Insurance risk surveyors evaluate the possible financial risk that is created by providing insurance coverage for products or places and give advice to underwriters about how the risk might be reduced or whether insurance coverage should be provided at all.
What exactly does it entail to work as an insurance risk surveyor? Common employers | Education and experience requirements | Essential skill sets
Insurance risk surveyors may operate in a general capacity, although they often specialize in a specific field, such as fire, accidents and public liability, theft, or engineering insurance. They may also work in a position that is not related to insurance. The following are examples of typical responsibilities:
traveling to locations either on your own or with underwriters
doing the necessary research in order to conduct an assessment and evaluation of the risk to buildings, workers, or customers
doing in-depth site assessments of the area
composing reports for underwriters and checking them for errors
offering guidance to customers and making suggestions on necessary enhancements
the process of awarding quality marks after the completion of certain improvements
maintaining relationships with customers, health and safety inspectors, insurance brokers, and underwriters
gathering proof in the form of images
keeping a level of knowledge about changes in regulations and business practices
The most common types of businesses that use insurance risk assessors
General insurance or reinsurance firms
Authorities at the local level
Companies that specialize in surveying
Insurance risk management departments
Companies that provide life insurance or assurance, as well as brokers
Advertisements for open positions can be found on the internet, in newspapers such as The Financial Times and The London Evening Standard, in publications such as Insurance Times and Insurance Post, as well as their respective online equivalents, and by careers services and specialized recruitment agencies. Competition for open positions is often fierce; thus, submitting applications as soon as possible is recommended.
Qualifications and experience are expected of applicants.
A degree is often necessary to enter a career, while it is not always compulsory to do so. However, it is typically required. It might be beneficial to have a degree or certification in a field such as business studies, law, management, insurance, mathematics, risk management, economics, or engineering. Prior experience in the insurance sector or in underwriting is recommended but not required. After graduation, some students go straight into the field of risk surveying, and many big insurance firms have training programs specifically for recent graduates. It is in one's best interest to get professional insurance credentials, such as those offered by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), since this will help to improve one's chances of finding gainful employment.
It is feasible for high school graduates to work their way up to the position of insurance risk surveyor by beginning their careers in entry-level roles within risk management teams, such as administrative positions. After that, you may further your career by getting experience in the insurance industry and obtaining professional certifications. See our TARGETcareers post on how to get started in a career in finance for further information and to read the whole article.
Key skills for insurance risk surveyors
Awareness of the marketplace
Skills in diplomacy as well as bargaining
Strong time management skills
The capacity to maintain productive performance despite adverse conditions
Excellent IT skills
Organisational skills
Problem-solving skills
Cooperation within a group setting in addition to individual productivity
Having the communication skills necessary to communicate complicated concepts to individuals of all different kinds of backgrounds
Attention to detail