Underwriter Resume Example
Starting a career as an underwriter gives you the chance to gain experience in assessing risk exposure and reviewing insurance applications. To succeed in your applications for underwriter roles, you'll need a resume that reflects your relevant skills and experience. In this article, we'll explain how to write a winning resume for underwriter applications that best showcases your skills and experience.
After reading this guide, you'll know what it takes to create a resume that really stands out from other underwriter applicants. The article will take you through the key steps of creating a resume that presents your key skills, qualities and career achievements in a format that employers favor. It will also help you tailor your resume according to your unique skills and experience level. Continue reading to find the best underwriter resume tips from careers experts at Jobseeker.
Key sections for an underwriter resume
The key sections to include in an underwriter resume are similar to those for any role or profession.
If you're applying for junior, entry-level or graduate underwriter positions and you lack work experience, consider using a skills-based resume format to emphasize your skills and education. Soft and transferable skills are often more highly valued by employers for junior roles, so highlight these. Also add any internships, volunteer work or training courses you've undertaken.
If you have some experience as an underwriter, use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format and focus on showing how you've used the skills required for the job in your career to date. In your resume work experience section, outline your relevant achievements and showcase the impact you've made in your career to date. Make sure everything you include is relevant to the job description.
Senior job applications require a slightly different approach to mid-level or junior underwriter roles. Use a reverse-chronological format focusing on your work experience, with a particular emphasis on the impact you've made. It's likely that your senior resume will be longer than a standard resume of one-to-two pages. This is because you'll be listing additional achievements beyond your work experience, such as awards, publications and professional memberships.
The order you present these sections can vary according to your career stage, but it's still essential to include each of the following:
Header and Personal Information
A underwriter resume header contains your name and contact information. Add your first and last name, your phone number and your email address. Include your address or location, but avoid adding any other personal information. If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can add the URL to your header so the hiring manager can get a better understanding of your work history and experience. Be aware of the amount of space your resume header takes up. You don't want your contact details to take space away from the main content of your resume, so keep this section as brief as possible.
Use an email address that's professional and appropriate for professional communication. Typically this would be an email address based on your first and last name, or your initials. If necessary, you could include your profession or another unique identifier. Avoid using old email addresses that could be considered unprofessional or inappropriate. Additionally, always check your contact details before sending your resume to ensure they're up-to-date.
David Turner
david.turner@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
852 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, IL
linkedin․com/in/david–turner123
Resume Summary
Your resume personal profile is a short, concise paragraph to highlight two or three key skills and achievements in underwriter roles. You may also see this section named as 'resume summary' or 'resume objective'. Resume summaries tend to focus on your career experience, while resume objectives cover your ambitions and plans for the future. Always make sure your summary reflects the job description and highlights some of the key skills required for underwriter roles.
Alternatively, write a paragraph that concentrates on your career objectives and how this role fits with your wider ambitions and progression.
A great resume summary should highlight why you're an ideal candidate for underwriter roles by showing key skills and qualities that reflect the job description and provide evidence to support them. It should also introduce your personality and unique qualities to the reader, to help them start to form an opinion about you as a candidate. See below for some great examples of what to include in your underwriter resume summary.
Experienced underwriter with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a strong background in risk assessment. Proven expertise in evaluating financial risks, analyzing data, and making informed decisions to ensure sound underwriting practices. Skilled in identifying potential risks and implementing effective strategies to mitigate them. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and maintain compliance with industry regulations
Underwriter with some experience in finance and looking at risks. Worked in roles where I checked data and made decisions about risks. Have worked with different teams and followed rules in the industry. Focused on finding risks and trying to handle them effectively
On the other hand, an unsuccessful resume summary is one that mentions irrelevant skills, qualities and achievements and fails to differentiate you from other candidates. The visual above includes some examples of what not to do with your underwriter resume summary
Work Experience
Under your work experience section, add any jobs you've had in the past that are relevant to the position of an underwriter. Add each previous employment in reverse-chronological order. This means starting from your current or most recent role and working back in time from there. Include your job title, the company name, the location of the job and your dates of employment.
Also include some bullet points for each job mentioned, showcasing your achievements so the employer can see the impact you made on the company. Pay attention to the job description and make sure each point is relevant to underwriter roles.
A successful resume work experience section will always showcase skills and experience relevant to the job description, and how you put each to good use in your previous roles. Offering quantifiable evidence in an underwriter resume proves you're a strong candidate for the job, such as client feedback, project outcomes, KPIs or financial results. See the examples below for some ideas of what a great resume work experience looks like.
Risk Assessment Specialist, January 2022 - Present
Pinnacle Assurance Group, San Jose
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive risk assessment framework reducing potential operational risks by 30%
- Conducted 50+ detailed risk analyses, identifying critical vulnerabilities and recommending actionable mitigation strategies
- Trained and mentored a team of 10 junior analysts, enhancing departmental efficiency and risk management proficiency
Risk Assessment Specialist, January 2022 - Present
Pinnacle Assurance Group, San Jose
- Improved company processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness
- Played a key role in team development and growth
- Contributed to risk management strategies and solutions
See above for some of the pitfalls to avoid with your resume work experience section. A bad resume work experience section might fail to address skills and achievements that relate directly to the job description. Falling back on clichés, vague descriptions and basic responsibilities, rather than showing the impact you made, is likely to disengage the reader.
Education
In this section list any educational qualifications or degrees that are relevant to underwriter roles.
An underwriter role tends to require candidates to have a university or college degree, so make sure you list yours in your resume. A Bachelor of Science in Finance degree or similar is the most suitable for this job, but you could also include any other relevant qualifications that show your data analysis proficiency or FICO score interpretation.
For each entry in this section, add the name and level of your qualification, the institution you studied at, its location and your dates of study. You can also add some bullet points outlining any high grades, awards you won or specialist subjects you studied. Adding this information will show the employer your dedication to learning and your areas of specialist knowledge.
If you took part in any volunteering or you were a leader or member of any university societies, you could also mention these in your education section.
Bachelor of Science in Finance, 2017 - 2020
Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
Hard and Soft Skills
In your skills section, list any skills you've acquired or developed that are relevant to underwriter positions. Consider adding data analysis proficiency, analytical thinking or any other necessary skills for the job. Again, refer to the job description and make sure you include skills that the employer has listed as essential or desirable for employment as an underwriter.
How to include hard skills on your underwriter resume
For your hard skills list, include any technical abilities or specific industry knowledge that's essential to working as an underwriter. These could be skills gained through work experience or qualifications. Furthermore, it's important to show these skills in an underwriter resume as they provide a strong indication of your experience in the sector. If possible, add four or five hard skills that reflect the requirements of the job description. These will boost your chances of success in your applications.
The best resume hard skills sections focus on specific technical skills necessary for the job, showcasing skills that you have particular expertise in. There are some examples of valuable hard skills for an underwriter resume below.
- Financial risk assessment
- Credit risk analysis
- Data analysis proficiency
Soft skills on your underwriter resume
Soft skills are the personal skills and qualities that make you a good fit for the job. They include transferable skills and strengths that help you settle into the role, adapt to new challenges and build effective working relationships. In fact, as technology develops, soft skills are growing in importance for recruiters and employers, so be sure to add several of these to your resume. Aim to include approximately five soft skills that reflect the skills listed in the job description.
Your soft skills section should make the most of your unique personal qualities and strengths, while also reflecting the requirements laid out in the job description. See below for some examples of useful soft skills for an underwriter resume.
- Analytical thinking
- Attention to detail
- Effective communication
Certifications and Training
In your certifications section, list any professional certifications or licenses that are relevant to working as an underwriter. These might be licenses that show you're qualified to operate certain equipment, or certifications that give you the edge over candidates with otherwise similar career history. Therefore, make sure you list the dates of your certifications and licenses so employers can see they're up-to-date and valid.
See below for some suggestions of relevant certifications for an underwriter resume:
- CPCU Designation, 2022
- AIC Certification, 2022
- ARM Designation, 2022
Optional Sections
If you need to provide further evidence of your suitability for the job, optional sections can be useful for an underwriter resume. Choose any optional sections that showcase essential or desirable skills or experience for underwriter jobs.
Hobbies and Interests
Listing your hobbies and interests can reveal key qualities that some employers may value. Your hobbies and interests are useful for an underwriter resume if you want to show a different side to your personality, or to stand out among other candidates. They can also be valuable if you're a junior candidate without much relevant work experience. If you're thinking about adding hobbies and interests, just make sure they add something unique to your application, and showcase your personality and interests in unique and interesting ways.
Voluntary Work
This section can be valuable for an underwriter resume, if you've done any voluntary work that showcases your relevant skills. Include the title of your volunteer role, who you volunteered for, as well as the dates you carried out the work. Provide brief details of your responsibilities and the impact you made.
References
References aren't a standard underwriter resume section, but employers do sometimes ask for them. Check the job advert and only include them if requested. Include a maximum of three professional references, being sure to check with your referees before including them in your resume.
References can be provided upon request.
Best action words for your underwriter resume
Add strong verbs to your work experience section to show the hiring manager the impact you made in your previous roles. The suggested action verbs below will help the reader to understand your key qualities and the impact you made on the organization.
- Evaluate
- Assess
- Analyze
- Review
- Approve
- Recommend
- Calculate
- Monitor
- Determine
- Document
Jobseeker's clean, attractive resume formats can help your applications make a strong impression on employers. Check them out for help designing a winning resume, and see our cover letter templates to help win over recruiters and hiring managers.
Example of an underwriter resume
The underwriter resume example below incorporates all the information from above into a full-designed resume template, so you can see how a final resume will look:
852 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, IL
•
david.turner@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/david–turner123
Detail-oriented Underwriter with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and extensive experience as a Risk Assessment Specialist. Proven expertise in evaluating financial risks, analyzing creditworthiness, and developing strategic risk mitigation plans. Adept at utilizing quantitative and qualitative assessment techniques to make informed underwriting decisions. Strong analytical skills combined with a comprehensive understanding of financial markets and regulatory requirements.
Risk Assessment Specialist
2020
-2022
RiskGuard Solutions Inc (Atlanta)
- Developed comprehensive risk assessment models, reducing operational risks by 30% and enhancing decision-making accuracy for a Fortune 500 company
- Implemented a robust risk management framework, achieving ISO 31000 certification and improving compliance across all business units
- Led cross-functional teams to identify and mitigate cybersecurity threats, resulting in a 40% decrease in data breach incidents
Financial risk assessment
Credit risk analysis
Data analysis proficiency
Analytical thinking
Attention to detail
Effective communication
CPCU Designation
AIC Certification
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Tips for underwriter resumes
- Tailor your resume to make it as relevant as possible to the role you're applying for. Consult the job description and adapt your resume to reflect the required skills and experience.
- Choose a resume format that's clear, professional and makes your resume as readable as possible. Pay particular attention to the font, line spacing, heading and margins to make your document as easy-to-read as possible for employers.
- Keep your underwriter resume as brief as possible. Aim for one page for an entry-level role, and two pages for more senior jobs.
- Add key skills throughout your resume that match the job description, along with a dedicated 'skills' section.
- Quantify your accomplishments by providing evidence that shows the impact you've made in your career.
- Don't clutter your document by trying to add too many details. Focus on core underwriter skills and achievements that are relevant to the role.
- Don't use passive language - steer away from phrases like 'I was asked to' and use action words instead.
- Don't include hobbies unless they help you prove a skill or experience that's necessary for the job.
- Don't use an unprofessional email address. Instead, opt for a simple email address based on your name.
- Don't add work experience that's unrelated to the role you're applying for, as it isn't likely to help your chances of success.
Guide to making your resume ATS-friendly
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to manage their hiring process. They can handle some of the more time-consuming and resource-intensive jobs, such as initial screening of resumes. Employers often receive hundreds of applications per vacancy, and ATS software can quickly and accurately scan and rank resumes based on their likely suitability for any role. When drafting your underwriter resume, there are a few guidelines to follow to give you the best chance of passing the ATS screening stage and progressing with your application.
Follow these guidelines to create the best ATS-friendly resume:
- Adopt a traditional structure for your resume, such as a reverse-chronological format or a functional format. These are likely to be the easiest layouts for ATS software to scan.
- Use of job description keywords throughout your resume will help it rank higher in the ATS scanning stage, as it will more closely match the requirements laid out in the job description.
- Include clear headings in each section that match the traditional resume structure and format. This will make it easier for the ATS software to scan your resume.
- Use design elements that help make your resume more readable. These might include white space, clear, professional fonts and subtle color accents to help certain elements stand out.
- Use concise language to keep the length of your resume to between one and two pages. This will make it easier to scan for ATS applications.
For help crafting a winning resume, read our in-depth career blog and review our resume examples for inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions about an underwriter resume
Accompanying your resume for underwriter applications, you'll want to produce a cover letter that similarly leaves a positive impression on hiring managers.
Before you write your cover letter, think about whether you need a formal, professional letter or if a brief, less formal email might be more suitable.
If you decide you want to write a traditional cover letter, follow the standard letter-writing conventions around layout and structure. In the main body of the letter, write an opening paragraph to introduce yourself and explain why you're applying for the underwriter role. Your second paragraph is typically where you highlight your key relevant skills and achievements. Finally, close by expressing your enthusiasm for the role and leave a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to make contact with you.
Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates were created by experts to help you make a strong impression with your applications. Follow the simple steps to create a winning cover letter today.
Writing an underwriter resume with no experience needn't be a daunting task. There are still plenty of ways to impress hiring managers with your resume. Choose a resume structure that best showcases your key skills for the role, such as a functional format. This places your skills and education above your work experience. Additional resume sections such as volunteer work, hobbies and interests, certifications and internships can all help you showcase your relevant skills. These can be more prominent in your resume if you haven't got a lot of work experience.
If you want to create a strong first impression in your underwriter application, a resume headline can help. A well-written resume headline is also a way to increase your chances of passing the ATS resume scanning stage, by referencing keywords that match the job description. Write a short, concise resume headline incorporating the job title, one or two key skills that match the job description and a reference to your reputation or track record.
See below for an example of a well-constructed resume headline:
- Junior Insurance Underwriting Specialist
- Experienced Insurance Underwriting Specialist
- Senior Underwriter with Extensive Expertise
The best resume format for you depends on two things. Firstly, it depends on your experience level. Secondly, it depends on the type and level of position you're applying for. For entry-level roles, or situations where you're changing to a new career, a functional resume is often the best option. This places your skills and education above your work experience. If, however, you have experience in your chosen profession, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format might be the way to go. This showcases your relevant skills and achievements in your work experience section.
Key takeaways for your underwriter resume
Writing a strong, impactful resume is about using your experience to demonstrate your relevant skills and achievements. You can do this through your work history or other resume sections. Choose a resume structure that makes the most of your relevant experience, whether through work or other activities, and be sure to tailor your resume to match the job description.
HR-approved resume templates and other tools by Jobseeker are the easiest way to create a winning job application. Sign up and follow the simple instructions to complete a resume that stands out from the crowd. Whatever job you're applying for, a professional cover letter can make all the difference to your chances. Use Jobseeker's HR-approved tools and cover letter examples to inspire your applications.
Sources:
(1) Tips for Writing a Federal Resume, U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/jobs/tips-for-writing-a-federal-resume
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
