Congratulations! You’ve passed through the screening interview and have been asked for a 2nd interview for the insurance account manager position. This is your chance to dig deeper into the role, showcase your enthusiasm, and gather crucial insights to help you make an informed decision. To assist you in this crucial step, here’s some questions you can ask that are tailored to bring out your industry knowledge and showcase your expertise.

1. What strategies does the company employ to acquire new clients and retain existing ones?
Understanding the company’s approach to customer acquisition and retention helps you decide if this is the right agency for you. This question will give you an insightful overview of their marketing and sales strategies, enabling you to gauge the effectiveness and alignment of their methods with your own goals and expertise.

2. Can you provide examples of how the company supports teamwork and collaboration among account managers?
The success of an insurance account manager often depends on close collaboration with various internal teams. By asking this question, you can assess how the company fosters teamwork, collaboration, and an environment conducive to sharing knowledge and best practices. It will also help you determine whether you’ll have the necessary support to excel in this role. This is especially critical in a hybrid or fully remote work setting.

3. How does the company stay ahead of industry trends, adapt to changes, and maintain competitiveness?
Insurance is subject to evolving market trends and regulatory changes. Demonstrating your awareness of this reality and asking this question will not only reflect your professionalism as a candidate but also provides valuable insights into the company’s adaptability and commitment to innovation. It allows you to find out if the agency uses any outsourced resources or keeps everything in house.  You can also ask about technology platforms and any upcoming changes that may affect your role in the short and long term.

4. How does the company measure success for insurance account managers, and what resources are available for achieving these goals?
This question highlights your focus on professional growth and achievement. Understanding the key metrics by which your performance will be evaluated allows you to align your expectations and set realistic goals. Additionally, learning about the resources available to support your progression can help you assess potential opportunities for growth within the company.  You can also ask if the company supports and pays for insurance designations and other continuing education programs.

5. Can you share specific challenges that previous insurance account managers have faced with this particular book of business?
Gaining insight into the challenges you may encounter in the role will showcase your proactive mindset and readiness to tackle obstacles head-on. Understanding potential difficulties will also provide an opportunity to highlight relevant experiences or strategies you have employed in previous positions, demonstrating your ability to handle similar situations.  It is helpful to know why the job is open.  If it is a replacement role, try to find out if it was due to a personality, performance, or skill issue with the former account manager.  This will allow you to further emphasize your skills in the deficit area and allows you to show the hiring team that you are the right fit for the role long-term.

6. How does the company cultivate and maintain relationships with insurance carriers and brokers?
As an insurance account manager, building and nurturing relationships with carriers and brokers is crucial to your success. Inquiring about the company’s approach to these partnerships will help evaluate their current standing with industry leaders, as well as their commitment to collaboration and growing their market presence.

7.  Is there anything else that you want to know about me that I can share that will help you with your decision process?

Asking this question allows you to gauge interest from the team and gives them a chance to ask more questions or clarify any previous answers you may have given. It also helps you to wrap up the interview and gives you a chance to ask if they see any reason why they wouldn’t select you for the role.

Having well thought out 2nd interview questions in advance helps you to showcase your genuine interest in the position and demonstrates your professionalism. These interview questions will help you dive deeper into the responsibilities, expectations, and company culture, allowing you to make an informed decision about joining their team. Remember, the interview process is a two-way street, so ask thoughtful questions that reflect your dedication and expertise in the field.

If you are an insurance account manager and you’d like to have a confidential career conversation, contact me, and let’s discuss new options.