After reviewing thousands of insurance resumes—and sitting on both sides of the hiring table—I can say this with certainty: most qualified insurance professionals undersell themselves on paper. Not because they lack experience, but because they don’t know how hiring leaders actually read resumes.

This article is designed to translate insider knowledge from insurance hiring managers into clear, practical guidance you can use immediately to strengthen your resume and improve your results.

1. Understand How Insurance Resumes Are Actually Read

Hiring leaders do not read resumes top to bottom. They scan.

On average, your resume gets 6–10 seconds on the first pass. During that time, decision-makers are asking:

• What do you do?
• What line(s) of insurance?
• How senior are you?
• Where have you created impact?

If your resume doesn’t answer those questions immediately, it’s often set aside—regardless of how qualified you are.

Your resume must communicate value fast.

2. Start With a Clear, Industry-Specific Headline

The top of your resume should instantly anchor the reader.

Instead of:

Experienced insurance professional seeking new opportunities

Use:

Senior Commercial Lines Underwriter | Middle Market & Specialty Programs | $75M Portfolio

Or:

Claims Leader | Complex Liability & Transportation | Litigation &TPA Oversight

Hiring leaders want clarity, not mystery.

3. Your Summary Should Be Strategic, Not Biographical

Your professional summary is not a career history—it’s a positioning statement.

A strong summary:

• Is 3–5 lines
• Highlights your specialty
• Signals scale, scope, and impact

Example:

Insurance executive with 18+ years of experience across commercial P&C underwriting and program management. Proven success managing complex portfolios, partnering with distribution, and driving profitable growth in specialty and E&S markets. Known for strong broker relationships, disciplined risk selection, and cross-functional leadership.

Avoid personal traits like “hardworking” or “detail-oriented.” Hiring leaders assume competence—they want proof.

4. Lead With Impact, Not Job Descriptions

This is where most insurance resumes fall short.

Hiring leaders already know what a Claims Manager or Underwriter does. What they want to know is:

• What changed because you were     there?
• What did you grow, improve,     reduce, or fix?

Instead of:

Managed claims team and oversaw complex files

Use:

Led a team of 12 adjusters handling complex liability claims; reduced average claim duration by 18% while improving reserve accuracy and litigation outcomes.

Metrics matter. If you don’t have exact numbers, directional results still count.

5. Speak the Language of the Business

Insurance leaders think in terms of:

• Risk
• Profitability
• Retention
• Loss performance
• Compliance
• Scale

Your resume should reflect that language.

Examples:

• “Improved loss ratio”
• “Expanded book of business”
• “Strengthened broker     relationships”
• “Enhanced regulatory compliance”
• “Supported underwriting     profitability”

This signals that you understand the business—not just your function.

6. Tailor by Discipline, Not by Company

You don’t need a brand-new resume for every job—but you do need alignment.

Your resume should subtly shift depending on whether you’re targeting:

• Carrier vs. MGA vs. Broker
• Claims vs. Underwriting vs.     Compliance
• Individual contributor vs.     leadership

Hiring leaders want to see relevance, not everything you’ve ever done.

7. Remove What Hurts You (Yes, Really)

Common resume mistakes that quietly work against you:

• Overly long resumes with no     hierarchy
• Dense paragraphs instead of     bullet points
• Listing every system or task
• Including outdated roles from 20+     years ago in detail

Your resume should feel curated, not exhaustive.

8. Length Matters—But Clarity Matters More

General guidance:

• 10–15 years: 2 pages
• Senior leaders: 2–3 pages (only     if impactful)
• Early career: 1 page

Hiring leaders don’t penalize length when the content is relevant and well-structured—but they will penalize clutter.

9. Your Resume Is Not a Biography—It’s a Marketing Document

This may be the most important mindset shift.

Your resume exists for one reason:

To earn the conversation.

It does not need to tell your whole story. It needs to position you as someone worth speaking with.

Final Thought: Strong Experience Deserves Strong Presentation

The insurance industry values substance—but opportunity often goes to those who can clearly articulate their value.

A well-crafted resume doesn’t exaggerate. It clarifies.

If you approach your resume with the same professionalism, strategy, and intentionality you bring to your role, hiring leaders will notice—and respond.

Because in today’s insurance market, talent isn’t just about experience.
It’s about how clearly that experience is communicated.

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