'll weigh in on strategic decisions that affect the Tupelo office, from decisions on P&L to staff training, product diversification and new employee hires.

VP, Managing Producer Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree is required.
At least seven (7) years of independent agency sales experience; expertise can be either in commercial lines or group employee benefits provided your expertise is not in small group but middle market/mid-sized group business.
Ability to assume non-sales responsibilities like operations, marketing and employee development including producer training.
Can create and execute a business plan that thrusts the agency's new business revenue towards middle market accounts in the general region spanning northern Mississippi, Memphis, Little Rock and Birmingham.
Entrepreneurial; can reach out and ask for resources; understands how to draw in other divisions like group benefits, HR, loss control and claims to create a consultative service platform.

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 all of our postings here:


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



























Commercial Insurance Producer - Lancaster, PA

I'm working on a terrific opportunity for an A+ producer.  My client is looking to make a hire to assist with their succession planning as they have two high profile producers retiring within the next two years.  They are looking for an accomplished producer that can assume some of this business and also lead by example by developing new business organically.  This is with a company that has a terrific culture and offers long term growth potential from a leadership standpoint.



Commercial Lines Producer - Lancaster, PA

Our client is a respected independent agency known for its progressive business development.  Rooted in central Pennsylvania, this firm has its arms outstretched much farther than the local economy with its producers maintaining established books of business, many built around legacy construction accounts, into surrounding states.  With a newly created construction practice group this position, Construction & Bonding Producer, is the first hire under the new system designed to create more brand awareness, lead generation and team based selling.  Because the agency has found producers have the greatest success when selling both P&C and bond programs to its clients, you’ll be encouraged to bundle risk management and surety for all clients.

Construction & Bonding Producer Responsibilities:
You will actively seek new business through a variety of successful methods while also being involved in ongoing account consultation and retention.
You will be required to meet face-to-face to qualify prospects, tailor the program to their specific operations, and arrange for appropriate claims and loss control services.
You can access the company's full resources to identify new business but ultimately will be responsible for the complete sales cycle including lead generation, marketing oversight, closing negotiations, and implementing a customer service plan.
You'll will provide financial analysis and make recommendations to the insured for the bond risk management plan.

Construction & Bonding Producer Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree and active state P&C license are required.
History of successful business development with construction and/or surety products particularly with contractors and GCs representing at least $100k in annual premium.
Articulate, driven, and well educated with the desire for resources and mentorship from an agency to build a sustainable insurance career.

Compensation is commensurate with experience and provides a base salary with additional commissions on annual new business revenue.

Please contact Scott Thompson for immediate confidential consideration and additional details.  Email: sthompson@insurance-csg.com  Phone:  515-987-0242 x455  Fax 515-987-0004  See our website at www.csgrecruiting.com/ins_opportunities.htm for a complete listing of nationwide opportunities.


Check out all of our postings here:


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