If you're not into reading details....here's what I have to say in short: The interview process with Allstate is lengthy, but not too difficult. You'll experience standard situation-based questions, so have a few stories prepared that show how great you are with handling difficult customers and making tough decisions and you'll be fine. Be prepared for at least a month long process though, and if you do not have a degree, you probably wont get the position.
When I applied for the claims adjuster position, I honestly didn't even think I'd get a call back as I had no experience in the insurance industry and did not complete college, but I gave it a try because I did meet the minimum education and experience requirements for the job. To my surprise, about 4 days after submitting my application, I received an e-mail to set up a phone interview. The interview was simplistic and only lasted about 10 minutes or so. She asked me to tell her a little about myself, asked for my salary requirements, and I believe she asked a question about how I stay organized and a "tell me a time" type question.
Right after the interview, she sent me an assessment. Easy test. You'll pass it. In fact, you'll find out if you passed about 5 minutes after finishing.
So about a week later, I received a call to set up a face to face interview with two managers. The interview was set for a week later. This interview was pretty conversational. The managers were professional but pretty laid back. Though there were two of them, only one asked questions while the other manager wrote down my responses and occasionally chimed in to add something or ask me for further clarification. They asked four questions, which they read from a little packet of interview questions. They say a little explanatory paragraph before actually asking you the question, so you kind of get a feel of what they are looking for in a response. One question that stood out to me was "Tell me about a manager that you were most productive with and explain why." I've never been asked that before so I was a little taken aback.
My interview went well, though. In fact, it went so well that they wanted me to meet their manager and have the third interview right then and there. Unfortunately, he was out of the office, and I couldn't wait due to other obligations. Anyhow, I got a call to schedule the third interview. Went in, and this interview is not really an question-type of interview. It's more of a time to for you to ask questions and get a feel of if this job is really for you. The only question I was asked was to explain my previous work experience and how I think it will carry over to the insurance field. (my experience is in banking).
After my final interview, I was told I'd hear something in two weeks. 2 days later, I got a call from a hiring manager of another department and was informed that I didn't get the claim adjuster position (he told me the only reason I did not get picked was because I don't have a degree...and the other candidate did), however, one of the managers I interviewed with recommended me to him for another position that had recently opened (claim service specialist) and that's why the hiring manager was calling me. He told me that legally I needed to go through the application/interview process again.......and so I did. (-___________-)
To wrap this story up, I went through an additional month of test and interviews for the new position, with each interviewer praising me as if I had the job in the bag, only to be told that they went with another candidate once again at the end of the month.
Soooooooooooooo yeah.....in my opinion, how well you interview does not weigh too heavily on their decision. They seem to go with whoever has the most experience/degrees....which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It just sucks to hear "Yeah, we liked you much better than the other guy and think you'll be a great fit for our company.....but since he has a degree....we went with him instead" after two months of interviewing.
