Insurance industry initiates career guidance workshop for undergraduates

The Human Resources Subcommittee of the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka (IASL) organised a workshop at the Sabaragamuwa University some months back aimed at providing 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 programme was facilitated by senior industry specialist in the country, and included Reyaz Jeffrey, GM/CEO of Amãna Takaful Life; Dharshana Amarasinghe, AGM Marketing of Union Assurance; and Thilan Perera, Manager - HR of HNB Assurance.

The topics covered included local and global perspective of the insurance industry; how to prepare a professional CV and what it takes to be successful at interviews; 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 Ian Bertus, GM-HR of Allianz Insurance Lanka Ltd and Uresh Jayasekera, Head of HR at People’s Leasing 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,” the statement added.

Nearly 200 undergraduates from a cross section of faculties and departments at the Sabaragamuwa University took part in the programme.

According to a statement by Amana Takaful, one of the proomoters of the event, the IASL is looking forward to host similar programmes at universities across the country to increase awareness about the potential career opportunities within the insurance sector among undergraduates.