Pros
Coworkers, No layoffs, yearly bonuses
Cons
Underwriting is a call center. That’s right, a high volume call center answering calls from angry agents all day. The calls are back, to back, to back, to back...Pay is extremely low compared to Underwriters at other companies. Traffic is HORRIBLE in the Dunwoody/Perimeter area. You must accrue your PTO. You get about 5 hours every two weeks. I used to work for a company that gave you 20 days at the beginning of the year. Raises are a joke. If you get hired into the call center, you will be stuck in the call center, my friend. I mean, the “contact center.” If you are serious about your underwriting career, do not accept an offer to work here. Other insurance companies are aware that State Farm underwriters are not really Underwriters. They are call center reps. It will damage your brand and unless you network, or have connections, no one will hire you. You work 7 hrs and 45 min days , so your lunch is only 45 minutes. You have a schedule that changes daily on what time you can go to lunch and take your (2) 15 minute breaks. It’s almost like you’re in elementary school. HOWEVER, there is a production underwriting side. If you’re lucky to be hired in that department, it is a lot more flexible. They get to participate in company events that take place during work hours without having to use their break or lunch times to attend. They go on breaks, take lunches, when they want. Leave when their shift is over , instead of getting stuck on a phone call like we do in the contact center. If your shift ends at 5:00, you can’t log off the phone until 4:55. If you get a call at 4:54 and it lasts 20 mins, guess what? You’re stuck there until you get off the phone. So this is not a “mother with kids friendly” type of job. You wouldn’t get to your child’s daycare on time to pick them up, OR home to your family on time. Underwriters in this department go out on stress leave ALL THE TIME. It’s a stressful environment. I regret leaving my previous employer for State Farm. If I knew then, what I know now, I wouldn’t have accepted the offer. I hope this helps someone.
