Careers in surety: Taking on challenges with confidence

Working in surety at Allianz Trade has opened up an entirely new chapter of my career and professional development. The company’s message to all its employees is, ‘if you want to do something, do it.” I can safely say that this motto has pushed me to be brave and take on new challenges – in all their forms.

I started at Allianz Trade in 2019 as a customer services manager in the Belux region, after working in the finance sector in a variety of administrative and support roles. When we merged into a Benelux Business Unit, and a vacancy for a team leader in administration opened up, I immediately said, “I want that role.” So, with Allianz’s message spurring me on, I took the leap and applied. And I’m pleased to say that it was the right move.

Now, my role includes managing a small team alongside handling daily tasks such as processing client requests and overseeing IT solutions testing. Taking on a management position has been eye-opening for me in terms of how we perceive personal development. I’ve realized that it doesn’t always have to mean aiming for a career milestone – it can be much smaller, such as taking a course or shadowing a colleague. Whatever your goals, there is an opportunity for growth available for you.

Personally, I’ve definitely undergone a lot of learning and growing. When I began to work in this field, I was pretty confident I knew what surety was. Turns out, it can’t be so narrowly defined; the field is truly varied, and there is no standard project.

At Allianz Trade, we offer a wide variety of products, often with unique bond wordings and tailored solutions. As such, an eye for detail goes a long way in our business. We’re writing very sensitive documents, so every detail matters. Sometimes, a single comma can change the whole meaning of a sentence! 

Flexibility and creativity are also important. Because surety bonds are not always standard, our work requires us to look at the problem from every side and find the angle that best suits the needs of our clients. That applies internally, too – we’re a small, adaptable team ready to learn and embrace new tasks. 

Surety is not a single-player game. It’s important, if you’re like me and want to do as much as you can to help, to remember that you can’t do everything by yourself. When I started out in this business, I would let tasks pile up on my shoulders, but now I know when I need to work with others to get the job done. That’s the value of a cohesive team: knowing that you have that support available. So, if this sounds like a role you’d enjoy, follow our words of wisdom – and just do it.