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:

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

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

  

Two Commercial Lines Account Manager Opportunities in Nashville, TN

Hi There!  I"m working on a really nice search in Nashville.  My client is a specialty agency that specializes in a unique insurance coverage.  They are focused on adding two additional people to their service staff.  The first spot is CSR role that will handle administrative duties and light customer contact.  The second one is for a senior account manager with excellent customer service skills that can step into a supervisory role and lead by example and also teach the existing staff.  Middle market commercial experience is a must and a strong professional and personable personality is imperative!  Both job descriptions are below!

Client Service Manager (Senior Account Manager)

Our client is a specialty commercial insurance agency with a strong focus in a very unique niche.  This position, Client Service Manager, manages a team of Account Managers and Assistants servicing the agency's total book of business.  The agency is looking for someone who will ensure that customers receive the best service possible, and who can coordinate functions with service staff and clients.

Client Service Manager Responsibilities:
Monitors performance of employees and takes action to correct substandard performance with emphasis on customer service quality.
Manages recruiting, training, work review and policy administration processes.
The coordinator for new and renewal business; ensuring accurate claims and audit information, compliance, submission compilation, written service execution and renewal marketing strategies.
Works with accounting for finance related matters like account billing, payroll, collections, agency licenses and surplus lines tax filings.

Client Service Manager Qualifications:
At least five (5) years of commercial insurance client service experience; prior management or team leadership is required.
Bachelor's degree is preferred; pursuance of continuing education like CIC, AU or ARM is highly desired.
Broad coverage proficiency in general liability, commercial auto, large property, and workers compensation; entertainment exposure is highly desired but not required.
Comfortable managing a team averaging 8-10 direct reports.
Active TN P&C license.

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.

Commercial Account Manager

Our client is a specialty commercial insurance agency with a strong focus in a unique niche.  This position, Commercial Account Manager, will be responsible for supporting the agency's ongoing efforts to provide quality customer service and risk management consultation.

Commercial Account Manager Responsibilities:
Serve as the primary client service point of contact to the insured.
Answer questions about coverage and pricing, create and execute the renewal cycle, coordinate all renewal marketing and create RFPs.
Be a resource for producers and other account managers concerning markets, coverage issues and claims.

Commercial Account Manager Qualifications:
At least two (2) years of commercial insurance experience as a CSR or Account Manager
Bachelor's degree is preferred; pursuance of continuing education like CIC, AU or ARM is highly desired.
Broad coverage proficiency in general liability, commercial auto, large property, and workers compensation; entertainment exposure is highly desired but not required.

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

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

Awesome Senior Insurance Management Positions

I’m working on several exciting management opportunities throughout the country!  Below are descriptions for several positions that I’m working on followed by a link to the full job description.  Please take a look and let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.  Thanks again and have a great day!

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

Personal Lines Sales and Marketing Manager – Boston, MA

This is a an awesome job in Boston!  My client has a very large personal lines book of business that is focused on standard, high net worth and affluent business.  They are looking for a new leader that can continue to grow the practice and introduce innovative thinking.  The ideal person is someone with sales management skills that also has new and fresh ideas about how to market personal lines insurance including social networking and community involvement.    This person must be high energy and creative!

Personal Lines Sales and Marketing Manager Job Description

Commercial Lines Practice Leader – Baton Rouge, LA

This is an awesome opportunity for a strong leader.  Our client is seeking someone with a strong operations background that can come in and immediately take over management of agency operations and the commercial lines service staff.  This is an opportunity that will allow someone strong long term growth and requires that someone have previous agency management experience, hiring and firing experience and a strong track record of positive change management.

Commercial Lines Practice Leader Job Description

Employee Benefits Practice Leader – Midwest

This is a terrific opportunity for a well respected independent agency in the Midwest.  Our  client is looking for a transformative sales leader that can take their practice to the next level.  Their desire is to find someone that can help redesign their practice and grow it significantly.  The right person will have a strong sales management background a strong consultative vision.  Additionally they are open to someone coming from the agency or carrier side.  

Employee Benefits Practice Leader 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

Employee Benefits Practice Leader – Cleveland, OH

This is a great chance to work with one of the leaders of the Midwest.  Our client needs a dynamic employee benefits person to take over a growing, existing practice in Cleveland.  This person is going to manage both service and sales and will be responsible for executing the company's vision.  The client plays in the 100 - 1,000 life arena on average and needs someone that has this experience.

Employee Benefits Practice Leader Job Description

MGA/Broker Branch Manager – Nashville, TN

Our client is a top ten MGA/Wholesale Broker that is seeking a branch manager to run their Nashville office.  This is a great opportunity for someone with a very strong management background that has wholesale experience.   The job will have P & L responsibilities as well as production responsibilities.

MGA/Broker Branch Manager Job Description

Corporate Risk Manager – Chicago, IL

This is a really exciting opportunity for someone with corporate risk management experience that is also experienced with risk purchasing.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Corporate Risk Manager Job Description

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

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 Sales and Marketing Manager - Boston, MA

This is a an awesome job in Boston!  My client has a very large personal lines book of business that is focused on standard, high net worth and affluent business.  They are looking for a new leader that can continue to grow the practice and introduce innovative thinking.  The ideal person is someone with sales management skills that also has new and fresh ideas about how to market personal lines insurance including social networking and community involvement.    This person must be high energy and creative!

Personal Lines Sales and Marketing Manager
Our client is an established independent agency based in Boston.  The personal lines division is a significant portion of the agency's revenue and derived from a long standing emphasis on providing excellent customer service and quality insurance offerings.  This position, Personal Lines Sales & Marketing Manager, will oversee the entire personal lines division including all sales and service related functions.  The goal is to move the agency's distribution platform from a referral system to a consumer driven strategy.

Personal Lines Sales & Marketing Manager Responsibilities:
Design, enhance or make radical changes as needed to drive forward the department's profitability and product visibility.
Create an advertising platform to attract prospective customers through several different marketing avenues such as an online quoting system, social media advertising, new cross marketing with the commercial divisions, etc.
Take charge of securing appropriate marketing contract, value added resources, talent acquisition and budget allocation.
Train, mentor and manage the personal lines client service staff and agents.

Personal Lines Sales & Marketing Manager Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree is preferred.
Tenure and experience within personal lines insurance with a special emphasis on marketing, advertising and product distribution.
Experience with innovative, online marketing and social media techniques for distributing insurance products.
Strategist; sales focused; proactive leader.

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

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