Five Reasons You Should Consider Making a Move in 2012… And One Reason Why You Shouldn’t

I know we still have a pretty big holiday coming up on Sunday but it is never too early to start thinking about the future.  I've often found that spending time away from the office and enjoying time with friends and family magnifies what you don’t like about your job.  I’m sure that some of this is just that absence can make the heart grow blacker.  However, for many the time away helps people objectively look at their career and compare it to their goals.  Below are five reasons why you should at least check out your options.

1.  You Aren't Being Challenged Intellectually

Are you coming home from work feeling like you didn’t learn anything new?  Many times people fall into traps where they are very good at what they do because they have perfected it.  Companies won’t give them new duties because your current job is too important – maybe there aren’t any more duties to take on.  If you have these feelings it might be time to look at your options.  As always I would suggest that you ask your current employer if they can fix the situation – but if they can’t…

2.  Your Boss is a ________

You can fill in the blank with a lot of different words here.  Pushover, screamer or absent owner.  It doesn’t matter.  If you aren’t happy with your boss or the leadership of your organization it might be time to make a move.  The hard thing here is that while it is possible to change policies or your habits it is incredibly hard to change another person.  If your boss is a ______ he/she will always be a ______ unless there are visits from three Christmas spirits at midnight on December 25^th…

3.  Promises Haven’t Been Fulfilled

So you asked management for an assistant or to move into sales or for a new puppy last January.  They told you that they’d be happy to do it in March.  In March they said June.  In June they said August.  There is always a reason why the timing isn’t right.  Take the hint – they are probably placating you.  Please know that it isn’t about you.  The company either doesn’t have the money to do so, doesn’t value the investment the same way you do or doesn’t think that you deserve it.  It doesn’t matter.  You probably aren’t going to get it.  If you really need these things to be professionally satisfied you may need to look elsewhere.

4.  You Don’t Feel Valued

Do you do everything going above and beyond the call of duty only to get a jelly of the month club for Christmas?  Do you work overtime every week and your boss is too busy playing golf to even notice – let alone thank you?  This doesn’t mean that your boss or management is mean.  It just means that the organization’s culture doesn’t appreciate extra work or expects it as a way of life.  Either way you probably need to move to a different culture that will value your efforts and stroke your ego a little bit.

5.  You Are Dreading Going Back to Work on the 27^th or January 3^rd

There is nothing wrong with wanting you holiday to last a little longer.  Who doesn’t?  However, if you are sick to your stomach about going back or if you are letting thoughts of going back to work ruin your holiday you have a problem.  Maybe its one of the reasons above.  Perhaps it’s a toxic relationship.  Regardless, you should at least be able to bear going to work and probably should want to.  If it is dragging down your life at home then you need a change of scenery.

So these are the reasons you should consider making a move in 2012.  There is one reason why you shouldn’t:

Bonus - You aren't making enough money

I’m not going to fill your head with some garbage about how money doesn’t buy your happiness.  I have a family of four soon to be five and I can tell you that money buys stability that leads to happiness.  However, if the only reason you want to move is because of money you need to do some more soul searching.  The reason is because if you don’t know what is ailing you, then you won’t be able to find something that is better.  What I mean by this is that you need to want more money and something else otherwise you will end up with more money and the same problems you currently have.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!!

 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 You Should Know When Working With a Recruiter

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

Awesome Insurance Jobs in Chicago!

Scott with Capstone - Awesome Opportunities in Chicago!

Merry Christmas!!!

I hope that you are having a wonderful holiday season.  I’m working on some great stuff in Chicago and wanted to make you aware of it.  Below I’ve included a brief description along with a link to a more formal job description.  Please take a look and let me know if you have any suggestions for recommendations.  Additionally please feel free to pass this along to anyone that might have a need or interest. 

Employee Benefits Account Manager – Northern Suburbs

This is a terrific opportunity for an account manager with a strong employee benefits background.  Our client is seeking someone with a strong self funded and middle market background working with clients ranging in size from 100 - 2,000 lives to work on a team underneath and account executive.  This is with a well respected consultant shop that competes with the Mercer's of the world while remaining the culture of a smaller organization.

Employee Benefits Account Manager Job Description

Commercial Lines Account Manager – North Side

This is a great spot for a client that has a specialized niche in professional lines insurance.  However, instead of a professional lines specialist our client wants a strong account manager with good client facing experience that can be a leader in their office.  This would be a terrific opportunity for someone that is looking to transition out of a large agency into a more intimate environment.

Commercial Lines Account Manager Job Description

Employee Benefits Agency 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.  Must relocate for this opportunity!

Midwest Employee Benefits Practice Leader Job Description

Commercial Lines Producer – Northern Suburbs

This is a great opportunity for a producer that is looking to take the next step in their career.  Our client is a strong agency in the suburbs that is looking for a new commercial lines producer.  This is a situation where there is a small book to assume and is a great opportunity for someone looking to upgrade their agency situation for increased markets and service.  Our client is a generalist that works in several niches including aviation, construction and hospitality. 

Chicago Commercial Lines Producer Job Description

Personal Lines Account Manager – Northern Suburbs

This is a great opportunity for a an account manager with a strong personal lines background that also has experience working with High Net Worth and Affluent clients.  The right person will be taking over the management of a large personal lines book that is comprised of VIP clients of the organization.  This is a desk based position and does not involve outside sales.

Personal Lines Account Manager Job Description

Commercial Lines Account Manager - Alternative Risk

This is a great opportunity to work for one of the premier agencies in Chicago.  Our client is seeking someone with extensive experience working with alternative risks and captives.  This person will need to also be very skilled working with clients.  It also offers significant growth potential.

Alternative Risk Commercial Lines Account Manager

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 You Should Know When Working With a Recruiter

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

Commercial Lines Account Manager - Alternative Risk - Chicago (Western Suburbs)

This is a great opportunity to work for one of the premier agencies in Chicago.  Our client is seeking someone with extensive experience working with alternative risks and captives.  This person will need to also be very skilled working with clients.  It also offers significant growth potential.


Commercial Lines Account Manager - Alternative Risk
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 are currently looking for a dynamic individual to join their Commercial Lines division as an Account Manager in their Alternative Risk/Captive specialty.  You will be responsible for providing first line support for Alternative Risk programs in the daily service of existing and prospective clients and their policies.

Commercial Lines Account Manager, Alternative Risk Responsibilities
Assist producer(s) in the preparation of new business and renewal submissions, including gathering and organizing information required.
Receives phone calls from clients and companies regarding insurance, claims, or administrative problems, and complies with the request and/or refers to the producer when necessary.
Explains insurance coverages and processes to clients.
Reviews insurance sections of contracts, leases, and other specifications and documents and identifies compliance, seeking answers from internal and external resources as needed.
Advises client of noncompliance issues and/or additional insurance costs.
Prepares and assists in the preparation of proposals, including visits to client when requested.
Performs and/or reviews applications, policies, endorsements, audits, and cancellations for accuracy; invoices all premium bearing transactions on a timely basis; notifies producer of unpaid or disputed audits immediately and requests and performs appropriate actions in accordance with agency and carrier collection procedures.

Commercial Lines Account Manager, Alternative Risk Requirements
Bachelors degree required or related professional experience.
P&C license required.
3-5 years of experience working as an Account Manager with captives or Alternative Risk a must.
Additional professional designations (CPCU, CIC, ARM) a plus.

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 You Should Know When Working With a Recruiter

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

Personal Lines Account Manager - Chicago (Northern Suburbs)

This is a great opportunity for a an account manager with a strong personal lines background that also has experience working with High Net Worth and Affluent clients.  The right person will be taking over the management of a large personal lines book that is comprised of VIP clients of the organization.  This is a desk based position and does not involve outside sales.

Personal Lines Account Manager

Our client offers subject matter expertise in affluent personal lines.  Able to introduce risk management solutions to protect personal assets for the wealthy, this company has integrated their sales and service teams in a way that commercially driven brokers are not able to match. They seek a professional and experienced Personal Lines Account Manager to become an integral part of the client service process for the agency's affluent personal lines accounts.

Personal Lines Account Manager Responsibilities:
Support the agency's sales team with ongoing client service and relationship development.
Concentrate on submission preparation for new business prospects and remarketing; create dialogue with personal lines underwriters to secure appropriate coverage and pricing options for the insured.
Maintain high standards of account accuracy, quality, and compliance.
Work directly with clients to discuss renewal pricing and coverage options.

Personal Lines Account Manager Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree is strongly preferred; must hold an active IL P&C license.
At least seven (7) years of personal lines account management experience with a strong background in High Net Worth products.
Familiarity with marketing and online rating for Chubb, Fireman's Fund and Ace.
Excellent verbal, written, and personal presentation skills; creative writing skills or familiarity drafting correspondence/marketing materials about high net worth personal lines is a plus; comfortable speaking directly to insureds to present proposals.

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 You Should Know When Working With a Recruiter

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

Commercial Lines Account Manager - Chicago, IL (North Side)

This is a great spot for a client that has a specialized niche in professional lines insurance.  However, instead of a professional lines specialist our client wants a strong account manager with good client facing experience that can be a leader in their office.  This would be a terrific opportunity for someone that is looking to transition out of a large agency into a more intimate environment.

Commercial Lines Account Manager 
Our client is an independent agency based in Chicago with a very successful professional liability practice. This position, Commercial Account Executive, is designed to be the front line client manager for an existing book of healthcare accounts.  Specifically, you'll advise physicians and medical facilities on the appropriateness of insurance coverage and provide advocacy in the often litigious world of medical malpractice.  This is a relationship driven role which will strategize and manage many of the agency's smaller legacy accounts.  It’s an exciting position created out of the agency's continued growth and its desire to provide a deeper level of ongoing customer service.  

Commercial Account Executive Responsibilities:
Act as a leader within the agency's client service team and work closely with the CSRs.
Create and implement written service timelines which will set renewal deadlines and mid-year client visits that you will conduct instead of the producer.
Organize the agency's ongoing communication with insureds concerning policy review and changes as well as legal and compliance updates concerning medical malpractice and healthcare.

Commercial Account Executive Qualifications:
At least five (5) years of property and casualty account management experience; prior work with professional liability accounts (non-medical and medical malpractice) will be considered and is strongly preferred.
Comfortable in a lead client manager role; able to set and execute plans for quarterly client visits and facilitate the renewal process.
Present proposals in front of clients discussing coverage and pricing changes; pay particular attention to addressing renewals and the insured's satisfaction with the agency's performance.

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 You Should Know When Working With a Recruiter

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

Employee Benefits Account Manager - Chicago (Northern Suburbs)

This is a terrific opportunity for an account manager with a strong employee benefits background.  Our client is seeking someone with a strong self funded and middle market background working with clients ranging in size from 100 - 2,000 lives to work on a team underneath and account executive.  This is with a well respected consultant shop that competes with the Mercer's of the world while remaining the culture of a smaller organization.


Employee Benefits Account Manager 
Our client is a large, independent agency with an impeccable reputation based on the tenure and national exposure of its senior leadership. The group benefits division is such a strong portion of the agency's overall revenue that the same resources common to a consulting firm are present within this position.  As Group Benefits Account Manager you’ll devote time to the continued development of the agency’s relationship with the insured, and concentrate on the thorough review and implementation of policies to drive down costs and promote a strong group benefits portfolio.


Group Benefits Account Manager Responsibilities:
Provide marketing and client services for designated prospects and clients managing the submission (RFP) process, securing information to effectively market to all carrier partners, preparing all new and renewal submissions for marketing, analyzing data, reviewing proposals, completing enrollments and implementing communication strategies with the client.  
Stay abreast of markets, products, and carrier competitiveness to provide a comprehensive product portfolio to the client.  
Act as a liaison between the client and insurance companies in order to resolve all normal service issues regarding billing, claims, eligibility, and other customer service issues.


Group Benefits Account Manager Qualifications:
At least five (5) years of account management experience with a retail agency or brokerage consulting firm concentrating on accounts with at least 50-100 lives.
Prior experience in a client interfacing role with responsibilities for managing direct communication on escalated issues, pricing and coverage changes and enrollments.  
Active state L&H license 
Organized and excel at meeting deadlines; excellent communicator who can relay important information to Account Executive and Producers while managing expectations with junior level analysts.


Please contact Scott Thompson for immediate confidential consideration and additional details.  Email:  sthompson@insurance-csg.com  Phone:  515-987-0242 ext. 17  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 You Should Know When Working With a Recruiter

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

Commercial Lines Account Manager - Salt Lake City, UT

I"m working on a terrific opportunity with a well respected agency in the Salt Lake City area.  My client is a niche specialist working in professional liability coverage that needs a strong account manager/csr to step in on a growing book of business.  If you have any suggestions or questions please let me know.

Commercial Lines Account Manager

Our client is a specialized property and casualty insurer focused on providing exceptional customer service.  The position Commercial Lines Account Manager is responsible for building strong client relationships and servicing the daily needs of existing insureds.  Teamwork is an important part of the agency's client service success, so your ability to communicate and support the work of colleagues is critical.

Commercial Lines CSR Responsibilities:
Take care of clients who are preparing for renewals or who call into the agency with updates, revisions and concerns about in-force policies.
Maintain accounts with endorsements, certificates, claims reviews, billing and renewal preparation.

Commercial Lines CSR Qualifications:
At least two (2) years of property and casualty client service experience; acceptable prior employment can include CSR/Account Management experience with an insurance agency or Underwriting/Assistant Underwriting for an insurance company or Managing General Agency.
Broad property and casualty coverage knowledge including but not limited to property, general liability, commercial auto, professional liability or work comp.
Prefer to work in a team based environment.
Active state P&C license or able to obtain one shortly upon hire.

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 You Should Know When Working With a Recruiter

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