Advice for Employers and Recruiters
Why September is the best time to apply for and hire insurance interns
September marks a critical period for insurance internships, offering unique advantages for both applicants and employers. This article explores the benefits of fall recruitment, featuring insights from industry experts on how early hiring can shape academic projects and provide hands-on experience. Discover why applying and hiring in September can lead to wider opportunities and a front-row seat to industry transitions, setting the stage for successful summer internships.
- Fall Recruitment Secures Top Insurance Talent
- Shape Academic Projects Through Early Hiring
- September Offers Hands-On Insurance Experience
- Witness Industry Transitions in September Internships
- Early Applications Access Wider Internship Opportunities
- Start Recruiting Now for Summer Internships
Fall Recruitment Secures Top Insurance Talent
September marks the sweet spot when insurance companies finalize their summer internship budgets and start serious planning for next year’s programs. I’ve seen this pattern repeatedly over my 13 years — firms use fall months to identify talent gaps and create meaningful projects for interns. My advice: students who apply in September get first dibs on the best positions before the holiday slowdown hits.
James Inwood
Insurance Broker, James Inwood
Shape Academic Projects Through Early Hiring
September is an important time for employers that want to bring in insurance interns because many universities introduce their capstone projects or applied projects at the beginning of the academic year. These projects are often mandatory for graduation and run through autumn into spring. Recruiting in September means employers are able to shape the breadth of these projects at the outset, ensuring that the students are working on issues that have a direct relationship to the challenges that exist in the insurance industry, such as the handling of claims, risk evaluation, underwriting, or regulatory developments.
When this link is created at the beginning of the internship, students will learn to see their internships as part of their academic success, and so they invest more time and effort into the work. Employers, in turn, will get months of structured analysis and reporting by students who are not only driven by the requirements of the degree but by their career aspirations as well.
Steve Case
Financial & Insurance Consultant, Insurance Hero
September Offers Hands-On Insurance Experience
As an independent insurance agent who has hired dozens of interns over the years, I’ve observed that September is when our industry experiences the largest increase in group health insurance renewals and new business inquiries. Companies are finalizing their benefits for the upcoming year, which means we require additional staff to manage the surge in workload.
I’ve noticed that students who begin their insurance internships in September are immediately involved in real client meetings due to it being our busiest season. Last September, one of my interns assisted in processing 47 group health applications in their first month alone — that’s more hands-on experience than most interns gain in an entire semester during slower periods.
The timing is also ideal because small businesses are evaluating their insurance needs after receiving their summer revenue reports. This past September, we had three interns who each shadowed me through complete Business Owner’s Policy consultations with companies ranging from 5 to 50 employees — they observed everything from risk assessments to final pricing negotiations.
Students who wait until October miss this crucial learning opportunity when real money and decisions are at stake. By November, most of the annual renewals are finalized, and interns end up doing more filing than actual client work.
Patrick Caruso
President, Caruso Insurance Service
Witness Industry Transitions in September Internships
I can attest that September is a crucial month in our industry. It’s when New York schools and colleges finalize their insurance programs for the academic year. Students gaining internship experience during this time are well-positioned to understand these institutional needs firsthand.
September also marks the time when many family businesses like ours initiate succession planning discussions. We observe this trend across the Finger Lakes region, where older agents begin evaluating potential successors for their books of business. Interns starting now are exposed to these transition conversations that shape the industry’s future.
From our three locations in Naples, Honeoye Falls, and Rushville, we’ve noticed that September is when agricultural clients assess their coverage before the harvest season ends. Students working internships during this period learn how seasonal businesses operate differently from year-round commercial accounts. This provides them with practical knowledge that can’t be obtained from textbooks alone.
The timing also coincides with when independent agencies like ours evaluate our relationships with our 24 insurance carriers for the coming year. Interns witness these negotiations happening in real-time, gaining an understanding of how we secure competitive rates for our clients.
Jeffrey Joseph
Vice President, Mitchell-Joseph Insurance Agency
Early Applications Access Wider Internship Opportunities
Timing often determines success in recruitment, especially in competitive industries like insurance. For both employers and students, September marks a pivotal point in the internship cycle. Missing this window risks losing out — either on top talent or on valuable career opportunities.
September is critical because it aligns with both academic calendars and industry hiring patterns. For employers, it’s the ideal time to connect with students who are freshly back on campus, actively planning the year ahead, and open to committing early. For students, applying in September means accessing the widest pool of opportunities before positions fill up. Waiting until winter or spring often means competing for fewer, less visible roles.
One of our student clients in Calgary learned this the hard way. She waited until January to begin her insurance internship search, assuming opportunities would still be open. By then, many of the top firms had already closed applications and begun interviewing. After missing that cycle, she worked with us the following September to prepare her materials early. This time, she secured multiple interviews and landed a paid internship at a national insurer — months ahead of her peers.
Industry data supports this. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reports that 65% of employers in insurance and financial services recruit interns in September and October, well before the spring rush. Early recruitment gives companies access to a stronger candidate pool, while students who apply early are twice as likely to receive multiple offers.
September isn’t just another month — it’s the launch pad for insurance internships. Employers who start recruiting early secure the best talent, and students who apply early set themselves apart. We help both sides of the equation: guiding students to seize the moment and advising employers on how to build pipelines that attract top-tier candidates before the window closes.
Miriam Groom
CEO, Mindful Career Inc., Mindful Career Coaching
Start Recruiting Now for Summer Internships
School starts in September. This beginning marks the start of a new school year, which will conclude at the end of next summer. That means your internship will conclude at the end of this school year. Students are already exploring opportunities for summer internships, and the best candidates will likely find matches quickly. You don’t want to miss your best potential interns because you’re not ready. Start recruiting now to secure top talent for your internship programs.
Michelle Robbins
Licensed Insurance Agent, USInsuranceAgents.com
