The Job Forum

0:00:00
Welcome to the Job Forum. My name is Mana Azizoltani and I am a PhD student at the Hera College of Hospitality here at UNLV. On this show we discuss the journey through college and into the workforce with recent graduates of different disciplines. Welcome to the Job Forum. All right let's start the show. Now tell

0:00:20
everybody your name. Sure my name is Mina Bregzi. I was born in Las Vegas. I've lived here my whole life. I currently work for the insurance industry and I graduated UNLV in 2020.

0:00:35
Awesome. Timothy, you want to go?

0:00:37
Hi, my name is Timothy Rue. I'm a mathematics student at UNLV. I've also been here my whole life. I was born in California but moved here and I've been here for most of my life.

0:00:51
Awesome, awesome. Well, Mina, I know we went to college together. We were both math majors too, specifically actuarial science. And so I wanted to ask you, how did you find your way into insurance?

0:01:01
Yeah, it isn't that far off from what we were studying, really, because I know that you were in it, so you knew exactly what we were studying. I was initially a biology major, and I ended up not really being interested in what I was learning and at the same time as of my first semester I was taking calculus and I actually fell in love with the subject. So I decided to change majors into math and then I was looking into the different concentrations available to us at UNLV and I found I came across actual science and I tried to research a little bit about it, and it seemed extremely interesting how insurance is pretty much all math, because you never associate those two words together.

0:01:48
Can we just break this down for a second? You're saying that you actually liked calculus?

0:01:53
Yes, yeah. That was actually the first subject that I was looking forward to doing homework like that. At the end of the day it was like calculus, biology homework, I had like some chemistry homework and calculus was the one that I first got out of the way because I thought it was so much fun. So yeah, I'm definitely a nerd deep down.

0:02:14
Chemistry, no. Chemistry, no. Calculus, yes.

0:02:18
Yeah, exactly.

0:02:19
So biology, no. Okay, math, right, so you moved to math. So then, how did you get to insurance? Because I know here at UNLV, for example, the insurance program and the math program

0:02:32
are totally separate. Right, yeah. The Actuarial Science is definitely the best of both worlds. For people who are not familiar with the term, Actuarial Science is pretty much the mathematics of insurance. So you have people behind the scenes of health insurance, life insurance, as well as commercial insurance. And they are punching numbers, they're analyzing lost trends, they're analyzing costs of claims, and they are coming up with the rates that people currently use to pay premiums for their insurance policies. So everything that you pay out of pocket as far as your health insurance, if you have life insurance, or if you have a business, spend commercial insurance. That all comes from someone who is punching numbers to figure out how much you should pay, depending on how much risk that you have in your health or your business. So it definitely was a really rewarding degree path, I would say. I was able to hone in on all my mathematical skills by taking a bunch of math classes, statistics classes, but alongside that, the program would also place me in finance courses, economics, accounting, and business classes as well. So it does kind of combine mathematics and the insurance world together, and it wasn't until my capstone course with Professor Utterback that I definitely decided that I wanted to go into insurance. At first it was always the actuary path, I just wanted to be a number cruncher, I wanted to work a nine-to-five job and just become an actuary, but I took that capstone course and I was able to learn about how many other career paths there are and I ended up graduating in 2020 right when the pandemic started and the lockdown started so the actuary exams were not available for me to take unfortunately so I did have to decide to go into something else and that's how I found my current career path which is underwriting.

0:04:45
So that's what I like about sort of the whole actuary thing is you get to marry professionalism, professional social life that doesn't really come in a work setting when you're an actuary. As an actuary, you're just that guy in the back that crunches numbers and spits out premiums. You're the sorcerer behind the scene. So I think definitely it's cool that you were able to find something something like that in the insurance. And I know like getting involved with Utterback and going to the events and that kind of stuff, the networking was really good.

0:05:20
Yeah, I will say UNLV definitely has a very, very great program for actuarial science majors as well as the professors here are just extremely amazing.

0:05:30
Yeah, and Tim, aren't you in Utterback's class this semester?

0:05:34
I love Professor Utterback. Yeah, I'm in his Finance 63 class right now. We're doing an enterprise risk management project that we're just about to get started. Really excited for that. But yeah, this UNLV, I really like how this major kind of mixes like the business side and how that those classes kind of really emphasize networking, getting your name out there as where maybe some actual science programs do not do that. UNLV does that really well.

0:06:06
So we talk about, you just mentioned networking, right? And getting your name out there. Mina, did that help you find your job that you're in now?

0:06:15
Yeah, for sure. One of the main components of Professor Utterback's capstone course that and I do think, yeah, I do think a couple of my co-students were not taking it as seriously as me, but I had a goal that I wanted to reach 500 plus connections in four months, and Timothy, I hope you have the same goal, so. I am currently working. I'm a little miss popular over here. I'm at 27 right now.

0:06:39
27, okay.

0:06:40
27 and counting.

0:06:41
You can add me, add Mina, and I will, I will.

0:06:44
I'm at 29. Yeah, you can definitely do it.

0:06:53
That was one of my big goals. I wanted to get 500 plus during that class, before that class finished. I ended up not being able to do it. I think I ended the class at like 486. I was like maybe 10 to 20 off. But then a couple weeks after I did that class, I made it. So it was definitely a good goal, goal set to have.

0:07:17
I remember James Kerbin came into that class and he's like, who thinks I have a good LinkedIn profile? And me, I was the dummy that decided to raise my hand and was like, I think I have a good LinkedIn profile. He goes, you have no posts and you only have like 100 connections? Come on, you gotta get it together. I was like, come on, Jays, I'm taking one for the team here. You could at least give me a compliment.

0:07:38
I remember that. I remember that. But yeah, I would definitely say LinkedIn has helped me in how to find jobs and just networking in general, being able to connect with someone who is a little bit further into their career and send them a quick message. Everybody, I'm surprised at the amount of people who are open to just chatting on the phone, taking time out of their day, hey call me after hours. They don't need to do that stuff, but for a young person who is going into the career they get so excited to just tell you about themselves and to kind of explain and try and get you there to where they are. So I would definitely say not only just finding jobs, but also just networking and being able to see what industry professionals have, what their backgrounds are, and what they're going towards.

0:08:33
We were so lucky to be able to do that. I mean, remember we used to go to those RIMS luncheons with the Risen Insurance Management Society? You've been?

0:08:41
I've been to one, yeah.

0:08:42
How was that?

0:08:43
That was, the free food was great, but. Yeah, that was really good. I got to meet with a lot of professionals there that I had no idea this kind of world existed for insurance and risk management.

0:08:57
That was great. On the same subject of networking, where else can you go and rub shoulders with the most important insurance people in the city? I mean, we're talking with the director of risk management for MGM. We're talking about the director of risk management for the Las Vegas-Ballywater issue. We're talking about the guy that is in charge of the risk management program at UNLV. I mean, all these people are so, you know, important, big shot people, and we're sitting there just rubbing shoulders with them, getting to talk with them casually over a lunch. I mean.

0:09:24
I know, it's great.

0:09:24
Exactly. Something like that is so unparalleled. I mean, that's where you're gonna get the job, in my opinion. I mean, I was really involved there, so I'm a little biased, but. So, talking about getting a job then, Mina, what was the story about getting your current job? What was the process like? Did you interview? Did they just headhunt you or what?

0:09:49
Sure, yeah. I will say there are professionals in the landscape, especially in human resources, that are actually paid to recruit insurance professionals. professional so I have been approached in the past and usually I would go through a recruiter to look for jobs. However, my current role I actually got through LinkedIn. So I applied through LinkedIn and they were able to set me up with an interview. The whole process took about a week and a half before the offer letter came out. I didn't even need a second interview. Just a humble brag, you know. I didn't even need a second interview. I did so well in the first interview. They loved my experience, my background, and my energy, so they decided to offer me the job.

0:10:35
I don't want to pop your bubble, but 2.86 million insurance jobs in the country in 2020.

0:10:42
It's definitely, the industry as a whole, there's been a mass exodus of baby boomers retiring right now so there is definitely potential for people to get hired quickly and promoted within specifically the insurance and finance

0:10:58
industries. Yeah I've heard over and over again from people that tell me we're having unprecedented amount of people retiring from the industry there's jobs opening like crazy if you're a sharp young guy that wants to get or lady that wants to get into the industry all you have to do is just apply and if you get in you work hard

0:11:16
you'll get sucked up to the top like a vacuum. Yeah exactly I've personally I've only been in the industry twice and I've already gotten two promotions so it's it's definitely been a rewarding career path for me. So what exactly do you like

0:11:32
what exactly do you do day to day like what is what is your job? Yeah sure um I

0:11:36
I will definitely say my job is not as boring as a Like a normal person would think because every time I talk about insurance people seem to just snore, you know fall asleep They're like, why do you do that? Actually, my sister she jokes around and she says that she would not even be able to get paid for doing what I do Because she thinks it's so boring She's a doctor so I can I can understand how fast-paced her job is compared to mine my friends tell me I'm doing a PhD in hospitality

0:12:05
For those that don't know my friends ask me you say what are you getting a PhD and how can I help you?

0:12:10
How can I help you exactly? But my day-to-day, I think it's extremely Exciting I work on the excess and surplus non-admitted side of insurance So you're talking about businesses that normally do not get insurance or do not get approved through admitted carriers. So you see a lot of unique risks on your day-to-day basis and anything from music festivals, smoke shots, artists who are doing EDC festivals, that type of thing. That's what I'm seeing on a day-to-day basis, very unique business models. And basically, in my day-to-day, it's not too heavy. I receive applications, and I do my own research on what the business consists of, what type of risks are presented. And then I start to analyze if the insurance and what we're offering will cover them, or if there are any exclusions that I need to add. So on a day-to-day, on any given type of risk, I'll either approve them as is, I will either decline the risk and say that it's out of my appetite to offer insurance or I will modify the insurance policy. Maybe I'll increase the premium because they have some exposure that not usual things of that nature have. So on a day-to-day basis, I do that. There is also a marketing aspect to my job, so it's not just all on the computer. There is phone calls that I need to take. I do need to speak with agents and try and strategize what type of help I can give them, how can I strengthen the relationship that we have with our partners, and I also do visits to these typical agencies in order to see how can we grow the relationship that we have and how can we reach profitability that the company requires.

0:14:21
Wow, that's one heck of a job it sounds like.

0:14:26
It doesn't, yeah, it doesn't sound boring when you put it that way.

0:14:29
Right, it sounds interesting. You cover all the bases. You know, you get to do research. So you're basically, instead of a financial analyst, it seems like you're an insurance analyst basically, right? On top of that, you get to do marketing, you get to be social. I mean, it seems like a pretty good job to me.

0:14:43
Yeah.

0:14:44
So, talking about, you know, day to day you do research, you market, you know, all that kind of stuff. What are the skills that maybe a student needs to, a student like Timothy needs to be able to do the job well or get the job in the first place?

0:14:56
Yeah, I would definitely say soft skills are important. Having interpersonal skills as well. Time management is huge because I currently work from home. So being in a work from home type of model, there are times where a boss is not looking directly at you and maybe you definitely have to manage and discipline yourself. And those are also some types of skills that you can learn when you're in college as well, just solely to the fact where maybe some days you don't want to study but you just have to get up. There's no professor watching you study, but you just have to get up and do it yourself. So I would definitely say those things, as well as an internship I would recommend, or maybe getting an actual job during college, even if it's part time, because it'll give you those skills to work with other people and have a boss type of relationship. So you'll end up learning how to strategize yourself or position yourself on a team and how that is for you too.

0:16:03
I really like how you emphasize the importance of soft skills. I feel like that's not kind of brought up enough. How about, what are some of the other hard skills that you need? I know the insurance industry is hiring a lot right now. So would you say that those are of at least the same importance? Or would you say that it's not as important, soft skills

0:16:28
are more what you need? I would probably say it's maybe a 50-50 right now. I think we might be moving towards people who have those hard skills and a lot of industry experience are the ones who will eventually get promoted. However, soft skills are just important just for the interview in general. You know, if you're not someone who can answer questions or if you don't have good energy, it's gonna be very difficult to land a job. So I would say soft skills definitely get you in the door, get your team to like you, get your boss to like you, and then you need to have those analytical skills, those hard skills as well, to supplement what you're doing. So you do a great job, so you want to get promoted and your boss sees that.

0:17:14
Well, we're a bunch of math nerds at the end of the day, so... I think I have analytical skills, you know?

0:17:20
At least I hope so.

0:17:21
We're covered.

0:17:22
I have analytical skills, so I think we're okay there.

0:17:25
So, let me know, you talk about soft skills, right? What are the things that you learned in school that, like, for example, do you have an example of maybe something that you learned in class, in maybe Utterback's class, or in one of your math classes that you actually use day to day?

0:17:39
Yeah, I would definitely say Utterback's class specifically. And I think Professor Utterback would probably agree when I say this. I was extremely math major type of person. I hated getting up.

0:17:56
A nerd.

0:17:57
Yeah, yeah.

0:17:58
I was definitely a nerdy type. It was a little hard for me to get up to the front of the classroom and present or to talk in front of a large group of people. That's coming up for me. Yeah, that's coming up for you, right?

0:18:09
It's a little bit intimidating, but it's definitely something that I need to work on, public speaking, soft skills like you said. And this is a class where, like as a math major, you don't really get that opportunity. Exactly. You kind of take your exam and you go home.

0:18:27
I was trembling when you had to do that. I'm so shaking, man.

0:18:32
Yeah, I would definitely say presentation skills. As well as, I was in honors college at UNLV too and a lot of those classes supplement... I know, it's just going to be mean, like completely proving that how much of a nerd I am. But even in honors class, those courses, they really force you to be a people person and to use your presentation skills and really practice speaking to other people. So I would say I was definitely transformed into more of a people person throughout college. However, I still do get nervous. Like I'm nervous today being here and it's only us three. However, when the time comes and the pressure is on, I feel like I do well under the pressure because of UNLV and because of the major that I chose.

0:19:23
Yeah, totally. I think it shows a lot about someone's personality, especially like in our case, we're the math actuarial students and we have to go into the business setting. For us, it's not necessarily easy. Like you said, you're just going in there, taking our exam and going home. And you have to be like, no, I have to go in there, I have to put myself out there, talk to people, get in front of people, and it's just, you know, you learn so much. And it shows a lot about your character, the fact that you can do that.

0:19:53
Exactly.

0:19:54
One of the things I really like about that class is, especially as a math major currently right now, I don't really get to work with people that often. So it's kind of, I'm in my own little world and I'm in my own little bubble, I'm doing my own things. And in that class, I have to work with people. I haven't done a group project since high school. That was like five years ago, right? So yeah, that's definitely something that I'm looking forward to, kind of, as I get farther into my professional career.

0:20:21
Yeah, I would definitely have to agree with Timothy on that one, for sure. Being a math major, it is difficult. I mean, you have the capability to go out and study and maybe make study groups, but not everybody is open to it. So you're in classes full of other math majors who are just there to study, to just get the lecture in, study when they go home. Maybe they prefer studying by themselves. And that was troubling for me because I always love studying with other people because I feel like it's a social interaction and being able to bounce off ideas from each other and just you know you're in the class together, we get through it together, we fail together, things of that nature. That's always been my mindset.

0:21:02
Fail together.

0:21:03
Fail together, pass together, we're in it together. We're a family.

0:21:05
But some math majors I know that they take a siloed approach, and that's totally fine. It's the way I used to be as well, but after a semester, after two semesters, I realized that being by myself was actually hurting me, and isolating myself was actually hurting me, so I did try to get more people out of their comfort zones in my math classes and my statistics classes. And even, I think, in a couple statistics classes that me and Mono were in, we even created study groups and we would do study groups together.

0:21:41
Remember when we threw the party at Christian's house? We got all the math majors to get together and throw a party. That bus was a real interesting party I've ever gone to in my whole life.

0:21:52
Yes, we definitely threw a party with all the math majors. It was an experience.

0:21:56
But you know what, the thing is, we got everyone out of their comfort zones. They had talked to people, they came there and they wanted to be there. And you could just see these kids that we see in class every single week. And they're the same kids that are in the back of the class with their hoodie on, hoping that nobody sees them. And they're the same kids that are there asking to play the next beer pong game.

0:22:17
Yes, exactly. So I think it just takes one person to get other people out of their comfort zone.

0:22:22
Once you learn to do that, people are really actually open to the idea. I think totally made it a priority to try to get

0:22:28
to always know everybody in my class. That's good and that's something that I recommend to anyone in college is just network with you don't know in 10 years maybe they're working at a company that you want to work at a company and there's there's the gateway for possibly a reference that you can use so it's good to just start the networking now just with an even your co-students. They don't have to be necessarily at a higher pace than you or further into their career, but you don't know where they're gonna go and you don't know where you're gonna go.

0:22:58
So, they might work out.

0:23:00
Yeah, exactly.

0:23:01
And there's, like we talk a lot about networking up, right? Trying to find a job. But the way I see it, like all these people that we're around day to day, some of them are superstars. Like, or maybe all of them might become a superstar. You never know. And these people are the people that will help you in the future. And so, I mean, how many people have I asked now for you, like, do you have a job at your company? And I mean, it's like, yeah, you need to apply, it's all good.

0:23:23
Of course, of course. It's always like that.

0:23:26
So, if you know one person, then that's it. But do you have any last words of advice that you can give to Timothy or students like him?

0:23:34
Yeah, I would just say keep going. I wouldn't get bogged down by a bad grade or anything like that. I think in the grand scheme of things, most of these companies are not going to be asking for your transcripts and say, like, why did you get a B- in this so-and-so class? They're just happy that you made it, you made it through a degree. So never stress, always try and take time for yourself, self-improvement, and self-care is definitely the most important thing. If you go to the gym, meditate, things of that nature, I would definitely recommend. And other than that, it's

0:24:11
just keep doing what you're doing. Yeah, you seem like a real sharp kid. Yeah. Thank you. I remember, I mean, I was really involved in insurance. I was the president of RIMS student chapter, and I saw so many students come through and try to get jobs, or get jobs. And the one thing I could give you for advice is network, dude. Network, network, network, network. And then make sure you get a strong LinkedIn profile. Use it, don't just have it like your resume. Actually post stuff on there.

0:24:39
I might not aim for 500 connections. I might try 100 or 200 right now.

0:24:44
There you go.

0:24:44
If you can get it. We're gonna get up there. I think that's something I'm gonna make a priority.

0:24:48
If you get 200 connections by the end of the semester, come find me and I'll give you a special prize. I look forward to it. That's motivation.

0:24:54
There you go.

0:24:55
Well, thank you guys so much for coming in today. I really, really appreciate it. Mina, you've given awesome advice. And Timothy, it's a pleasure to have you here and meet you. And I wish you nothing but the best to both of you guys in your future endeavors. Thank you so much, Manna.

0:25:10
And thank you so much, Mina.

0:25:11
Thank you.

0:25:12
Thank you, Timothy.

0:25:13
Thanks so much for listening to The Job Forum. If you want any more details or have any questions, visit my website at manaziz.com. M-A-N-A-Z-I-Z.com. M-A-N-A-Z-I-Z.com. Welcome to The Job Forum.

Transcribed with Cockatoo