Social skills outrank technical knowledge and computer literacy as the most important competency requirement for new entrants to the insurance sector.
This is according to a social media poll of of 800 Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) members conducted in June.
The poll found 56% of insurance professionals surveyed thought social skills were the most important requirement for new insurance professionals, ahead of technical knowledge (34%) and computer literacy and literacy (both 5%).
Commenting on the findings, CII chief customer officer Gill White, said: “The findings of the poll very much support the CII’s view that there is a vital combination of skills, knowledge and behaviours that combine to make a professional.
“We have just opened a consultation with all our stakeholders on the future competency framework to ensure everyone in the profession can refer to a common standard for that combination of competencies and encourage members to help us make sure the right personal skills are identified alongside knowledge and behaviours so that we can help attract, develop and retain the professionals our customers need to serve their needs.”
The CII is consulting with the market to produce a “professional map,” which will be used to ensure the group’s learning, qualifications and membership journey meet future career needs and identify and fill any gaps.
It adds it has already spent more than a year interviewing and collating the views of more than 200 market and HR leaders to map the skills, knowledge and behaviours they believe businesses and individuals will need now and in future.