How to Write a Resume for an Insurance Underwriter

Introduction

Insurance underwriters play a critical role in evaluating risk, determining coverage terms, and protecting the financial health of insurers while serving clients fairly. A strong insurance underwriter resume must demonstrate analytical rigor, sound judgment, industry knowledge, and the ability to make profitable, compliant decisions under pressure. Because underwriting roles vary by line of business (commercial, personal, life, health, specialty), a one-size-fits-all resume will rarely stand out.

This guide walks you through how to write a resume for an insurance underwriter that is targeted, results-focused, and optimized for both hiring managers and applicant tracking systems (ATS). You will learn which skills to highlight, how to structure your document, and how to showcase your underwriting expertise in a way that aligns with employer expectations.

Key Skills for an Insurance Underwriter Resume

Core Technical (Hard) Skills

Show that you understand underwriting fundamentals, tools, and regulations. Tailor this list to your specialty and experience level.

• Risk assessment and risk selection
• Underwriting guidelines and authority levels
• Policy rating and pricing
• Loss ratio and profitability analysis
• Exposure analysis and risk modeling
• Experience with underwriting software (e.g., Guidewire, Duck Creek, Majesco)
• Use of data analytics tools (e.g., Excel, SQL, BI dashboards)
• Knowledge of insurance products:
  • Commercial lines (GL, property, auto, workers’ comp, professional liability, D&O)
  • Personal lines (homeowners, auto, renters, umbrella)
  • Life and health underwriting
  • Specialty lines (marine, cyber, environmental, surety)
• Regulatory and compliance knowledge (state DOIs, NAIC guidelines)
• Reinsurance concepts and facultative placements
• Policy wording and endorsement review
• Credit and financial statement analysis
• Claims trend analysis

Soft Skills and Professional Competencies

Underwriting is as much about judgment and communication as it is about numbers. Highlight interpersonal and decision-making abilities.

• Analytical and critical thinking
• Sound decision-making and risk appetite alignment
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Negotiation with brokers, agents, and clients
• Relationship management and account stewardship
• Time management and prioritization of submissions
• Collaboration with sales, claims, actuarial, and legal teams
• Written communication (underwriting notes, referrals, emails)
• Verbal communication and presentation skills
• Adaptability to changing guidelines and market conditions
• Ethical judgment and integrity

Formatting Tips for an Insurance Underwriter Resume

Overall Layout and Length

Use a clean, professional format that makes it easy for recruiters and ATS systems to scan your resume.

• Keep it to one page if you have under 7–8 years of experience; two pages is acceptable for more senior underwriters.
• Use clear section headings: Header, Summary, Skills, Experience, Education, Certifications, and optionally Projects or Professional Affiliations.
• Maintain consistent margins (0.5–1 inch) and spacing for readability.

Fonts and Design Choices

• Use professional fonts such as Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman in 10–12 pt size.
• Avoid graphics, tables, or complex columns that can confuse ATS systems.
• Use bold and italics sparingly to highlight company names, job titles, and key achievements.
• Stick to black text on a white background for a conservative, industry-appropriate look.

Structuring the Header

Your header should make it easy to contact you and quickly communicate your underwriting specialization.

• Include your full name, city and state, phone number, professional email, and LinkedIn profile.
• Optionally add a brief title such as “Senior Commercial Lines Underwriter” under your name.

Crafting a Strong Professional Summary

Replace a generic objective with a summary that positions you as the solution to the employer’s needs.

• 2–4 concise sentences summarizing your years of experience, lines of business, and key strengths.
• Include metrics or notable achievements (e.g., “Maintained 92% retention while improving portfolio loss ratio by 5 pts.”).
• Incorporate relevant keywords from the job posting (e.g., “middle-market property,” “broker-driven distribution,” “excess & surplus”).

Experience Section Best Practices

• List roles in reverse chronological order (most recent first).
• For each role, include:
  • Job title
  • Company name and location
  • Dates of employment (month/year)
  • 3–7 bullet points focused on achievements and impact
• Lead bullets with strong action verbs: “Underwrote,” “Analyzed,” “Negotiated,” “Optimized,” “Collaborated.”
• Quantify results where possible: premium volume, hit ratio, loss ratio, retention, turnaround time.

Education and Additional Sections

• List your highest degree first, including institution, degree, major, and graduation year (or “In Progress”).
• Add relevant coursework if you are early in your career (e.g., risk management, statistics, finance).
• Include certifications and professional development in a separate section for visibility.

Showcasing Underwriting Performance and Portfolio Metrics

Highlighting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Insurance hiring managers look for underwriters who can balance growth and profitability. Use your resume to show you understand and manage the right KPIs.

• Premium volume: Indicate annual written premium or size of book you managed.
  • Example: “Managed a $12M book of middle-market commercial property accounts.”
• Loss ratio and profitability: Demonstrate your ability to maintain or improve results.
  • Example: “Improved book loss ratio from 68% to 60% over three years through disciplined risk selection and pricing.”
• Hit ratio / quote-to-bind: Shows effectiveness and market competitiveness.
  • Example: “Achieved 38% hit ratio in a competitive E&S casualty market.”
• Retention rate: Indicates relationship management and portfolio stability.
  • Example: “Maintained 90%+ policy retention across key broker relationships.”
• Turnaround time: Important in broker-driven environments.
  • Example: “Reduced average quote turnaround time from 5 days to 3 days by streamlining risk triage.”

Structuring Achievement-Focused Bullet Points

Avoid simply listing duties. Instead, show how your work drove outcomes.

• Use a formula like: Action verb + scope + method + measurable result.
• Example bullet points:
  • “Underwrote and priced new and renewal commercial auto accounts up to $500K in annual premium, aligning with regional appetite and improving portfolio loss ratio by 4 pts.”
  • “Partnered with brokers to reposition distressed property accounts, implementing revised deductibles and protective safeguards that reduced claims frequency by 15%.”
  • “Developed and implemented a risk scoring model for small business packages, increasing underwriting efficiency and supporting a 20% increase in bound policies.”

Emphasizing Industry Knowledge and Relationships

Demonstrating Line-of-Business and Market Expertise

Underwriting is highly specialized. Show the specific markets and segments you understand.

• Include target industries or niches (e.g., construction, real estate, healthcare, manufacturing, tech, hospitality).
• Mention market segment: small business, middle market, large accounts, national accounts, E&S.
• Highlight familiarity with regional regulations or specific states if relevant.
• Note experience with program business, MGAs, or delegated authority if applicable.

Showcasing Broker, Agent, and Client Relationships

Strong underwriting resumes highlight the ability to work effectively with distribution partners and insureds.

• Include bullets that show:
  • “Cultivated relationships with 15+ key regional brokers, contributing to a 25% increase in quality submissions.”
  • “Led renewal strategy meetings with top accounts to negotiate terms and maintain profitability.”
  • “Collaborated with claims and risk engineering teams to present risk improvement strategies to insureds.”
• Mention any joint marketing, broker training, or co-visit activities you have led or supported.

Tailoring Strategies for Insurance Underwriter Resumes

Aligning with the Job Description

To pass ATS screening and appeal to hiring managers, customize each resume submission.

• Identify key requirements in the job posting:
  • Lines of business (e.g., “commercial property,” “professional liability,” “personal auto”).
  • Target segment (small commercial vs. middle market vs. large accounts).
  • Required tools (e.g., specific underwriting platforms, Excel proficiency).
  • Performance expectations (growth targets, loss ratio goals, service standards).
• Reflect those keywords naturally in your:
  • Professional summary
  • Skills section
  • Experience bullet points

Adapting for Career Stage and Focus

• Entry-level or Associate Underwriter:
  • Emphasize analytical skills, coursework, internships, and any insurance-related roles (claims, customer service, underwriting assistant).
  • Highlight fast learning, attention to detail, and familiarity with insurance concepts.
• Experienced Underwriter:
  • Focus on portfolio performance, broker relationships, and leadership (mentoring juniors, leading projects).
  • Show progression in authority levels and complexity of accounts handled.
• Senior or Lead Underwriter:
  • Emphasize strategic impact: product development, guideline updates, training programs, and cross-functional initiatives.
  • Quantify how you influenced regional or national results.

Customizing for Different Employers

• Carriers and Insurers: Emphasize adherence to guidelines, profitability, and collaboration with actuarial and claims.
• MGAs and E&S Markets: Highlight flexibility, speed, creative structuring of terms, and comfort with non-standard risks.
• Brokers or Agencies (Underwriting roles): Focus on client-facing skills, consultative selling, and cross-selling opportunities.

Common Mistakes on Insurance Underwriter Resumes

Being Too Generic or Duty-Focused

Listing only responsibilities like “Reviewed applications and determined eligibility” does not differentiate you. Hiring managers need to see how you influenced results.

• Avoid: Long lists of tasks without metrics.
• Instead: Focus on impact, improvements, and measurable outcomes.

Ignoring Lines of Business and Specialization

Vague descriptions such as “underwrote commercial policies” make it hard to assess fit.

• Specify the types of coverage, industries, and account sizes you handled.
• Clarify your authority limits and typical premium sizes.

Not Quantifying Performance

Underwriting is a numbers-driven role. Omitting metrics makes your experience seem less substantial.

• Include at least some of the following where possible:
  • Book size (premium)
  • Loss ratios
  • Retention and hit ratios
  • Turnaround time improvements
  • Growth percentages

Overloading with Jargon or Internal Terms

While some technical language is expected, too much company-specific jargon can confuse readers, especially recruiters.

• Replace internal program names with descriptive phrases (e.g., “small business BOP program” instead of “Program X”).
• Use widely understood industry terminology.

Neglecting Certifications and Professional Development

In underwriting, professional designations signal commitment and depth of knowledge.

• Do not bury designations like CPCU, ARM, AINS, AU, or CLU at the bottom or omit them.
• Create a dedicated “Certifications” or “Professional Designations” section and list:
  • Designation name (e.g., CPCU – Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter)
  • Issuing organization (e.g., The Institutes)
  • Status (Completed, In Progress, Anticipated completion date)

Formatting That Fails ATS or Looks Unprofessional

• Avoid:
  • Photos, graphics, or elaborate templates.
  • Columns that may misread in ATS.
  • Unusual fonts or colors.
• Stick to a clean, text-based format that can be parsed easily.

Leaving Out Location or Work Authorization Context

Underwriting roles can be regional, hybrid, or remote. Employers need clarity on where you are based and your eligibility to work.

• Include your city and state in the header.
• If relevant, mention openness to relocation or remote work in your summary or cover letter.

By focusing on measurable results, clearly defined underwriting expertise, and a clean, ATS-friendly format, your insurance underwriter resume can effectively convey your value to prospective employers. Tailor each version to the specific line of business and performance expectations of the role, and you will be well-positioned to advance your underwriting career.