Students and corporate leaders filled the Student Union Ballrooms last Wednesday to attend the Risk Insurance Talent Search, a recruitment event and career day for Risk Management and Insurance majors.
The event included presentations by executives from leading companies, a luncheon and a chance for companies to exhibit at a small career fair.
The RITS also featured keynote speaker Barbara Bufkin, executive vice president of business development at Hamilton Re. Other majors within the college of business were invited along with RMIN majors.
According to data collected nationally by leading insurance organizations, over 200,000 jobs were vacant in the 2014 insurance industry, and it is estimated that the industry will need to fill 400,000 positions by 2020.
In 2030, nearly 50% of the current insurance workforce will retire and contribute to the critical talent gap in the industry.
The Risk Management and Insurance program at ULM is one of only about 30 in the United States and offers unique courses that set graduates apart.
According to Christine Berry, program coordinator for the ULM RMIN program, the talent search last spring resulted in more than a dozen internships and full-time positions for ULM RMIN majors.
“I have no problem finding jobs for students before they graduate,” said Berry. “Our problem is finding enough students to fill the open positions in the industry.”
Juniors from the RMIN program at ULM have interned at companies such as AmWINS, LWCC, All Risks, State Farm, AJ Gallagher, and Pulley-White.
Kyle Anderson, a senior RMIN major, interned for AmWINS Group, Inc. last summer as a result of connections that he has made here at ULM.
During his internship, Anderson was offered a full-time job with the company before he had entered his senior year.
“With hard work and networking, we (RMIN interning students) had job offers from 2 of the largest wholesale brokerage firms in the world before the summer was over with. So now we can go into our senior year without having the worry of finding a job,” said Anderson.
According to Anderson, graduates from the RMIN program enjoy a 100% job placement rate.
“Companies are begging for students with RMIN degrees. The program here at ULM puts you on the fast track for success,” said Anderson.
Dustin Hickman, a junior finance major, attended the RITS and was impressed with what he learned.
“The RITS is a great way for young RMIS majors to meet experienced professionals to learn more about the industry and the possibilities that they have once they graduate,” said Hickman.
