Building common ground and flourishing in Surety

Working in Surety means facing new challenges daily, but I’ve always viewed challenges as opportunities to grow and improve.

And I quickly found myself doing a lot of “growing and improving” when I returned to Allianz Trade Switzerland’s Surety department after five years in banking. Coming back to the place where I’d started my career, I needed to re-familiarize myself with new rules and methods for tasks I thought I already knew. These differences ran the gamut – everything from internal processes to credit decisions.

I realized I was going to need help. That’s where my colleagues would come in.

The Surety industry thrives on strong relationships, collaboration and leveraging diverse skills to meet today’s complex challenges – that’s really what drove me to return to it. And as industry leaders with a strong team in place, there is no better place to work in Surety than at Allianz.

My colleagues were invaluable in easing my transition back to Surety. They made time to give me guidance to become familiar with new systems and procedures; we even worked together on early cases. I quickly grew in confidence thanks to their help, learning to anticipate problems and trust both  my colleagues’ and my own abilities to solve anything that is thrown our way. In Surety, where no two days are the same, this is particularly important!

Surety helps provide companies – and people – with security and stability during times of uncertainty and volatility. But it can only do that if Surety providers are themselves able to successfully navigate those challenges. I am confident in Allianz Trade’s ability to do just that we have a team with unparalleled depth and breadth. We are now able to focus even more deeply on our clients, and on meeting their needs. We expect robust and continued growth as a trusted business partner.

Ultimately, though, success in Surety – both as an individual and a company – comes down to the relationships you build. Allianz has a culture that actively promotes openness, transparency and cooperation. This not only makes it a great workplace, but also enables it to thrive and excel. You can overcome even the most difficult obstacles when you take the time to invest in deep foundations and solid connections between colleagues, clients and partners. Our clients know we have the best information and solutions in the business, but it’s our values that elevate us to the top of the list of Surety providers.

Patience, flexibility, and perseverance are important for any job, including Surety. However, to truly thrive in this industry, being empathetic and approachable is key. Our job is to provide assurance, support and advice – and sometimes that means rejecting client requests due to, for example, risk.

When handling situations like this, it’s essential that we can demonstrate solid critical analysis and, crucially, communicate that clearly to our client. An honest, straightforward approach is always appreciated, and it helps foster good relationships.

If you love close collaboration and solving problems, and you excel in spaces with variety, then a career in Surety may be for you. And if you enjoy providing excellent service and want to work for a truly global player, give Allianz Trade a try!