WSIA interns gain holistic industry perspective
The Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association’s internship program is unique among the many recruitment endeavors targeting rising insurance professionals.
Over the last 18 months or so, the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA) Internship Committee felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The group is tasked with facilitating enriching experiences for future insurance professionals. That tall order became even more challenging as workplaces pivoted to being hybrid or fully remote.
Despite these challenges, the 2021 program was a success, says committee Chair Richard Schmitzer. “We were pleased to be able to offer an on-site internship experience for each student who participated in the program,” Schmitzer says.
Each intern had an on-site opportunity, with some placements being remote.
“We know that member firms did a great job of hosting students and educating them in both formats,” Schmitzer says. “But we are hopeful that summer 2022 will allow us to return to fully in-person internships.”
The team is currently in the process of selecting summer 2022 interns. Most candidates learn about the opportunity through college and university risk management and insurance programs. “WSIA Internship Committee volunteers dedicate a great deal of time to selecting the interns from the applicant pool, identifying host firms, producing a really valuable orientation before the internships begin, and mentoring these students through their summer placements,” Schmitzer says.
For the last four years, Chris Timmerman has worked as WSIA’s Career Development Programs Manager. Her background is in higher education. “My interest and love is working with college students and helping them obtain the careers that they want in the insurance industry,” Timmerman says.
WSIA’s internship program has been around since 1981. It provides rising insurance and risk management professions with an opportunity to see various sides of the industry. Interns are paid, and all of their expenses are covered, including the travel and accommodations for the three-day orientation at the WSIA headquarters in Kansas City.
“Interns get to spend five weeks learning about the underwriting side, and then four weeks on the brokerage side,” Timmerman explains. “Some students don’t know what they want to do or what direction they want to take. So the fact that they get these two experiences helps them with that.”
There are a lot of good internships for students, but the WSIA internship is different, Schmitzer says. “For students who are just beginning their careers, getting both perspectives on the industry in one summer is an incredible opportunity.”
Tonya Russell is a New Jersey-based freelance writer.
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