An underwriter is responsible for using research and multiple resources to determine whether or not a consumer qualifies for credit or insurance, depending upon the company. The underwriter interview questions and answers listed here will help your potential employer determine your overall qualifications for the position.
How Do You Stay Focused on Your Job?
An underwriter typically spends 40 hours or more at a desk researching, calculating and contacting various creditors and applicants. As such, the job can become tedious after a period of time, and your interviewer will want to know how you plan to stay motivated to do your best. An example of an answer you may provide is “I enjoy helping people get the money they need to buy homes and this motivates me to do my best” or perhaps even “I understand that providing funding according to company policy is very important, so I am always very meticulous in my calculations. Knowing that my attention to detail is helping the company succeed motivates me to do my best.”
How Do You Stay on Top of Current Laws?
The laws regarding finance and insurance are always changing, so your interviewer will want to know how you stay informed. “I attend a finance seminar twice yearly so I can stay on top of any changes that are made to the law” or even “I participate in an online notification system. I receive an email once every quarter that details any changes that have taken place” is a great answer to this question. It shows that you have taken the initiative to stay on top of these changes on your own. However, you should always be open to suggestions from your interviewer.
Have You Ever Worked a Customer Service-Based Job?
Although you may not work face-to-face with applicants on a daily basis, there will likely be times when you will need to contact an applicant in order to obtain or verify information. Your potential employer will want to make sure that you are comfortable with contacting consumers since you will be doing so on behalf of the company. “I have worked in various retail sales positions in the past, so I am comfortable with talking to applicants and obtaining the information I need” is one way to answer this question. “Although I do not have past customer service experience, I am very outgoing and I enjoy speaking with people, whether in person, via email or even on the telephone.”
How Do You Stay Organized and Prioritize Your Workload?
Underwriters often have several tasks to perform all at once, and many take on dozens of clients at any given time. Your interviewer will want to make sure that you have what it takes to stay organized as your workload grows, and you should be able to explain your method in one or two sentences. “I keep a very detailed planner that I update throughout the day. This helps me remember which cases on which I should focus at any given time. I also use an alphabetical filing system to keep track of each applicant’s information so I know exactly where to find what I need.” This answer shows your interviewer that you have your own personal methods for remaining efficient throughout the day.
Whether you work for a bank or an insurance company, your role as an underwriter is very important. Your research and probing will ultimately determine whether or not a particular client will be approved or denied for a loan or coverage, and your interviewer will ask these questions among others to ensure that you are ready to take on the challenge.
