Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
My name is Jessica Burke and I am 24. I studied Law, History, Psychology and English Literature at A Level and then went on to study Law at the University of Kent, graduating in 2018. Before joining Everest Reinsurance in October 2020, I worked as a Claims Technician for a regional insurance company for two years.
What is your role and how long have you been at Everest?
I am a Reinsurance Claims Adjuster and I have worked at Everest Re for 8 months.
What inspired you to apply for the Claims Adjuster Role at Everest?
I applied for the role because I was seeking a new diverse and challenging position within the claims industry. What inspired me to apply for a role specifically at Everest Reinsurance was that there was the opportunity at the company to learn and grow, developing both my personal and professional skills which was important to me. I was also keen to continue with my professional qualifications, something which Everest Reinsurance actively encourages and supports you with.
What has been the single most important thing you learnt so far in your job?
This is a tough question, as I have already learnt so much since joining Everest Reinsurance 8 months ago! However, I think that the most important thing I have learnt so far is how to accurately adjust a claim. This includes establishing whether further information is needed to determine coverage, scrutinising the claim financials and reviewing expert reports. The team have been extremely helpful teaching me how to do this effectively, so I now have the ability and confidence to work well independently.
What would a ‘normal’ day look like for someone in your role?
On a ‘normal’ day, I check my emails and log on to the claim system to review, adjust and respond to any new or existing claims. This involves examining information provided by the broker which can include documents such as medical reports, loss adjuster reports and legal advice. I often attend external claim meetings on complex losses which is when the insurer informs us of any significant claim updates, so that we can then adjust the claim financials accurately. Occasionally I will attend (re)insurance related webinars and courses to keep up to date with current case law and to develop my commercial awareness.
What do you find most interesting with the sector/industry you’re in?
What I find most interesting is the fact that as a team we deal with multiple classes of business, meaning every day we see a variety of claims, many of which feature on the news. As each claim is very different, there is something new to learn every day and no two days are the same!
What is the company culture like?
At Everest Reinsurance, personal and professional development is strongly encouraged and supported, meaning there are many opportunities for employees to grow and expand their skill set. Collaboration and teamwork is promoted in Everest’s culture, which has been particularly important while working remotely as we have still been able to work effectively as a team by sharing our knowledge with each other to learn new things
Everest Reinsurance also actively embraces diversity and inclusion, and there are many initiatives to get involved with, including Employee Resource Groups and Steering Committees who organise various initiatives to advance company diversity. I often attend webinars organised by these groups, such as the Women’s Networking Group, which are great for improving my own awareness and understanding of diversity.
Finally, any tips for anyone who’d like to apply for a role at Everest?
Do your research on the industry/company, prepare some good questions, be positive and be yourself!