The New Normal: The Future of Insurance Recruiting

After an event like what has occurred over the past few months, there will be changes to what all of us consider the new normal. In the face of this total disruption, the only thing we can and should do is make changes accordingly, but always keep who we are as the driving force directing those adjustments. 

Now, while it will take time to gather the market research data to make the most informed decisions and to establish trends, we can still prepare for the newest version of normal within the insurance industry. 

Transformative Thinking

While we might not know every detail of what is coming, the simple fact is that something different than yesterday is sure to greet us tomorrow. Treating any moment of engagement as “business as usual,” in my opinion, would be a holistic waste of time and precious resources. No one has the time to be stubborn about this, especially in this “new normal.”. 

Educate yourself as much as you possibly can. Gather articles, blogs and books from reliable content creators and authors and do your best to understand the changing world you live in. Before this crisis, implementing new ideas, models and protocols was already part of being successful in the insurance industry. There was always something to learn or something to be improved upon. This industry is full of innovative and creative minds. Now, more than ever, our minds need to be open, adaptable and conscious of the opportunities and clarity change can bring.

Take a Look Under the Hood

Anymore, new cars and trucks are so complicated that a trained professional will actually save you time and money. As an active part of the insurance space, it is our job to take a look at the machinery, the business models and common practices that assist in finding and placing talent where it benefits our community most. Things we were used to working may not function as well as they used to or at a capacity that makes them worth holding on to. 

Is it a candidate or client-centric market? Who is your ideal candidate? What value does your service offer and could you be utilizing your resources in a way that is more in-tune with the current economic climate of the new normal? The ability to self evaluate is a must-have in order to better serve those who will be relying on you more than ever to provide a sense of stability and opportunity where they might be struggling to do so on their own. As recruiters, we have always attempted to offer you a broader perspective, and we must continue to do so. 

Sink, Float or Swim

As new information comes in that is verifiable and vetted, we will eventually have to make some decisions and take some chances in order to test if what we think is true is actually relevant to what we do on a day-to-day basis. The “why?” of a practice is important, knowing that your firm is doing the most with every dollar it spends, and also realizing that, during times of uncertainty, some failures are certain—but not worthless. We fall down so we can learn how to get back up.

We have to guide our customers and colleagues towards informed and impactful decisions by really sitting down and examining the motivations of every human element in our process and designing the work that adds value to every single interaction, presentation and decision. 

The James Allen Companies works with risk management professionals every single day. We are in a period of renewal that, if we take the time to approach it properly, can and will result in an insurance industry that is stronger, more adaptable and more beneficial to every life it touches.