Insurance Underwriters

What the job really is

Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.

At a glance

• Sector: Business & Financial
• O*NET-SOC code: 13-2053
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 7
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Examine documents to determine degree of risk from factors such as applicant health, financial standing and value, and condition of property.
• Decline excessive risks.
• Write to field representatives, medical personnel, or others to obtain further information, quote rates, or explain company underwriting policies.
• Evaluate possibility of losses due to catastrophe or excessive insurance.
• Review company records to determine amount of insurance in force on single risk or group of closely related risks.
• Decrease value of policy when risk is substandard and specify applicable endorsements or apply rating to ensure safe, profitable distribution of risks, using reference materials.
• Authorize reinsurance of policy when risk is high.

Tools and technology

C++, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word, 10-key calculators, Anodas Software Limited Phoenix, CSC nbAccelerator, Consilience Software Maven Insurance Automation Suite

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Financial Risk Specialists
• Credit Analysts
• Loan Officers
• Insurance Sales Agents
• Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
• Personal Financial Advisors
• Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
• Loan Interviewers and Clerks

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Insurance Underwriters — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.