Insider profil

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Chris B.

Customer Claims Manager

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Customer and Operations

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Everyday LifeOpen RolesOur CulturePeople & DiversityRoleWhy usWork & Life with Us

Top Insider Advice

I really enjoy change delivery, developing ideas and simplifying processes in my role. ‘Find a role that supports your interests and develops your skills’, it provides longevity in the role, gives a sense of achievement and, overall, you’ll get enjoyment from the work you do.
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Career path

Customer Claims Manager

First Central

Started 02/2016 to Present

Systems Thinking Claims Team Manager

Aviva Insurance

From 06/1998 to 01/2016

Company

What do you like about your job and the company?

I particularly enjoy Continuous Improvement; it’s essential. I have exposure to several methodologies and manage a team specifically to deliver the right culture in the Customer Claims Department, supporting data-led conversations and improvements.

Greatest achievements

Following my successful appointment to the role, a national announcement landed advising people to go home and isolate. Being involved in the facilitation of working from home and systematically working through the complex logistics of setting up users to operate from home with no requirement to furlough.
Other insiders

Alana R

Top Insider Advice

Throughout my career I’ve been on a learning journey regarding how I communicate. When I first started out, I was very shy and found it difficult to communicate confidently. I’d be nervous sending an email to someone I’d never met and spend hours over-analysing the content to make sure it was ‘perfect’ before sending it. As I sent more and more emails, met more people, and put myself out there for presentations, I grew in confidence but I still had a lot to learn. I’d often go into the specifics of everything and give people information overload because I was worried about missing something important. I got a lot of feedback around this and was regularly asked to “keep it high-level”. I really had to work at this, and I needed to get help from peers, mentors, managers and external research to understand what this meant, when it mattered and how to be effective at a higher level of detail. With years of practice, I am now much better at communicating and that’s helped me progress into a leadership position. This is just one example of me learning a skill which I thought was impossible. If I can do it, so can you!

Adam W

Product Manager

Top Insider Advice

It sounds obvious, but sometimes it can be easy to perform the actions required for your role in a way that doesn’t best amplify your strengths. Be acutely aware of your own strengths and play to them, putting together a development plan for areas of improvement. I’d recommend developing your strengths too. Just because you’re naturally good at something doesn’t mean you should rest on your laurels. Have a mindset of wanting to move from the top 10% to top 1%. Always welcome feedback too whether it’s positive or constructive. Don’t take constructive feedback negatively, to be imperfect is to be human. We all have areas we can improve on.

Jemma R

Talent Manager

Top Insider Advice

I have rarely asked for or applied for promotions during my career, generally feeling I was happy where I was and not wanting loads more responsibility, especially since I lost my 21-month-old daughter in 2015. I wanted to come to work, enjoy it and then go home without any added pressures (plus I hate being interviewed!) I think I have naturally progressed and become involved in other things, specifically over the past 10 years. I’ve done it by working hard, being loyal and putting effort into everything I do. I’ve been lucky that my managers have always recognised my potential and pushed me to progress myself and my career. It’s definitely helped when working for the same company for a number of years! I could probably have progressed a bit quicker if I had pushed for it, but that’s not me and that’s ok. You don’t have to be pushy to get where you want to be; it might just take a little longer.
Discussions with Chris B
Please tell me about the training when you first joined?
in Career Tips·Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Picture of James
Picture of Jacob
3 responses
121 views
Can you give me some tips on what the company values?
in Career Tips·Tuesday, July 18, 2023
0 responses
28 views
Have you ever had an unsuccessful project and what did you learn?
in Career Tips·Tuesday, August 29, 2023
1 response
14 views
Describe some of the perks of working here?
in Career Tips·Tuesday, October 3, 2023
1 response
16 views
Why did you choose this company?
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
1 response
13 views