At a time when so much about the world seems uncertain, it’s reassuring to know that there are some things upon which we can depend. That alone is good reason to consider the insurance career opportunities available through Sylvia Group and Alera Group.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has made 2020 a terrible year for almost everyone, it’s been less terrible for the insurance industry, especially for most of us fortunate enough to work here. This year marks Sylvia Group’s 70th anniversary as an agency and first as a member of Alera Group. Sylvia Group clients know they can depend on us for the very best in insurance, employee benefits and financial planning products and services. Our employees know they can depend on a work environment that is collaborative, supportive, flexible, inclusive and well-compensated with competitive wages and benefits.
While Alera Group hasn’t been around for nearly as long, the firm’s innovative approach and expansion to more than 90 firms and 2,000 teammates nationwide are powerful indications that we’re going to be around for many years to come. And thanks to our culture of collaboration, we know we can depend on each other to come up with the best possible solutions for our clients.
Meanwhile, the insurance industry itself remains largely resistant to COVID-19. TechRepublic recently ranked insurance and finance fifth among “pandemic-proof” industries in 2020, reporting that among “businesses that deal with financial transitions and risk,”:
- 86.9% of businesses did not have to close offices, even for a day
- Unemployment in this sector is quite low, 3.1% as of August
- They’re wealthy: 39.2% said they had at least three months of cash on hand for business operations.
So if you’re considering your next career move, the insurance industry, Sylvia Group and Alera Group are good places to start.
Here are your opportunities
Sylvia Group currently has two openings:
Commercial Lines Account Manager. This position is for an experienced insurance professional, someone with a thorough technical knowledge of business insurance and a track record of providing organizations with comprehensive insurance solutions. Sylvia Group is thriving in collaboration with our Alera Group partners. Adding another talented, knowledgeable professional to our business insurance team will make us even stronger. Learn more about this position, apply online or email the description to a friend here.
Personal Lines Account Coordinator. While experience in the insurance industry is preferable for this position, it’s not required. What is essential is a college degree, combined with the ability to learn on the job, dedication to client service and a passion for collaboration. If that describes you, we can train you to become an outstanding account coordinator, and you can be on your way to a successful, rewarding career in insurance. Learn more about this position, apply online or email the description to a friend here.
A great time to enter the industry
If you’ve thought about a career in insurance but aren’t sure it’s the right industry for you, consider this: The field may be a lot more varied than you think. In an insightful piece titled “5 Things You May Not Know About Working in the Insurance Industry,” Recruiter.com notes, “One of the most appealing parts of working for an insurance [organization] is the wide variety of jobs that are available across a very broad spectrum of career paths.” So while you might join Sylvia Group as an account manager or account coordinator today, your career path could take you in a number of directions in the future — toward sales, for example, or marketing or claims or administration.
Here’s the Recruiter.com list:
- Jobs for All Professionals of All Backgrounds
- Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
- Access to Professional Development Opportunities
- Flexible Scheduling
- A Strong Sense of Purpose
To go more in depth, click on the link above. It’s a worthwhile read.
Why Sylvia Group and Alera Group?
Here it is in a nutshell: “Alera Group is an independent, national insurance and financial services firm created through the merger of like-minded, high-performing, entrepreneurial firms across the United States.” In other words, we share standards of excellence — and that includes being a great place to work.
In addition to holding lofty expectations for our team and providing extensive training support to enable everyone to meet or exceed those expectations, we care about each other. We’re civically engaged, we value diversity and inclusion, we promote and provide wellness activities, and we never forget the importance of being able to enjoy a good laugh.
- Case in point No. 1: In October, Alera Group hosted the virtual Wellbeing Fair, a week-long series of fitness breaks and keynote addresses to foster physical, mental and financial health for our entire team, and opened it up to our clients. The recorded sessions are now available online.
- Case in point No. 2: On the night of December 12, Alera Group teammates and their families around the country will gather online for an exclusive performance by Chicago’s famed The Second City comedy troupe. (Sorry — no link to that one. Alera Group staff and family only.)
To give you a better idea of what the collaborative relationship between members of the Alera Group means to our clients, click on the image above to view a short video.
Ready to apply?
If you’re qualified for one of our current openings and would like to join our team, click the button below to visit our Careers page and apply online.
By MAUREEN SYLVIA ARMSTRONG
Managing Partner, Sylvia Group
About Maureen Sylvia Armstrong and Sylvia Group
For more than three decades, Sylvia Group Managing Partner Maureen Sylvia Armstrong has served her clients and her community, distinguishing herself as a recognized business and civic leader on Massachusetts’ SouthCoast. From the time Maureen entered the agency founded by her grandfather, Sylvia Group has grown from a staff of 10 employees to a team of almost 50 highly trained professionals providing insurance, employee benefits and financial planning solutions to businesses and individuals throughout the SouthCoast and beyond. A graduate of Bishop Stang High School and Boston College’s Carroll School of Management with degrees in finance and marketing, Maureen has been honored by the SouthCoast Chamber of Commerce as Small Business Person of the Year, by SouthCoast Media Group as Woman of the Year and by Bristol Community College as a Benevolent Entrepreneur. In October 2018, she was inducted to the Bishop Stang High School Hall of Honors.
