In this article, we’ll look at the best practices for onboarding your new Underwriting Service Representative. We’ll look at the employee onboarding process/steps you can add to your own reusable Underwriting Service Representative checklist.
Need help with onboarding new Insurance team members? See the templates and resources we recommend for successful onboarding experiences.
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Are you looking for help setting up a staff orientation process so that when your new Underwriting Service Representative starts their role, they can learn about their responsibilities and your company as quickly as possible? Whether you’re keen to use buddy onboarding, want to automate your Insurance onboarding experience or just need an onboarding checklist for your new Underwriting Service Representative, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together a sample Underwriting Service Representative onboarding checklist below and have created onboarding templates & resources to help.
1. Introduction to company culture and values: The task involves providing the new Underwriting Service Representative with an overview of the company’s culture, values, and mission. This task is typically performed by the Human Resources department or a designated company representative.
2. Orientation to company policies and procedures: The new hire should be familiarized with the company’s policies and procedures, including those related to underwriting, risk assessment, and customer service. This task is usually conducted by the Underwriting Manager or a senior underwriter.
3. Training on underwriting guidelines: The new Underwriting Service Representative should receive comprehensive training on the company’s underwriting guidelines, including risk assessment, policy coverage, and pricing. This training is typically conducted by the Underwriting Manager or a senior underwriter.
4. Familiarization with underwriting software and tools: The new hire should be trained on the specific software and tools used for underwriting, such as rating systems, policy management systems, and data analysis tools. This training is usually provided by the IT department or a designated software trainer.
5. Shadowing experienced underwriters: To gain practical knowledge and understanding of the underwriting process, the new hire should have the opportunity to shadow experienced underwriters. This task is typically coordinated by the Underwriting Manager or a senior underwriter.
6. Introduction to key stakeholders: The new Underwriting Service Representative should be introduced to key stakeholders within the company, such as underwriters, claims representatives, and customer service agents. This task is usually performed by the Underwriting Manager or a designated mentor.
7. Review of sample underwriting files: The new hire should review sample underwriting files to understand the documentation, analysis, and decision-making process involved in underwriting. This task is typically assigned by the Underwriting Manager or a senior underwriter.
8. Training on customer service and communication skills: Since the Underwriting Service Representative will interact with customers, training on effective customer service and communication skills is essential. This training is usually conducted by the Customer Service Manager or a designated trainer.
9. Introduction to company underwriting philosophy: The new hire should be familiarized with the company’s underwriting philosophy, including its risk appetite, target markets, and strategic goals. This task is typically performed by the Underwriting Manager or a senior underwriter.
10. Compliance and regulatory training: The new Underwriting Service Representative should receive training on compliance and regulatory requirements specific to the insurance industry. This training is typically conducted by the Compliance Officer or a designated trainer.
11. Introduction to company underwriting guidelines: The new hire should be provided with a comprehensive overview of the company’s underwriting guidelines, including any specific requirements or restrictions. This task is typically performed by the Underwriting Manager or a senior underwriter.
12. Review of company underwriting policies: The new Underwriting Service Representative should review the company’s underwriting policies, including those related to risk assessment, pricing, and coverage. This task is typically assigned by the Underwriting Manager or a senior underwriter.
13. Introduction to claims handling process: Since underwriting and claims are closely related, the new hire should be introduced to the claims handling process and the role of underwriting in claims management. This task is usually performed by the Claims Manager or a designated claims representative.
14. Training on data analysis and underwriting decision-making: The new hire should receive training on data analysis techniques and underwriting decision-making processes to enhance their analytical skills. This training is typically conducted by the Underwriting Manager or a designated trainer.
15. Introduction to industry trends and market dynamics: The new Underwriting Service Representative should be provided with an overview of industry trends, market dynamics, and emerging risks to stay updated and informed. This task is typically performed by the Underwriting Manager or a senior underwriter.
16. Performance expectations and goal setting: The new hire should have a clear understanding of performance expectations and goal setting, including key performance indicators (KPIs) and targets. This task is usually discussed by the Underwriting Manager or a designated supervisor.
17. Ongoing professional development opportunities: The new Underwriting Service Representative should be informed about ongoing professional development opportunities, such as industry certifications, training programs, and conferences. This task is typically performed by the Human Resources department or a designated training coordinator.
18. Introduction to company underwriting workflow: The new hire should be familiarized with the company’s underwriting workflow, including the steps involved in processing applications, reviewing documents, and issuing policies. This task is typically performed by the Underwriting Manager or a designated workflow coordinator.
19. Introduction to underwriting support teams: The new Underwriting Service Representative should be introduced to the underwriting support teams, such as administrative assistants, data entry personnel, and policy issuance specialists. This task is usually performed by the Underwriting Manager or a designated team lead.
20. Review of underwriting performance metrics: The new hire should review underwriting performance metrics, such as loss ratios, premium growth, and customer satisfaction scores, to understand the company’s underwriting performance goals. This task is typically assigned by the Underwriting Manager or a senior underwriter
From reading through the items in the example Underwriting Service Representative checklist above, you’ll now have an idea of how you can apply best practices to getting your new Underwriting Service Representative up to speed and working well in your Insurance team. Scroll up to see the link to our onboarding templates & resources or get in touch to discuss getting help setting up your systems and processes in this area.
