WSIA members make recruitment a priority

The insurance industry is used to dealing with surprises, but the last couple of years have shocked some of the best prognosticators. With the world economy struggling to make a comeback after the COVID pandemic, a challenging labor market makes recovery difficult for many industries. The insurance sector is no different, as it struggles to close a widening talent gap.

Tim Chaix, chair of the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA) Career Development Committee, notes that the competition for new hires has increased in recent years, forcing some changes. “As employers,” he says, “we have to put our best foot forward just as we would expect prospective employees to do. Recruitment is a two-way interview now more than ever.”

In response to this crisis, members of the WSIA have given unprecedented levels of support to the Career Development Committee. The committee’s mission is to create awareness of and interest in careers in the wholesale, specialty and surplus lines industry among college students. The hope is that outreach, typically in the form of in-person campus visits by committee members, will lead to increased recruitment.

These efforts are made more difficult by the ongoing effects of COVID. While travel and in-person events are increasing, these remain uncertain. Some scheduled events this year have been canceled due to COVID outbreaks on campuses.

Chris Timmerman, WSIA’s senior manager of Student Relations, says that in-person campus visits will likely increase in Spring 2022. However, virtual visits might become a permanent part of the committee’s outreach strategy, because, she says, “We have been able to reach some colleges that we wouldn’t normally be able to, either because we didn’t have local members, such as Fort Hays State, or because they were too hard to travel to, such as Hawaii.”

Recognizing the need for recruitment and the challenges facing the committee, WSIA members are giving the Career Development Committee additional support. This is the largest of the WSIA committees, and it currently has the largest membership in its history.

With this support, the committee is confident that they will be able to help the wholesale and specialty insurance industry to close the talent gap. Timmerman notes that the insurance industry offers many appealing features that will help it draw in and retain a lot of new talent.

In addition to the industry’s traditional job security, it offers training, challenges and fulfillment. Robust training programs help new employees step into their roles with confidence.

In addition, the ongoing challenges of emerging risks make the jobs intriguing, especially in the wholesale and specialty insurance areas. Chaix explains, “The dynamic nature of what we do is really appealing to [students]. It’s not just a talking point to say that no two days are the same, and the ability to help insureds with coverage for risks that are far from standard offers an ability to think creatively and collaborate that’s really attractive.”

Chaix and Timmerman add that many people find insurance a fulfilling career because the industry is heavily based on relationships and establishing a true human connection among people. In addition, many companies are trying to make a difference in their communities. This offers numerous appealing opportunities for young workers who see volunteerism as an important way to give back and make a positive contribution to society.

So, although there remains a long way to go to close the talent gap, the committee feels it’s achievable, and that things are moving in the right direction.

Matthew Candelaria is a Colorado freelance writer.

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