Underwriter Interview Questions

The goal of a successful interview for an Underwriter is to effectively showcase their strong analytical and problem-solving skills, demonstrate their ability to make sound decisions based on complex data and risk assessment, and exhibit their expertise in various loan types and regulations, in order to prove their value in mitigating risk for the company.

Situational interview questions

• You are an Underwriter for a company and you receive an application from a client with incomplete information. How would you approach the situation?
• You are assessing an insurance policy and you unearth that the client has a history of frequent loss claims. What steps would you take to ensure that your company minimises the risk exposure?
• You receive an application from a new client that does not meet certain underwriting guidelines. However, the client has excellent credit and has never had any prior claims. What would you do?
• You have an issue with incorrect client data that has impacted the premiums being charged. What process would you put in place to rectify the problem and prevent similar occurrences?
• You review a client’s policy and you discover that they have made some errors in their application. What would you do to rectify the issue?

Soft skills interview questions

• Can you tell me about a time when you effectively managed a difficult customer or client? How did you communicate with them?
• Have you ever been in a situation where you had to make a quick decision based on limited information? How did you handle it?
• Can you give an example of how you have collaborated with colleagues in order to achieve a common goal?
• Have you ever had to give bad news to a client or colleague? How did you approach the situation?
• Can you describe a time when you dealt with a difficult request or problem from a client? How did you approach the situation and what was the outcome?

Role-specific interview questions

• What criteria do you consider when determining an applicant’s level of insurability?
• How do you evaluate the risk level of a potential policyholder?
• What experience do you have in assessing and analyzing complex financial data?
• Can you walk us through your process for determining premiums based on underwriting analysis?
• How do you stay up-to-date with changes in industry regulations and policies, and what steps do you take to ensure adherence to these guidelines?

STAR interview questions

1. Can you describe a situation where you had to make an underwriting decision on a complex and challenging insurance policy?

– Situation: Describe the specific policy and the challenges you faced.

– Task: What were your responsibilities in making the underwriting decision?

– Action: Describe the steps you took to assess the risks and determine the appropriate premium.

– Result: Explain the outcome of your decision and how it affected the client and the company.

2. Tell me about a time when you had to decline an insurance policy application.

– Situation: Describe the policy and the reasons why it could not be approved.

– Task: What were your responsibilities in communicating this decision to the client?

– Action: Walk me through the process of informing the client and any actions you took to help them understand the reasons for the decline.

– Result: What was the outcome of the decline decision and how did it affect the client and the company?

3. Could you share a time when you identified a potential fraud in an application or claim?

– Situation: Describe the specific application or claim and the red flags that caught your attention.

– Task: What were your responsibilities in investigating the potential fraud?

– Action: Describe the steps you took to gather evidence and report your findings.

– Result: What was the outcome of the investigation and how did it affect the client and the company?

4. Can you walk me through the process of renewing an insurance policy?

– Situation: Describe the specific policy and its renewal deadline.

– Task: What were your responsibilities in ensuring the policy is renewed correctly and on time?

– Action: Describe the steps you took to assess the risks and determine the appropriate renewal premium.

– Result: What was the outcome of the renewal decision and how did it affect the client and the company?

5. Tell me about a time when you negotiated terms with a client or a broker.

– Situation: Describe the specific policy and the negotiation process.

– Task: What were your responsibilities in negotiating the terms?

– Action: Describe the steps you took to understand client needs and make concessions while staying within the company’s guidelines.

– Result: What was the outcome of the negotiation and how did it affect the client and the company?