Developing future generations
Myra Rego, FAnews Journalist
One of the benefits of being in the insurance industry is the opportunity for professional growth, and through constant learning and honing of skills an individual can expand his or her knowledge.
By investing in the growth and development of individuals, the insurance industry can grow and sustainability can be reached to supplement the quality of scarce and critical skills with the insurance industry. Structured industry training programmes are likely to help individuals gain more knowledge, skills and expertise.
According to Gay-Lynn Rheeders, Director of My Career In Insurance, understanding the study track details and the funding mechanisms, is essential to the success of getting people qualified and employed. My Career In Insurance is a career awareness nonprofit company promoting the opportunities that exist in the short-term insurance industry in South Africa.
Growing the skills pool
Rheeders mentioned that ongoing projects have been initiated with the assistance and participation of a number of industry companies. Through this collaborative effort the insurance industry skills pool can grow sustainably.
“The school career events have turned into a research component of our projects, as we have become more and more aware, over time, of the type of experiences and information learners and students need. This contributes to their data base of knowledge, with respect to the opportunities that exist, in terms of the types of jobs, tertiary studies and bursary assistance, in the short-term insurance industry in South Africa,” she said.
Rheeders, from direct interaction with the learners and students, creates and develops concepts for the various projects and partnerships, with the assistance and support of her team, and through interactions with industry organisations and partnering companies.
Rheeder’s brokerage, Rhed Oliv Insurance Brokers, hosts learners and students during the school holidays, which has allowed the team to be directly be involved with the learners and students in the broker work place.
Learners who wish to start careers in insurance have and continue to approach Rheeders for opportunities to get internships and bursary funding from employers, which is part of the goal.
Continuous learning
The 2015 School Holiday Work Experience campaign is the main focus for the organisation this year. The campaign has been initiated to invite learners and students to spend two days in a working environment with real work experiences and situations. “We are encouraging insurers and brokers across South Africa to participate as Sponsor Hosts in order for learners and students across the country to have various opportunities available to them to experience working in real company environments,” she said.
“The campaign will be driven through social media, where learners and students will be directed to our website, which is currently being developed. Participating companies’ details will be displayed on our social media platforms and our website, according to our structured plans. This is a 2015 project that will go above and beyond, and with the June/July holidays coming up, this would be the perfect starting point for companies wanting to get involved,” she continued.
Companies who would like to participate as Sponsor Hosts can e-mail Rheeders on [email protected].
A career in insurance
Rheeders believes that experiential learning, in combination with academic detail, is a very valuable and practical approach that will benefit people who learn in a various ways, as well as the industry that employs them. She says that the most rewarding part is getting learners into tertiary studies, with bursaries and getting graduates into internships. The next rewarding part is getting these learners and graduates into permanent jobs.
“When I realised the versatility of the industry through workplace experience, I realised that there is something for everyone and they have to identify what it is that they enjoy and go in search of it, within the industry,” concluded Rheeders.
Editor’s Thoughts:
It is critical to nourish the working environment if sustainability is to be achieved. By doing so, development and growth is constant, thereby increasing the insurance industry pool. My Career in Insurance is the perfect platform to present the vast opportunities that lie in the insurance industry to young individuals.Please comment below, interact with us on Twitter at @fanews_online or email me your thoughts [email protected].
