How I Built My Career: Skills Bring Thrills

Metromile is hiring! Learn how Dev has grown her career at an insurance company in underwriting — no degree required.

Career growth at other companies can be like one-way streets: there’s a clear line of sight that gets you to where you want to go, but there isn’t much room for venturing out or trying new things. 

At Metromile, we celebrate people from all backgrounds and walks of life and recognize that skills come in all shapes and sizes. It’s your work ethic and initiative that mean the most. We make it a point to provide Metromilers with a breadth of exposure and allow for exploration to help guide them along their career journey, whatever direction it may be. 

Get an under-the-hood look at what life is like at Metromile from a member of our underwriting team.

Dev, Underwriter

Metromiler since August 2018

What was your career like before Metromile?

I don’t have a formal degree in any area and have worked in a few different industries, from call centers to manufacturing, but nothing insurance or tech-related. I was still figuring out what I wanted to do. A friend of mine worked at Metromile and always talked about how much he enjoyed the culture and how everyone was so friendly. It seemed like a unique work experience, so I decided to check it out.

During the interview process, I found that not having a degree wasn’t a hindrance at all. The hiring managers were more focused on my relevant work experience and what I could bring to the table, and I was happy that I was seen for my skills and work ethic. It felt like a level playing field.

What has your career at Metromile been like?

I started as a customer experience agent on the phones, helping our drivers with their policies. From there, I was able to move directly into our underwriting department as an underwriting assistant. Now, I am a bit more behind the scenes, reviewing policies when an issue arises or making the necessary adjustments when adding coverage to another vehicle. 

There are so many factors that influence car insurance rates. There are so many vehicle modifications that can be done, so it’s always interesting to see what I’ll come across on any given day. Once I worked on rating an old decommissioned ambulance that someone was using as their personal vehicle!

What do you like most about working at Metromile?

The opportunity, one hundred percent. As a young twenty-something, I’m proud to have gotten so far in my career already, especially not having a degree. And I also love my team and everyone that I’ve met at Metromile. It makes such a difference in your day-to-day. I don’t think I could find another team that I love so much. You can’t replace that.

What do you see next down the road for you?

I’m hoping to be able to step into a leadership position as we continue to grow. Underwriters at Metromile can soon expand what they manage. As a part of that, I’d like to develop my leadership skills and get my Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter license. It’s a pretty extensive two-year certification that demonstrates a high level of expertise and decision-making in underwriting. 

What’s been the biggest thing that’s helped you further your career at Metromile?

I ask all the questions all the time. It helped me because I’ve run into a lot of odd scenarios in my work, so don’t hesitate to get another person’s opinion; get as much knowledge as you can. 

Also be curious about other departments because you might not realize right away where your interests lie. Once I shadowed one of our claims representatives to learn more about their role and responsibilities. They loved it! No one’s ever going to turn you down. Even if  you realize it may not be something that you would necessarily move into, just having that exposure into the business is so helpful. There’s so many facets within insurance and Metromile that I never knew. And I never would have known unless I asked around!

What advice would you give a Metromile candidate who may not have a formal degree or may not come from an insurance background?

It’s not something to be put off by or intimidated by. Our team truly cares to invest in talented people. A piece of paper from a university isn’t the end-all, be-all. Go for it, and apply! 

Interested in joining the Metromile team? Check out all of our open positions. We can’t wait to hear from you!

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