Allstate Corporation
Allstate Corporation is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. A Fortune 100 company with $156 billion in assets, Allstate sells 13 major lines of insurance, including auto, property, life and commercial. Allstate also offers retirement and investment products and banking services. Founded in 1931, Allstate is widely known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan.
The corporation employs nearly 70,000 professionals across the company and across the United States. Allstate puts a premium on attracting a diverse workforce – 29.4 percent of its employees are minorities and 58.9 percent are women. The company also seeks to add veterans to that diverse workforce to provide top-notch customer service to more than 17 million households worldwide. One out of every nine autos and one out of every eight homes in the U.S. are insured by Allstate.
We asked Michael Teta, an HR consultant to give us the insider’s perspective on what it takes to GET HIRED at this industry leader and G.I. Jobs Top 50 Military-Friendly EmployerSM.
GIJ: Did any of the senior executives in your company serve in the military?
AC: Army Gen. Robert E. Wood founded Allstate on April 17, 1931. At the time, Gen. Wood was a Sears Roebuck & Co. president and board chairman.
GIJ: What is the average starting pay for a claim adjuster?
AC: Our claim adjuster pay ranges from $34,188 to more than $100,000.
GIJ: What do prior military hires bring to your company that you like?
AC: America’s veterans have a track record of leadership, analytical thinking and commitment to teamwork and collaboration. They have been exposed to handling extreme challenges, maintaining composure under pressure, working across boundaries and holding themselves and others accountable for the success of their mission.
GIJ: What issues/surprises do you find that military transitioners/veterans need to be aware of when entering the civilian workforce?
AC: The corporate world is as much about collaboration as it is about freedom of action. Employees often team up across company units and work with members of different departments to form virtual teams. As a result, the chain of command is not always clear. Employees have to rely on their own best judgment and critical thinking to make turnkey decisions. While this way of operating can be very empowering, it does take some time to get used to, especially given the structured military environment. The important thing to remember is that every corporation rewards initiative and employees who are committed to teamwork and results will be recognized.
GIJ: What advantages do military personnel have over their peers of the same age and education level?
AC: Employees with military experience bring a higher-than-average level of maturity and responsibility to the work that they do. They are highly collaborative individuals in an environment where teamwork is critical. These are not skills you can easily learn from a book, if at all. These are real-life experiences that are very sought-after by companies like Allstate.
GIJ: What disadvantages do you find?
AC: None.
GIJ: What type of educational experience do you look for in military candidates?
AC: Educational background depends on the position. For a full description of background requirement on available positions, visit www.allstate.jobs
GIJ: What are the most common mistakes you see on military/veteran résumés?
AC: Every industry has its own jargon, and the military is no exception. At the same time, heavy use of jargon can detract the corporate reader from fully understanding and appreciating the skill set that is outlined in the résumé. (See: Kick the G.I. Jargon to the Curb on page 18).
GIJ: What are the most common mistakes military/veterans make in interviews?
AC: The most common mistakes that many candidates make in interviews actually occur before the interview. For example, arriving late, dressing unprofessionally or not being prepared. The interview is your opportunity to differentiate yourself from the other candidates. It is important to take the appropriate time to plan your commute and research the company and the position so you can speak confidently when relating your knowledge of the company during the interview.
GIJ: Is relocating essential for promotion within your company?
AC: Relocation is required with some, but not all, promotions. Many employees have had successful careers with Allstate without ever having to relocate. The advantage of working for a large corporation like Allstate is that opportunities are available both nationally and locally.
GIJ: What types of positions does your company recruit military for?
AC: Allstate has career opportunities in a variety of departments. For a complete listing, visit www.allstate.jobs. Examples include claims (claims adjusters or processors), information technology (project managers, application developers) and sales (agents, personal financial representatives and sales producers).
GIJ: Can you describe the responsibilities of one of these positions?
AC: Our claim adjusters are Allstate’s front-line employees. They are the ones who deliver The Allstate Promise and help our customers rebuild and restore their lives at time of loss. Claim adjusters need to have good listening skills, as every situation is different for every customer. They need critical thinking and analytical skills to evaluate each situation, determine the cause of events, the extent of damages and amount of payment. Many work in the field and travel extensively from one claim site to the next, though many also work out of an office. During the most active catastrophe seasons, our catastrophe adjusters work out of Allstate’s Mobile Response Units (MRU’s). These state-of-the-art vehicles are equipped with satellite technology that enables them to immediately travel to a remote location and begin helping
customers rebuild their lives.
A variety of specializations are available in the field of claims. We have inside and outside adjusters (field estimators), auto adjusters, homeowner property adjusters, medical claim adjusters, casualty claim adjusters, SIU (fraud investigation) adjusters, and catastrophe adjusters.
GIJ: Can a new hire stay in this position for an entire career or do you require new hires to “move up or move out” like the military does?
AC: Allstate believes in providing a work environment where each employee contributes heavily to outlining his or her career path with the company. Allstate offers a variety of opportunities, both for upward mobility (promotion) as well as lateral movement. After a year in a given position, employees are able to post for a job anywhere in the company that matches their skills and interests.
GIJ: Describe the benefits offered by Allstate (healthcare, retirement, vacation, etc.)?
AC: Allstate offers a very comprehensive benefits package that’s based on a cafeteria plan – the employee chooses which benefits he or she would like to have. In addition to salary, employees receive a paid time off bank of days (for illness and vacation); medical, dental, vision and group life plans; a pension (at no cost) and a profit sharing plan (with a company match of at least $.50 on the dollar for the first 5 percent of pay that goes into the pre-tax account to a maximum of $1.50 on the dollar match); short and long-term disability and flexible spending accounts.
GIJ: Do employees need to pay for any of their benefits?
AC: The cafeteria plan offers benefit plans which are competitive, acknowledge the value that Allstate places on the diverse needs of employees, and provide choice and flexibility to employees. Every employee receives a certain amount of credit from Allstate to apply towards the benefits he or she has chosen. The employee is responsible for paying the difference.
GIJ: Are there any other special incentive benefits that might interest military new hires?
AC: Allstate offers tuition reimbursement; adoption reimbursement; group long-term care; group legal care; employee assistance program; employee buying program; scholarship program; matching grants program; in-house education and discounts on Allstate insurance products.
GIJ: Do you look for any specific educational requirements (i.e. bachelor’s degree/associate’s/ certification/qualification/clearance) for this position?
AC: Ideally, we look for candidates with a four-year bachelor’s degree and qualify
on a pre-employment assessment and
interview.
GIJ: Please provide a few tips or words of advice for military transitioners?
AC: Veteran status is one of the categories recognized under our workplace diversity strategy. We believe that enriching the diversity of our workforce strengthens our company, drives higher performance, connects us to our customers and enhances our brand and corporate reputation. It’s why Allstate is actively seeking to attract and retain America’s veterans.
To effectively transition into the corporate area, veterans should target their résumés to a specific area of interest or position and provide detailed examples of their past experiences on their résumés and during interviews to assist recruiters and hiring managers to best match them to opportunities in their organization. Also, prior to interviewing take the time to thoroughly research the company and position you are targeting.
Allstate takes a special interest in transitioning military men and women. We are grateful for the service they provided to our country and invite them to consider a career with Allstate as a career opportunity.