Product Development Analyst at a small mutual or Temp UA at a large insurer
I don’t know why this happens but I always seem to get multiple interviews and offers at the exact same time, and now I'm stuck.
For context, I have about 3 years of solid experience in personal lines at an insurer as a direct agent, plus some high net worth, governance and controls, and risk event experience.
2 years ago I moved to a different city for my wife’s new job. The market here is super limited, there’s basically only one main insurer and two mutuals in the entire province. I’m currently at a brokerage doing a mix of product, underwriting, and sales. I’m good at multitasking, but wearing so many hats leaves me unfocused and doing way too many different things, I get zoned out.
I’ve been applying to that one main insurer for the last two years with zero response. Finally, things moved and they proactively reached out, but now I have two very different options in front of me:
Offer 1: Underwriting Assistant at the main insurer (Local)
They finally offered me a spot, but it's a UA role. The salary is $20k less than what I make right now, and I am definitely overqualified. The only reason I'm considering it is because senior roles here are always hired internally. I feel like if I just get in, I'll have great opportunities to move up within 3 years.
Offer 2: Product role at a small mutual (Remote)
This is the only remote position I’ve seen so far. The pay matches what I make now, so no pay cut. The huge red flag is that this company has been having management issues (3 ceos in 5 years) and bleeding losses for the last 3 years.
I’m honestly leaning toward taking the UA role. It sucks to take a $20k pay cut and do a job I'm overqualified for, but getting into the only major player in my area feels like the smarter long-term move.
Am I totally wrong for wanting to take the UA role? Has anyone else taken a step back and a pay cut just to get inside a specific company?