Top Mistakes To Avoid In Your Insurance Job Search

by

Embarking on an insurance job search requires a level of strategising that is common across most industries. This involves covering all angles by ticking specific boxes, while also avoiding the top mistakes that jobseekers often make when seeking a fulfilling role.

To ensure a minor slip-up or thoughtless omission doesn’t stand in the way of your career progression, we have compiled a guide of the top mistakes to avoid when searching for a position within the insurance sector.

Read on to improve your hireability straight out of the gate!

 

What are the most common mistakes made during an insurance job search?

 

No matter what stage you are at in your career, adequate preparation ahead of a job search is a vital step in pre-empting success. To ensure you are preparing strategically, it is crucial to first understand the pitfalls that need to be avoided during this process. Here is a rundown of the top mistakes to avoid during your insurance job search:

 

1. Resting on your professional laurels

 

Whether you’re between jobs or always keeping one eye on the latest opportunities in your field, it is important to use this “downtime” to focus on professional upskilling. Why? The fact is that candidates with up-to-date industry knowledge, both in regulatory and technological terms, will be viewed more favourably than those who need to play catch-up.

To find yourself in the former category, avoid resting on your professional laurels during any interim periods. This means continuously seeking out opportunities for professional development, which will inevitably shine a very positive light on you during the recruitment process.

 

2. Submitting a generic resume

 

Every professional should have a basic resume at the ready for when a career or role change beckons. However, this doesn’t mean that this exact CV is the one that should be submitted to prospective employers. This is mistake number one often made by job seekers.

Each role and every company is different, bringing with it a varied set of requirements and rules. Resumes should be tailored accordingly, to make sure the relevant qualifications, experience and accreditations are placed front and centre under the employer’s nose.

Another factor to keep in mind is that many companies rely on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATSs) to filter CVs. This software comes equipped with capabilities that analyse candidates based on specific keywords and criteria featured in their resumes.

In the context of the insurance industry, each role has unique requirements and your resume should be a reflection of how you can meet these individual demands.

 

3. Applying for a job even when underqualified

 

If a candidate stumbles across an attractive role at a reputable company during their job search, it can be tempting to stretch the truth a little on their resume to secure an interview. Many believe that a standout performance during the interview process will override any of the listed “essential skills” that they are lacking; ones they can perhaps learn on the job.

This, however, is a big mistake to make. Yes, you may shine at the interview stage, but if you are eventually hired and are unable to hit the ground running as expected, it can cause extreme frustration among both employers and co-workers, not to mention tarnishing your reputation as a team member who is both dishonest and incapable.

When it comes to putting your best foot forward during the insurance job search, honesty is always the best policy.

 

4. Underestimating the vital nature of soft skills

 

On the topic of essential skills, candidates are often unaware of how important soft skills are to a multitude of roles within the insurance industry. While technical expertise is vital, soft skills like communication, problem-solving and client relationship management are equally as important.

Unfortunately, job seekers often make the mistake of omitting such skills from their resume, instead drawing attention to other qualities they may personally deem more attractive to hiring companies.

Yes, technical expertise is a must, but soft skills such as problem-solving, communication, interpersonal skills and adaptability are equally vital. Following a recent study, the financial industry was listed as one of five industries that prioritise soft skills the most.

To impress employers in this area, you should tailor your CV to highlight instances where you’ve successfully put your soft skills to good use.

 

 

Top Mistakes To Avoid In Your Insurance Job Search - 360 Search (2)

 

5. Not adequately researching potential employers

 

When it comes to candidate mistakes, this is another common pitfall – for two key reasons.

Firstly, if you come across as uncertain about the company’s performance, ethos, achievements and more at any stage during the interview process, you will underperform the other candidates who have done their due diligence. A lack of knowledge about the company may be misconstrued by hiring managers as unprofessional and indifferent.

Secondly, if you are unsure about the company’s culture, team dynamics and recent developments, you could find yourself being hired by an organisation that is a poor fit for you, both personally and professionally.

Remember that knowledge is power at all stages of the job search, and carrying out advanced research will help you avoid each of these scenarios.

 

6. Asking irrelevant questions during the interview

 

It is inevitable at a certain point during an interview, that the question and answer session will be flipped on its head, putting you in the hot seat. When it comes time for you to pipe up with your burning queries, it’s integral to avoid asking self-serving and irrelevant questions that may portray you as an unsuitable candidate.

This includes enquiring about salary, benefits, holiday time and more – essentially questions that ask what the company can offer you, as opposed to the other way around.

While it is undoubtedly important to ensure you are interviewing with an organisation that will have your best interests as an employee at heart, there are ways and means of going about this properly. This involves asking purposeful questions around topics like their internal promotion strategies, their core values and their stance on employee feedback.

By querying these issues and more, you can better establish whether or not you will be a good fit with the hiring company – and vice versa.

 

7. Not researching salary benchmarks before embarking on an insurance job search

 

If you are a job seeker on the lookout for a position that allows you to utilise your well-honed skills for both your professional benefit and that of the hiring company, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is to undervalue yourself from the get-go. This rings particularly true during the current cost of living crisis; now, more than ever, an individual’s income should be reflective of their weekly and monthly expenditure.

Organisations across the board are now using salary benchmarking to remain competitive, both in terms of recruitment and talent retention. The process involves a company reviewing its salary packages and comparing its findings against industry standards, thus ensuring their employees are being paid in line with their qualifications, skills and expertise.

To avail of a salary that’s both personally fulfilling and on par with the industry norm, it’s integral to compare the going rate with your salary expectations to find a middle ground that works.

 

 

Top Mistakes To Avoid In Your Insurance Job Search - 360 Search (3)

 

Streamline your insurance job search with the help of 360 Search

 

We’ve explored what not to do as a candidate seeking employment within the insurance sector. But what are the steps you should be taking to ensure your job search succeeds? Partnering with 360 Search is a great place to start.

Our mission is to connect you with the right people, in the right companies, for the right opportunities. To this end, we take the time to listen to your aspirations so that we can make introductions that are worthy of your time and in line with your career vision.

If you’re currently searching for suitable roles within the financial services sector and are interested in learning more about what we do differently, contact us today. We’d love to hear from you!

author avatar
360 Search
Key Takeaways From The National Pensions Summit 2025

Key Takeaways From The National Pensions Summit 2025

The National Pensions Summit 2025 took place on 30th January 2025 at Croke Park, Dublin and gathered industry experts to discuss the biggest issues in the Irish pension sphere. Here are our five key takeaways:   1. Auto-Enrolment implementation in 2025  ...

read more