17 Insurance Assistant Interview Questions and Answers

Insurance is a vital part of our economy, and insurance assistants are the people who help insurance companies run smoothly. From answering customer questions to processing claims, insurance assistants are the backbone of the industry. If you want to work in this field, you’ll need to be prepared to answer some common insurance assistant interview questions.

In this guide, you’ll find questions and answers that will help you understand what insurance companies are looking for in an assistant. You’ll also learn how to showcase your skills and experience to potential employers.

Are you comfortable working with a wide range of insurance products?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience working with a variety of insurance products. Use your answer to highlight any specific skills or experiences that make you qualified for this role.

Example: “I’ve worked in an insurance office for five years, and I’ve seen how important it is to be able to work with all types of insurance policies. In my current position, I am responsible for helping customers understand their policy options and answering questions about different coverage plans. This has helped me become familiar with many different types of insurance policies, which makes me more prepared to handle a wide range of products at my next job.”

What are some of the most important skills for an insurance assistant to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills and qualifications to be successful in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of your strongest skills that relate to the job description.

Example: “I think some of the most important skills for an insurance assistant are organization, communication and problem-solving. These skills allow me to keep track of all my tasks, communicate with clients and solve any issues I may encounter while working. Another skill that is important is attention to detail. This helps me ensure I am entering information correctly into the system.”

How would you handle working with a difficult customer or client?

This question can help the interviewer assess your customer service skills. Showcase your ability to remain calm and helpful when working with a challenging client or customer by providing an example of how you would handle this situation.

Example: “I once had a customer who was upset because they were denied for their insurance claim. They wanted me to give them more information about why they were denied, but I explained that our company could not provide any additional details about the claims process. The customer became frustrated and started raising their voice at me. Instead of getting defensive, I remained calm and told them that I understood their frustration, but we couldn’t discuss the reasons behind the denial. This seemed to appease the customer, and they thanked me before ending the call.”

What is your experience using insurance software?

This question can help the interviewer determine your comfort level with using software to complete tasks. If you have experience using insurance software, describe how it helped you in your previous role. If you don’t have experience using insurance software, explain what other computer programs you’ve used and how they helped you perform your job duties.

Example: “In my last position as an insurance assistant, I was responsible for entering data into our company’s software program. This included updating policy information, adding new clients and updating client contact information. Using this software made these tasks easier because I could enter all of the necessary information once and then update multiple policies at once.”

Provide an example of a time when you helped a customer with a claim.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you interact with customers and solve problems. Use your answer to highlight your customer service skills, problem-solving abilities and ability to work under pressure.

Example: “In my previous role as an insurance assistant, I helped a customer who had recently purchased a new car. A few weeks after he bought it, someone hit his vehicle in a parking lot and left the scene. The driver didn’t leave any information behind, so our customer filed a claim for the damages. He was understandably upset about the situation, but I assured him that we would do everything we could to find the other driver.

I contacted local law enforcement to see if they had any leads on the incident. They said they hadn’t received any reports of hit-and-runs in the area, but they would keep an eye out for anything suspicious. After several weeks of no luck, I suggested that the customer install a security camera in his parking spot. He agreed, and within a week, we found footage of the accident. We used the video to identify the other driver and file a lawsuit against them.”

If you could change one thing about the insurance industry, what would it be?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your commitment to the insurance industry and how you might fit in with their company culture. Your answer should show that you are passionate about the industry, but also highlight any areas where you would like to see improvement.

Example: “I love working in the insurance industry because I enjoy helping people. However, one thing I would change is the amount of time it takes to process claims. If we could find a more efficient way to do this, it would make our jobs easier and help us serve customers better.”

What would you do if you noticed a mistake in a customer’s file?

This question can help the interviewer assess your attention to detail and problem-solving skills. Your answer should show that you are willing to take responsibility for mistakes, apologize when necessary and make sure the mistake doesn’t happen again.

Example: “If I noticed a mistake in a customer’s file, I would first apologize to them and explain what happened. Then, I would correct the error as soon as possible and ensure they received any benefits or discounts they were entitled to. If it was my fault the mistake occurred, I would also make sure to learn from the experience so it didn’t happen again.”

How well do you handle stress?

Working as an insurance assistant can be stressful at times. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the ability to handle stress and remain calm when it occurs. In your answer, share a time when you experienced stress in a work environment. Explain how you handled that situation and what steps you took to reduce or manage your stress.

Example: “I find that I am able to handle stress quite well. When I was working as a receptionist for a small business, we had a rush of customers come into the office all at once. We were short-staffed that day, so I found myself answering phones, greeting clients and helping with paperwork. It was very busy, but I remained calm and focused on my tasks. I used deep breathing exercises to help me stay calm and collected.”

Do you have any questions for me about the position?

This is your chance to show the interviewer that you’re interested in the job and want to learn more about it. It’s also a good time to ask any questions you have about the company or the hiring process.

Example: “I’m very excited about this position, and I think my skills would be a great fit for the role. I noticed on the job description that there are opportunities for advancement within the company. If I were hired, what kind of training programs might be available? I’d like to continue developing my skills as an insurance assistant so I can eventually become an insurance agent.”

When was the last time you learned something new and applied it to your job?

This question can help the interviewer get an idea of your ability to learn new things and apply them to your job. It also helps them understand how often you might need to update your skills or knowledge base. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific skill or type of information that you learned recently and how you applied it in your work.

Example: “I took a course on coding last year, and I’ve been using those skills to enter codes into our database ever since. This has helped me save time when entering data and reduced errors.”

We want our employees to be adaptable. Describe a time when you had to change your plans due to an unexpected event.

Employers ask this question to see how you adapt to change. They want to know that you can still be productive even when your plans have to change at the last minute. In your answer, explain what caused you to change your plans and how you adapted to the new situation. Show them that you were able to stay focused on your work despite having to make changes to your schedule.

Example: “I had a job where I worked from home one day per week. One week, my internet was out for two days in a row. I called my manager to let her know about the issue. She told me she would find someone else to cover my shift while I waited for my internet to come back online. Luckily, it only took one more day before my internet was working again.”

Describe your process for organizing and prioritizing your work.

This question helps employers understand how you approach your work and organize it. They want to know that you can manage multiple tasks at once, prioritize important information and complete projects on time. In your answer, describe a specific process you use for organizing your work and the steps you take to ensure you meet deadlines.

Example: “I have a system I use for prioritizing my work. First, I read through all of the emails in my inbox and sort them into folders based on their content. Then, I create a task list with all of the items I need to complete each day. Finally, I start working on the most urgent tasks first before moving onto other projects.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their company. When answering, it’s important to highlight a skill or experience that makes you unique from other candidates. You may also want to mention something that relates to the job description.

Example: “I have excellent customer service skills, which I developed through my previous role as an insurance agent. In this position, I worked with many different clients who had questions about their policies. I always made sure to answer all of their questions in a way they could understand. This helped me build strong relationships with my clients and increased sales for my company.”

Which insurance products are you most familiar with?

This question helps employers determine if you have the necessary experience to succeed in this role. Before your interview, research the insurance products that the company offers and highlight those that you are most familiar with.

Example: “I am most familiar with homeowners’ insurance policies. I worked for a small agency where we only offered homeowners’ insurance, so I was responsible for helping customers understand their policy options and assisting them with any questions they had about their coverage. I also assisted my team lead with filing claims and processing payments.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of customer service?

This question is a great way to determine how you will interact with clients and customers. Interviewers ask this question to see if you understand the importance of customer service in an insurance office. When answering, make sure to emphasize that your primary goal as a customer service representative is to help people.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of customer service is making sure that I am helping my client or customer solve their problem. As someone who has worked in customer service for several years now, I know that it’s not about me but rather about providing solutions to those who need them. If I can do that effectively, then I have done my job well.”

How often do you make updates to your knowledge of the insurance industry?

Employers want to know that you’re committed to your career and are always learning new things. They may ask this question to see if you have a passion for the industry and how often you stay up-to-date on current events. In your answer, explain what resources you use to learn about the insurance world. Share any certifications or training courses you’ve completed in the past few years.

Example: “I am passionate about my career and love learning more about the insurance industry. I subscribe to several newsletters and blogs that provide tips and advice for working as an insurance assistant. I also recently took a course through the National Association of Insurance Assistants to earn my certification.”

There is a gap in your knowledge about a particular insurance product. How do you handle it?

This question is a great way to test your ability to learn new things. It also shows the interviewer that you are willing to take on challenges and develop yourself as an employee. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific product or service and explain how you would research it.

Example: “I recently learned about a gap in my knowledge regarding life insurance policies for seniors. I asked one of our senior agents if they could give me a quick overview of their products. They were happy to help, and now I feel confident enough to discuss these policies with clients.”