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Jacobson consultants have a wealth of experience and knowledge, encompassing every area of the talent marketplace for the insurance, healthcare and financial services industries. We often share our ideas through published articles and interviews.
Here is a sampling:
Career Wise: What Should Companies Consider When Developing a Succession Plan?
By Gregory P. Jacobson, Chief Executive Officer
Published in Best`s Review: July 2010, Copyrighted A.M. Best Company, Inc. 2010, All Rights Reserved, Reprinted with Permission
Succession planning is a strategic process that requires the same level of attention given to other business initiatives. Your succession plan should be specific to your organization and focus on long-term goals and objectives, as well as the organization's values and leadership competencies.
Interviewing for Change Leadership: Easy-to-Follow Interview Suggestions for Hiring Leaders Who Can Make Change Happen!
By Kirk Goeldner, Senior Vice President
When seeking new senior leadership, organizations must be wise enough to determine whether a candidate can evidence the necessary attributes to avoid critical change errors. This white paper shares Senior Vice President Kirk Goeldner's thoughts on how you might incorporate this critical area into your interview process.
Engage Employees to Impact Your Bottom Line
By Susan Henry, Senior Vice President
Published in Claims Magazine online
Is employee engagement a priority at your organization? Are you able to tell if your employees are actively engaged in their work or if they are simply going through the motions, all the while keeping an eye on the clock until it's time to go home?
Insurance Companies Seek IT Pros Ready to Hit the Ground Running
Published in Diversity/Careers
“There’s tremendous opportunity in this niche right now,” says Margaret Resce Milkint, a managing partner at The Jacobson Group, which links professionals with prospective employers in the insurance and healthcare sectors. “IT leaders who understand how technology advances the insurance company’s objectives are going to be in high demand.”
Retention: The Key to Success in the Economic Upturn
By Sandy Schaefer, Assistant Vice President
Where does employee retention fall on your list of workplace priorities? It should be one of your top management initiatives - especially in challenging economic times.
Job Growth Expected as Insurers Foresee Higher Revenues
Published in Business Insurance
“44% of the companies surveyed expect to increase staff in 2010, while only 13% expect to decrease staff,” said Greg Jacobson, co-CEO of the Jacobson Group in Chicago. “In particular, sales and marketing positions have the greatest likelihood of staff expansion.”
Career Wise: What role does a well-thought-out on-boarding process play in a new employee`s success?
By Gregory P. Jacobson, Chief Executive Officer
Published in Best`s Review: December 2009, Copyrighted A.M. Best Company, Inc. 2009, All Rights Reserved, Reprinted with Permission
The first few months of an employee’s tenure set the tone for the employee/employer relationship. Employers should aim to create an integration plan that recognizes the importance and perils of bringing new personalities into an organization’s culture and yields the best opportunities for success.
ICD-10 Coding: What Does it Mean for Your Organization?
By Katie Wolf, Fulfillment Manager, Jacobson Solutions
In order to effectively transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10, an organization needs to determine its stage in the implementation process, evaluate which areas will be impacted the most and consider how the transition will affect internal operations from claims to customer service. Once the initial questions have been answered, the organization must evaluate its need to utilize outsourcing, vendor support or additional internal training to realize its goals.
2009 Insurance Labor Outlook Survey
Presented by Gregory P. Jacobson, Chief Executive Officer and Jeffrey Rieder, President of Ward Group
The Jacobson Group recently partnered with Ward Group to survey insurance companies on the outlook of the insurance labor market. The results were presented in a webinar.
Career Wise: How does the soft P/C market impact hiring decisions?
By Gregory P. Jacobson, Chief Executive Officer
Published in Best`s Review: August 2009, Copyrighted A.M. Best Company, Inc. 2009, All Rights Reserved, Reprinted with Permission
The state of the insurance marketplace plays a large role in companies` hiring decisions. Historically, significant adjustments in hiring practices are made when the market is emerging into either a hard or soft segment of the underwriting cycle.
Interviewing With Integrity
By Margaret Resce Milkint, Managing Partner and Mary Kilkenny, Actuarial Practice Manager
Published in Contingencies
"What`s your personal integrity statement?" Does the question catch you off guard, or are you prepared with a solid and concise response?
The New Generation of Succession Planning
By Margaret Resce Milkint, Managing Partner, The Jacobson Group
Succession planning is critical to an organization’s long-range health and strategy. Firms that abandon or postpone succession planning rather than reworking their succession plans may be set up for failure in the years ahead. In this time of realigning and shifting, it is important to step back, take a deep breath and refocus.
Career Wise: How is the turbulent economy affecting the insurance labor market?
By Gregory P. Jacobson, Chief Executive Officer
Published in Best`s Review: April 2009, Copyrighted A.M. Best Company, Inc. 2009, All Rights Reserved, Reprinted with Permission
All industries are feeling the crunch of the difficult economy. However, the insurance industry`s employment outlook remains relatively competitive.
Make the I-Connection: Engage Your Future Leaders
By Susan Henry, Senior Vice President, The Jacobson Group
Published in Insurance Journal April 20, 2009
They - members of Generation Y, also known as the millennials - are simply misunderstood just like the boomers and GenXers before them. This new and passionate group is entering the workforce in droves; and when fully-integrated, they will be the largest generation the U.S. labor market has ever seen. It is time to understand them and to learn how the industry and your company can engage these future leaders.
Mentoring
By Mary Kilkenny, actuarial practice manager, The Jacobson Group
Published in The Stepping Stone, the quarterly newsletter of the SOA`s Management and Personal Development Section (Copyright 2009, Society of Actuaries. Reproduced with permission.)
Mentoring is a route for professional development that is rapidly gaining popularity in the actuarial field. You`ve heard about mentoring and have an interest in getting involved, but where do you start?
Insurance IT: still growing & hiring
Published in Diversity/Careers in Engineering & Information Technology
"We are hearing a cry for increased transparency in compliance and regulatory demands, driving a need for heavier risk analysis and more business intelligence models," explains Margaret Resce Milkint [of the The Jacobson Group].
Budget Friendly Ideas to Retain Your Top Performers
By Susan Henry, Senior Vice President, The Jacobson Group
Published in Insurance Journal February 23, 2009
The current economy is causing many changes within the employment marketplace. Increased employee concerns and lowered morale are just a few reasons organizations should place greater focus on their retention strategies.
Don`t Neglect Employee Morale in a Down Economy
By Gregory P. Jacobson, Chief Executive Officer
Published in National Underwriter Property and Casualty: January 2009. Reprinted with permission.
Difficult economic times require a leadership style focused on the people who execute corporate strategy. As leaders in the insurance industry, one of the major challenges confronting us is the cultivation and management of our most valuable assets—our employees.
Business Goes On
By Dave Coons, Senior Vice President, Jacobson Solutions
Published in Resource (From the January 2009 issue of LOMA`s Resource Magazine. Visit LOMA at www.loma.org.)
It`s no secret that we are facing uncertain economic times. Slower sales growth, increased investor pressure and thighter expense controls mean many companies must learn how to do more with (or for) less.
Rev Up Your Career in 2009
By Mary Kilkenny, actuarial consultant, The Jacobson Group
Published in The Stepping Stone, the quarterly newsletter of the SOA`s Management and Personal Development Section (Copyright 2009, Society of Actuaries. Reproduced with permission.)
As you plan your New Year`s resolution for 2009, don`t neglect career management! Now is the ideal time to reflect on your professional life and set a few challenging, yet attainable goals.
EAS Vendor Spotlight on Jacobson Solutions - Subject Matter Experts
Published in The Independent Consultant: September 2008, Copyright 2008 by the Society of Actuaries, Schaumburg, Ill. Reprinted with permission.
If you have a consulting business—particularly if you work independently or with only a few associates—it can be extremely difficult to manage your workflow. One quarter you may be very busy (with little time to spend on marketing for new clients or projects) and then the next quarter is a little slow (perhaps because you did not spend time doing the marketing in the last quarter). If these scenarios sound familiar, you may be interested in our spotlight vendor for this issue.
Career Wise: What can the industry do to raise its profile in order to compete for talent?
By Gregory P. Jacobson, Chief Executive Officer
Published in Best`s Review: December 2008, Copyrighted A.M. Best Company, Inc. 2008, All Rights Reserved, Reprinted with Permission
Positioning insurance as an industry of choice is a long-term challenge that requires effort and comittment industrywide.
Case Study: The Jacobson Group
Published in SIReview: September 2008, Used with permission from Staffing Industry Analysts, Inc. Copyright 2008. All Rights Reserved.
It`s a story of two brothers who went from working for the staffing company their dad started to actually running it. Greg and Rick Jacobson assumed the reigns at The Jacobson Group in 2001, when their father, David Jacobson, retired. And they`ve filled his shoes ever since.
Career Wise: What characteristics and skills do CEOs look for when identifying future leaders?
By Gregory P. Jacobson, Chief Executive Officer
Published in Best`s Review: August 2008, Copyrighted A.M. Best Company, Inc. 2008, All Rights Reserved, Reprinted with Permission
There are many characteristics and skill sets that differentiate those that ascend to leadership roles within an organization versus the pretenders.
Career Wise: How can an organization address the industry`s shrinking pool of available talent?
By Gregory P. Jacobson, Chief Executive Officer
Published in Best`s Review: May 2008, Copyrighted A.M. Best Company, Inc. 2008, All Rights Reserved, Reprinted with Permission
Recognizing that there is a shrinking pool of insurance talent, regardless of the recent headlines indicating an employment downturn, is a great start.
The Market for Actuarial Talent
Published in The Actuarial Review
"As a trend, companies see the value of providing a balanced experience to their actuaries at the student level and certainly at the Associate level. It`s great for the recruitment and retention of Generation Y!" - Margaret Resce Milkint, The Jacobson Group.
The Case for the Mature Worker - Writing the Next Chapter
By Margaret Resce Milkint, Managing Partner, The Jacobson Group
Also published in the January 2008 issue of LOMA`s Resource Magazine. Visit the extract at www.loma.org.
It`s time to the "Next Chapter." Redefining the aging workforce is a challenge and an opportunity. It is undeniable that the greatest demographic shift in the history of the U.S. is here.
The Shrinking Pool
Published in TechDecisions
"The talent crisis is real," says Margaret Resce Milkint, partner at the insurance executive search and staffing firm The Jacobson Group. "Competition for claims talent already is more intense than I`ve ever seen, and I`ve been at this for 22 years. The big question for the insurance industry is where is the next generation of talent - who will be my successor?"
Industry Faces HR Challenges
Published in RESOURCE (From the July 2007 issue of LOMA`s RESOURCE Magazine. Visit LOMA at www.loma.org.)
"Unfortunately, our industry is going to be hit hard by the retirement of the baby boomer generation. Many organizations are not prepared for this coming challenge because training and development programs have lost favor in the dirve to cut costs. However, there appears to be a silver lining as many studies show that a high percentage of baby boomer want and expect to work during retirement." - Gregory P. Jacobson, The Jacobson Group
Marketing Yourself: Creating a Successful Sales Strategy for "ME, Inc."
By Mary Kilkenny, Actuarial Consultant, The Jacobson Group
Published in The Stepping Stone, the quarterly newsletter of the SOA`s Management and Personal Development Section (Copyright 2007, Society of Actuaries. Reproduced with permission.)
Your ideal position just opened up and you are the perfect fit - you graduated in the top of your class from a well-known university, have an impressive exam-passing history and a five-page list of related accomplishments, and were recently named Employee of the Year at your "A++" rated employer. However, if you don`t market yourself properly, you will get overlooked in the masses.
Actuaries Pursue Safety in Numbers
Published In Seattle Times
"Successful companies need to be more proactive and show that it is a profession beyond sales and claims." - Marty Murphy, The Jacobson Group
Networking - Master Key to Opportunity
By Mary Kilkenny, Actuarial Consultant, The Jacobson Group
Published in The Stepping Stone, the quarterly newsletter of the SOA`s Management and Personal Development Section (Copyright 2007, Society of Actuaries. Reproduced with permission.)
Eight-five percent of openings never make it to the classifieds or the Internet. Instead, these roles are filled by someone who had an inside track through family, friends or a professional network. Yes - a professional network.
The Hottest Industries for Sales Jobs
Published in Sales and Marketing Management
"It`s hard to attract new salespeople into the insurance industry," says Marty Murphy, senior vice president of professional recruiting for the Jacobson Group.
The Talent Crunch
Published in Insurance & Technology
"The talent crunch is very real," says Margaret Resce Milkint, partner with Chicago-based staffing firm The Jacobson Group. "We have an aging workforce, and boomers are turning 60 this year."
Claims Management: Stop Paying Improper Claims -- Retool Your Reviews Approach
Published in Managed Care Report (Copyright 2006, Eli Research/Medicine & Health. Reproduced with permission. For subscription information, call (800) 561-5736.)
"If you set up your claims-processing IT to sort claim rejects by specific codes, then you need to make sure you train your staff to manage that level of data," says Rick Jacobson, CEO of Jacobson Solutions.
Claims Case Study: Tackle Claims Through this 5-Step Approach
Published in Managed Care Report (Copyright 2006, Eli Research/Medicine & Health. Reproduced with permission. For subscription information, call (800) 561-5736.)
"You can set your IT system to sort claims by code, but that information won’t lead anywhere if your team doesn’t know which problems are most common for each code," says Rick Jacobson, CEO of Chicago-based consulting firm Jacobson Solutions.
Help Wanted
Published in Insurance & Technology
"IT professionals need to move beyond the technology expert label. In addition to strong technical skills, IT leaders must be able to offer a multidimensional perspective as a business partner, collaborator, connector and driver of results." - Margaret Resce Milkint, Partner, The Jacobson Group.
Succession Planning Newsletter
By Jacobson Executive Search team
On the verge of the retirement of an entire generation, succession planning has become an increasingly important factor in every organization`s survival. To remain competitive, an organization must realize that succession planning is not about simply finding successors for the CEO or other top officer roles. It is about committing to a leadership development planning system to ensure that your very best leaders have the future skills required to maintain and further grow your company. It is a drive to maintain high caliber talent in all positions.
The State of the Actuarial Employment Market - Part Two
Published in The Actuarial Review
"I`ve been in this business for eighteen years, and I`ve seen an evolution in employers` attitudes. There`s greater awareness, greater acceptance and greater interest in diversity." - Margaret Resce Milkint, The Jacobson Group.
The State of the Actuarial Employment Market - Part One
Published in The Actuarial Review
"Actuaries are now being looked to for measurement towards goals and performance. The role of the actuary is being broadened and today actuaries are taking their place at the leadership table in increasing numbers." - Margaret Resce Milkint, The Jacobson Group.
Why I Love Working With Actuaries
By Margaret Resce Milkint, Partner, The Jacobson Group
Published in Contingencies
Recruiting – specifically actuarial recruiting – isn’t a profession for everyone. According to many of my actuarial resources, the probability of success and happiness as an actuarial recruiter is less than 20 percent. Eighteen years ago, against those odds, I took what many would call a tremendous leap of faith.
Will Colleges Fill the Ranks?
Published in Viewpoint
"While the enrollments are small, college degree programs `are having a very positive impact` on the labor market for underwriters and other positions," says Gregory Jacobson, president of Jacobson Associates.
Where are the Underwriters?
Published in Viewpoint
“Underwriting is going to be the most effected discipline in the War for Talent,” says Gregory Jacobson, president of Jacobson Associates.
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