Centriq educates learners about insurance industry

Centriq was selected by Vodacom to represent the insurance industry at the annual Vodacom Careers Expo held on 18-20 April 2007 at the Tshwane Showgrounds.

The exhibition was open to the public, but aimed specifically at Grade 12 learners in the Pretoria region to provide learners with information about possible career options within various industries.  Some 62 exhibitors participated, providing career advice and information about their specific industries.

More than 13 300 learners and 298 educators representing 91 pre-booked school groups attended the Expo over the three day period.

Karen Miller, Head of Volume Business Development at Centriq says:  "The historical skills shortage which the insurance industry has experienced is escalating, and if left unchecked, will threaten delivery capability and sustainability in the future."

"To ensure the growth and upskilling of this industry, insurers need to embrace the challenge of investing in skills development in a significant drive to make the insurance industry attractive to job seekers," Miller adds.

Miller notes that the common consensus is that insurance is not a "first choice career", and that many participants end up in the industry by default. 

"This means that we dont always attract the best talent into our industry as the accounting, actuarial and engineering professions do," comments Miller.

"Part of the task is to change the mindset about the industry.  A career in the insurance industry needs to be positioned as an aspirational career choice.  However this requires more than a perception shift, it is about participants employing best practice and benchmarking against respected and reputable global insurance leaders.  Whilst one component involves attracting and retaining newcomers, the other is to raise the standards of education, ethics and image of this industry," she says.

Miller notes:  "Not many learners at the Expo had considered the financial services industry or insurance as a career choice, although their intended tertiary qualifications would facilitate their entry into financials services.  Their response to the possibility of entering the sector was positive once they were informed about potential career opportunities.  The majority of the information required related to how to become employed in the sector, what salaries are paid, the nature of the work and opportunity for advancement."

"Centriq is delighted to provide insight into the insurance industry and possible career options, in an effort to encourage talented scholars into our workplaces.  The initiative will be rolled out nationally next year by Vodacom, and we hope to participate once again," Miller concludes.