The phrase “to be in the right place at the right time” can be applied to unplanned, fortunate situations in life that affect career and professional development opportunities. The joint stock insurance company "BTA Baltic Insurance Company" (hereinafter - BTA) has years of experience working with the latest generation’s potential insurance specialists, of which 13 out of 19 have been "in the right place at the right time", have proven themselves, and are continuing to work for BTA. Laura Zabarovska, Director of the BTA Personnel Management Department explains why you should become a stepping stone in a young person's career and how to help them strive to achieve common goals.

Many industries, where important skills and knowledge are needed, lack qualified specialists. The insurance industry is one of the industries that needs knowledgeable employees, however, experience can be gained through working. All that is necessary is a desire to work, curiosity, interest and self-confidence. This is why BTA has always paid great attention to attracting young people, and has always welcomed interns. “It is very important to give people the chance to try a certain job and to work out if it is suitable for them. Those who have not yet had any experience in the field of insurance, by coming to us as interns, gain the opportunity to understand both points of view. We, as employers, assess our intern’s potential, understanding, and working ability and expand their knowledge, while for the intern it is a great opportunity to demonstrate their ability and dedication, proving that they want and can become the best in the future," says Laura Zabarovska.

Seeing an intern’s potential future contribution to the company is an important moment in which their manager has a crucial role, helping to improve their intern's skills and knowledge. “The announced vacancies are applied for by both people without experience and professionals, but in today's dynamic living and strong competition, finding the right candidate is challenging. Working with interns takes a fair amount of time but we happily invest a lot of effort in their development as our experience has shown that it is worth it. Over time, most interns become one of us, they stay working with us in the long term and continue to develop a successful career."

What are the most important prerequisites that everyone should remember in order to start working and to move up the career ladder? BTA reveals five qualities worth taking into account in order to successfully develop your career.

1. Work hard and be focused. Everyone would like to see a larger number on their employment contract, but getting started is just the beginning of the big journey. First, you have to prove your ability. Work hard and stay focused, even if your task seems difficult. Your initiative will be highly appreciated. Show an interest in how your goal can be achieved more effectively, and do not be afraid to ask for advice. Know your abilities and be self-confident, because your future success is in your own hands.

2. Be visible! One of the obstacles to a successful career is the desire to avoid talking during meetings, keeping your opinion to yourself and just trying to quietly do your job and go home. Do not try to stay invisible to your colleagues and even more importantly your managers. Be visible! Do not be afraid to express your opinion clearly and comprehensively. Show initiative and ask for more challenging tasks, and be responsive and help your colleagues do the job that they are having trouble with.

3. Do not be afraid to make mistakes and to acknowledge them! Ambition and desire to achieve even better results are a step forward. Having reached a certain level, do not stop. Setting even higher goals is totally worth it. Always try hard to reach your new goals. The higher the goal is, the bigger the responsibility. And the bigger the responsibility, the higher the chance of making a mistake. You need to remember that by making mistakes you learn and the next step will be twice as effective. Do not forget that a convinced and confident person can inspire others, and this is one of the cornerstones for moving in the right direction.

4. Learn something new every day. You will achieve the most, if you continually learn and develop the skills you already have. Never stop doing this. This will not only help to develop your competencies and skills, but also to expand your horizons, develop strategic thinking and, all together, this will increase your confidence in your abilities. It will also increase your positive experience, your self-esteem and you will be able to handle any kind of situation in a more successful way. Over time, you will have so much work experience that you will be able to give valuable advice to younger employees.

5. Always take your work seriously. This will be valued not only by your colleagues but also your customers. When working, try to stay focused on your work only, leaving your private life aside. There will be enough time for that after work. Always try to be precise and careful at work, because a job done carelessly or at the last minute, will often be inferior and inaccurate. The better you prepare for a meeting or a presentation and the better you fulfil your task, the better impression you will leave, increasing trust and recognition.

Additional information:
Elīna Rasmane
Marketing and Public Relations Department Director
BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS
e-mail: elina.rasmane@bta.lv