As an insurance recruiter, I try to schedule my candidates for interviews as quickly as possible, so they have the edge over other applicants, but there are times when you don’t have a recruiter paving the way for you or you are forced to work only with internal company recruiters. How can you make sure that you are in their first round of candidates? The old saying, “The early bird gets the worm” could not be more important in today’s competitive job environment. Speed is your friend!
Here are some tips on how to use speed to your advantage as an insurance job seeker:
1. Get your info submitted right away. Don’t procrastinate, but that doesn’t mean just send a generic resume. You must make sure that your resume and or cover letter is targeted to the job and the requirements. It doesn’t do you any good to be first to send in your information if your resume never makes it in front of the hiring manager.
2. When a recruiter reaches out to you about a potential opportunity either via phone or email, make sure to respond as quickly as possible. Remember, your speed and responsiveness are on display from the moment the hiring manager tries to contact you. Make sure you have your voicemail set up and you have a strong professional message. Most insurance hiring managers or internal recruiters will often try to call you first since insurance is conducted over the phone, and they want to know what your phone manner is like before they take the time to schedule you for a more in-depth interview. If they email you first, they will be watching to see if you respond in a prompt, professional business manner. Don’t get thrown out of the process because of poor grammar or spelling errors. Make sure to read your email response before you send it.
3. If you are using a job board such as Indeed, make sure that your phone number, email, city, and state are on your resume. Ideally, PDF your resume and upload the document so that it can’t be changed, and it looks professionally formatted. If you do a resume update, double check to make sure the correct document is going out. There is nothing more frustrating than talking to a candidate who tells you that you have the “wrong resume”. It calls into question your attention to detail which is paramount for insurance work. Check your junk mail often in case the recruiter’s email does not hit your inbox. Webmail can be very sensitive and often the company’s email will have links or logos that can be considered spam. Check your voicemail often and don’t let it get full. You don’t want to miss out on a recruiter’s message to set up an interview because they couldn’t leave a message. Don’t assume that a recruiter will send you a text instead of an email or phone call. Just because it may be your preferred method of communication, many recruiters or hiring managers will not use text as the first method of contact if they do not know you already.
4. If you are not working, try to accept the first available time that the recruiter has. If you can’t make that time work, suggest alternative times that are as close as possible to the time they first suggested. By being accommodating and willing to make time for an interview right away, you show your enthusiasm and interest in the job, and you will move ahead of other applicants who may be less flexible. If they need to hire right away, and you decide to schedule the interview out a few days, you also risk missing out on being in the first round of candidates. If you are employed, be flexible and creative with your availability. Many recruiters and hiring managers will make time to meet with you outside of regular hours especially if you are a high-demand candidate. If you work remote, make sure that you stress that you are on the clock and want to respect your employer’s time. Don’t say you can interview anytime since you are working from home that day as that can send the wrong message to your future employer.
By using speed to your advantage when you set up interviews, you make the process much easier for the hiring manager and demonstrate your interest, organization, and time management skills.
If you are an insurance professional in the Pacific Northwest, and you want to save time and have an edge over other applicants, Contact me and let’s explore new career opportunities together.
