Insurance unemployment remains low, job openings are at an all-time high, and organizations have record-breaking hiring goals. Even if you’re not actively job searching, it’s likely recruiters are reaching out to share potential opportunities with increasing frequency. While we’re currently in a candidate’s market, how you handle these interactions – regardless of your intent to make a move – is a direct reflection of your personal brand.

As the industry experiences “the Great Reshuffle,” it’s likely many people within your network are accepting positions at new companies, reevaluating their professional paths or making lateral moves. The experiences of the past 18 months have inspired individuals to reprioritize their work and personal responsibilities. Professionals have adjusted their employer expectations and redefined career satisfaction and success.

There are several factors to consider when contemplating a job offer. Company culture, flexibility, benefits and advancement opportunities, among many other components, should all be taken into account. However, many people find the idea of negotiating an offer – especially the salary component – to be awkward and unnatural. Others may feel like they’ll be perceived as ungrateful or greedy for bringing it up, or that they’ll no longer be considered for a role if they attempt to negotiate.

Today’s remote work environment and economic uncertainty is impacting businesses and job seekers alike. However, while many industries have made significant reductions to their staffing plans, insurers continue to hire amid the pandemic. Recruiting methods have changed to accommodate physical office closures, and individuals have had to quickly adjust to interviewing over platforms such as Zoom and Skype. If you are currently looking for a new role, here are a few best practices to ensure you’re most effective in the virtual environment.

This post is part two in The Jacobson Group’s Insurance Careers Month 2020 video series. The series features our own Millennial bloggers providing their insider perspectives into why insurance is a great career choice and how to get started in the industry. In this installment, Shelby Kling, senior marketing communications coordinator, shares how to write an effective resume. This video was originally posted on our Jacobson Journal blog in 2018, when Shelby was assisting our executive search practice, and these tips still hold true today.

This post is part one in The Jacobson Group’s Insurance Careers Month 2020 video series. The series features our own Millennial bloggers providing their insider perspectives into why insurance is a great career choice and how to get started in the industry. We’re kicking off the series with sentiments from Kylee Lacson, assistant vice president and practice lead for Jacobson’s life team, in “Why Insurance?” This video was originally posted on our Jacobson Journal blog in 2018, but we thought Kylee’s insights were still so relevant that we should share them again. Learn about the ways insurance is changing, its many disruptors, and the exciting opportunities it presents for young professionals and recent grads.

As recruiters, we commonly get questions from candidates at all career levels around how they can improve their resumes. What should be included? How should employment gaps be handled? How can they best stand out from other well-qualified individuals?