Insurance industry initiates career guidance workshop for undergraduates

Friday, 27 December 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Human Resources Subcommittee of the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka (IASL) organised a workshop at the Sabaragamuwa University on 9 October designed to provide undergraduates with the necessary tools to develop their careers. The aim of the workshop was to help the undergrads to enhance their soft skills, in order to provide them with an insight into the rapidly expanding insurance sector in Sri Lanka. The program was facilitated by senior industry specialist in the country, and included Amãna Takaful Life GM/CEO Reyaz Jeffrey, Union Assurance AGM Marketing Dharshana Amarasinghe and HNB Assurance Manager HR Thilan Perera. The topics covered included the local and global perspective of the insurance industry, how to prepare a professional CV and what it takes to be successful at interviews which included personal branding and personal grooming.

To enhance the productivity of the workshop, a panel discussion and Q&A session was also held with the participation of industry professionals and expert opinion from Allianz Insurance Lanka Ltd. GM-HR Ian Bertus and People’s Leasing Head of HR Uresh Jayasekera and its subsidiaries. A key interest was shown in discussing the benefits and career prospects of an undergraduate joining an insurance company as a management trainee. Nearly 200 Undergraduates from a cross section of faculties and departments at the Sabaragamuwa University took part in the program. The program also provided current students with opportunities to undergo internship within the sector and the opportunity to undergo further training. The IASL is looking forward to host similar programs at universities across the country to increase awareness about the potential career opportunities within the insurance sector among undergraduates. Once the university project has been addressed, the next phase of the project will take the knowledge to selected schools across the country as well. The IASL was set up in 1989 to represent the insurance sector of the country. Its Executive Committee, made up of the CEOs of the insurance companies, meet on a regular basis to discuss issues pertaining to the industry, as well as to foster ethical standards and sound business practices within the sector. The HR Subcommittee of the IASL brings together the heads of the Human Resources Departments of the companies represented within. The main objective of the subcommittee is to collectively work towards the development of the insurance sector of the country as a potential employer. In this effort, the HR Subcommittee has been continuously engaged in conducting workshops and awareness programmes, designed to provide the young generation of Sri Lanka with the necessary tools to make a successful entrance in to the countries workforce.