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As an insurance professional, you work with more than just policies and paperwork. There are many different roles in insurance, but ultimately, your job is to help people safeguard their assets, recover from losses and find comfort during challenging times. But, how do you show employers you can hit the numbers while making long-term relationships with clients?
For all insurance careers, a persuasive resume is an absolute must. From sales agents, to claims adjusters to underwriters, learning how to write a resume is an indispensable skill and a great place to start your career journey.
In this guide, you’ll find:
- A selection of insurance resume examples.
- Step-by-step instructions on how to write an insurance resume.
- Insurance resume samples for every experience level.
- Facts and data about the insurance industry.
- Commonly asked questions about resume writing.
Ready to make your resume now? Building a competitive resume is even easier and faster with the help of our professional AI Resume Builder. With a selection of templates and professionally-written text suggestions, our builder can help you complete a resume in just a few minutes.
Popular insurance resume samples
An insurance career looks different depending on the specific title or responsibilities. To better understand what a resume looks for your profession, check out some of our insurance resume examples. Our resume examples library also features an array of examples for resumes in a variety of fields.
Insurance resume example
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How to write an insurance resume
An insurance career requires a strong resume. Your resume is your way of communicating your experience, skills and competencies with potential employers. Making a good impression and communicating effectively is key to landing the position that you’re after.
The perfect resume for you is one that is specifically made for the job that you’re applying to. As you build your resume, look for chances to show off the things that make you an attractive candidate: your insurance skills, your experience and achievements.
In this section, we’ll dive into the five parts that make up a resume and some of the optional sections you can use to give your resume some extra character. These sections are:
- A header that contains your contact info.
- A well-written resume profile in the form of a professional summary or resume objective.
- At least one — if not several — skills sections.
- A work experience section that lists and summarizes your jobs in reverse-chronological order.
- An education section that lists your degrees, diplomas and special training.
- Optional sections to help you stand out.
To get started with your insurance resume, make a resume outline that includes all these sections to get a feel for the layout that your resume will use.
Step 1
Add your contact info
Your resume header is where potential employers can find your contact information. Your name, phone number, email address and even your LinkedIn page should be included in your resume header. Don’t underestimate how important it is for recruiters to be able to easily get a hold of you.
In this section, include:
- Your name
- A professional email address
- Your phone number
- Links to your LinkedIn profile and portfolio, if applicable
Step 2
Draft a professional summary or resume objective
The resume profile is the first section of your resume where you get to introduce yourself and your qualifications. There are two strategies you can use, depending on your experience.
A professional summary is a good choice for insurance candidates with experience because it gives you the space to discuss past roles. Professional summaries for insurance resumes should touch on your work experience, career achievements and goals.
A resume objective is for applicants who are just starting out. Instead of focusing on work history, a resume objective allows you to talk about your training, goals and soft skills.
Sample professional summary for insurance resume:
Dedicated and highly skilled insurance adjustor with over 13 years of experience in managing and settling claims across various sectors, including home, auto and commercial insurance. Proven ability to effectively analyze complex situations, assess damages and negotiate fair settlements while maintaining strong relationships with policyholders and stakeholders. Adept at working independently or as part of a team. Committed to continuous professional development and staying current with industry trends to provide the highest level of service to clients.
Sample career objective for insurance resume:
Motivated and enthusiastic insurance sales agent with one year of experience, seeking to leverage acquired skills and knowledge in a challenging role that offers professional growth. Eager to contribute to the success of an established agency by utilizing strong interpersonal and communication skills, combined with a proven ability to build rapport and trust with clients. Aspiring to further develop sales and negotiation techniques, expand product knowledge and consistently exceed performance targets while providing exceptional customer service and fostering long-term relationships.
Step 3
List your most relevant skills
Whether you’re a seasoned sales agent with decades of experience or a newly minted insurance adjustor embarking on a new career path, communicating your skills is essential. You might be wondering how to write a skills section that shows the full range of your abilities, from insurance expertise to general transferable skills. Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered.
For starters, you must understand the types of skills you have to work with. Resume skills generally fall into two categories: hard skills and soft skills. A truly effective resume showcases both categories.
Hard skills are the concrete abilities which result from a person’s experience and learning. These skills can be learned over time or through training. Soft skills have more to do with character traits and strengths. They are innate abilities like empathy and resourcefulness.
Let the job listing inform your word choices. Many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen applications for matching keywords. Read the job listing closely and look for keywords to include on your resume so that it stands out from the crowd!
Sample insurance skills for your resume
- Policy analysis
- Risk assessment
- Regulatory compliance
- Sales
- Underwriting
- Claims management
- Focus
- Verbal and written communication
- Collaboration
- Networking
- Flexibility
- Leadership
Step 4
Detail your work experience
The work experience section of your resume might be the most important, especially if you’re relying on experience to make your resume persuasive. In this section, you should list and describe your relevant, previous roles in reverse-chronological order.
Summarize each position’s responsibilities while also describing any relevant projects or accomplishments related to each role.
Repetitive resume filler words don’t do anything to help convince recruiters. Try using persuasive action words instead. Describe your career in terms of the impact you’ve had on previous organizations.
Sample insurance work experience entry:
Insurance Underwriter, Friedman Insurance Agency
Frisco, TX 08/2022 to Present
- Conduct thorough evaluations of 15-30 insurance applications weekly to assess the insurability of clients, considering factors such as credit history, financial stability and risk exposure.
- Collaborate with a team of 10 agents and brokers to gather necessary information and documentation for accurate risk assessment and underwriting decision-making.
- Review and analyze policy endorsements, exclusions and coverage limits to determine the most suitable coverage options for clients, successfully finding products matching their needs and increasing enrollments by 50%.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry regulations, trends and best practices to ensure compliance and provide informed recommendations to clients and colleagues.
- Participate in ongoing professional development opportunities two to four times a year, such as attending industry conferences and workshops, to stay current with advancements in underwriting methodologies and tools.
Step 5
Highlight your education and credentials
The education section of your resume is the place to summarize your relevant degrees, diplomas or certificates.
Your education section should start with your highest degree. If you have a bachelor degree or higher, you can omit your high school diploma.
In each entry, include information about where you went to school, your major and the degree that you received.
Sample insurance education entries:
How to include your completed degree:
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA – 2021
How to list a degree that is still in progress:
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA – Expected in 06/2024
If your most recent education was more than a few years ago, you should avoid sharing your graduation date. This information is only relevant if you graduated recently.
Step 6
Add special sections
No two resumes are exactly alike and one thing that often sets them apart is the optional sections which applicants choose to include. Things like volunteer work, certifications, and awards and achievements are frequently included in their own sections. Be sure to tailor the sections you choose to the specific position you’re after.
Certifications: Certifications are an excellent way to show your expertise. It’s a good idea to include any certifications that you have earned so long as they are appropriate for the job. Some examples include:
- Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU)
- Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC)
- Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF)
- Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS)
Language proficiency: Proficiency in more than one language demonstrates communication skills and mental agility. If you speak more than one language, include this to show employers your incredible learning skills.
Volunteer work: Volunteering demonstrates initiative, work ethic and community-building. You might be surprised by how interested employers are in seeing how your personal values align with the organization’s mission statement and the workplace community.
Hobbies & interests: Hobbies and interests make you who you are. It’s important to keep things relevant and professional, but it’s good to show a little bit of your personality on your resume.
Try to limit extra sections to a few things which relate to your career. Resumes are supposed to be brief, so you don’t want your work experience to compete for space with your love for science fiction film.
Insurance resume examples by experience level
Your resume needs to be well-organized and easy to read, while also leaning into your strengths. Choosing the correct format is a really important step toward achieving this. There are three main resume formats that each offer different advantages.
- A functional resume format is usually the best choice for beginners with little to no work experience. This resume format allows you to focus on your insurance skills instead of your lack of experience.
- A combination resume is excellent for workers with a few years of experience who still need to compensate for their shorter job history with skills and achievements. This is also the way to go for applicants who have undergone major career changes.
- A chronological resume format is the best choice for insurance professionals with many years of experience. The chronological format allows the applicant’s work experience to take center stage.
Let’s take a look at each of these formats in action.
Functional resume format: Entry-level insurance resume example
What makes this a great insurance resume example
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Multiple skills sections
This resume uses two skill sections to emphasize the applicant’s strengths. Because this applicant has less experience, focusing on skills is key.
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Use of a resume objective
This resume begins with a resume objective which describes the applicant’s career goals.
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Additional sections
This applicant has included two certifications which add credibility to their skills.
Combination resume format: Midcareer insurance resume example
What makes this a great insurance resume example
-
Good choice of format
This combination resume includes both a detailed work experience section and sections for skills and qualifications.
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Use of data and metrics
The work history section of this resume uses descriptions that are full of action words and numerical data.
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The professional summary is well-written
First impressions count, and this candidate opens with a detailed, skills-focused summary that will catch the eye of hiring managers.
Chronological resume format: Experienced insurance resume example
What makes this a great insurance resume example
-
Perfect resume format choice
This resume uses the chronological format which allows this experienced candidate to showcase their work history.
-
The spotlight is on work experience
This resume makes the most of the applicant’s many years of experience by emphasizing hard skills and including some soft skills too.
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Strong professional summary
This resume opens with a professional summary which highlights the applicant’s qualifications.
Add a cover letter
Writing a resume is time consuming. After all the work of writing a compelling resume is done, it may be daunting to realize that you must now write a cover letter too. But, don’t panic! Writing a cover letter is actually a fantastic opportunity to persuade recruiters and hiring managers. Your cover letter is your chance to pull together all of the strengths that you’ve shown with your resume and say “here’s why I’m the best choice.” Don’t neglect the opportunity to sell your experience and skills — it may make the difference between getting the interview or not.
If writing a cover letter is still intimidating you, check out our library of cover letter examples, as well as our guide to making a cover letter. You can also give our Cover Letter Builder a try. The Cover Letter Builder’s AI uses the information you give it to create a customized cover letter in just a few minutes!
Facts about the insurance industry
There are lots of different kinds of insurance work, and the current estimates for career opportunities are different for each of them. Here’s what you can expect for the profession:
1. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of insurance sales agents numbered 523,200 in the United States in 2021.
2. Median salaries for insurance:
- Insurance underwriters can earn a median salary of $76,390 per year.
- Insurance sales agents earn a median salary of $49,840 per year.
- Insurance claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners and investigators earn a median salary of $64,710 per year.
3. Employment in many of these professions is expected to decline between 2021 and 2031, however the employment of sales agents is expected to rise.
Key takeaways for your insurance resume
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Study insurance resume examples
Resume samples give you insight into how other professionals are structuring their resumes. Use these resume examples as inspiration to guide your resume-writing process. Make sure that you choose a template that’s appropriate for your field. A simple resume template is the one that we suggest for most insurance roles. You may also try out a modern design or professional resume template.
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Tailor your resume to the specific role
Check the job description for what you should include on your resume. This gives you a leg up on applicant tracking systems (ATS).
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Emphasize your most relevant skills
Skills and experience are the backbone of a solid resume. Make sure that the skills you highlight are a good representation of your strengths and a good fit for the role in question.
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Don’t forget your soft skills
Concrete abilities are very important, but soft skills can sometimes have an even greater influence on hiring decisions. Don’t underestimate their importance. Your skills section should be a balanced mix of hard technical skills and more subtle interpersonal skills.
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Showcase your top achievements
Use active language and persuasive numerical data when describing your duties and achievements to give your resume impact. Data can help your achievements feel more concrete and can demonstrate how well you can assess your work performance.
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Include relevant special training and certifications
Certifications show off your expertise. Any relevant certifications that you have earned should be included along with education or in their very own section.
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Detail your education
Include your degrees and any honors that you received in the course of your education.
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Create an insurance cover letter
A well-written cover letter is what seals the deal! Don’t drop the ball at the very end and neglect this critical step.
Commonly asked question about resume writing
Last Updated: July 07, 2024
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Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.
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