Employee Benefits Specialist
Years with the Company: 1.5 years total, 6 months full-time
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Email clean out. Logging in and immediately seeing a full inbox is stress-inducing. I take the first twenty minutes of my morning to run through unread emails, address anything urgent and move the rest to designated folders to tackle later. Then I grab some coffee and read the wellness tip of the day.
I typically have a list I wrote the afternoon before waiting for me when I walk into work. I spend the first part of the day following up on yesterday’s open items and crossing things off the list. I also prioritize new items so I stay organized and efficient. I often have to hop on phone calls with clients and/or carriers. A few times a month my team has to be on-site at client meetings to touch base, review monthly/quarterly updates and discuss any hot topics.
Honeygrow. I order ahead of time on the app so it’s always ready when I get there. I love supporting this Philly start-up because the food is healthy, locally-sourced and tastes great. I’m probably due to venture out a little bit, but I like what I like. I try to pack my lunch as much as possible though. It’s a good way for me to save money and eat better.
A couple times a week, I meet with my manager after lunch and we talk through the status of open projects. She assigns me new tasks to get started. At the same time, new issues come in from clients. It varies from developing financials, addressing claims issues, reaching out to carriers for reports, outlining communications, etc. I face the afternoon with a whole new set of to-dos. I prefer to stay a little later in the afternoon because I get more work done. My brain operates best later in the day.
I have to go right home after work to take care of my dog, Comet. He used to live with my parents, but I moved him to Philly with me a few months ago and turned him into a city dog. He livens up my apartment –lots of spunk for an old dog.
I also just started group training at my gym. This is a new activity for me and I love it. If you asked me six months ago, I would never have thought I’d be working out this much. I recently graduated from Temple, so up until last summer, I was so accustomed to coming home from class and doing homework through the night. Now, I have time to myself. It’s awesome! I also love to cook dinner and hang out with my roommate, watching some new T.V. show or Netflix original docu-series.
On weekends, I visit my family a lot. They live about an hour drive away. My dad owns a restaurant so I occasionally work shifts there so I can spend time with everyone. Otherwise, weekends in the city are great, especially when the weather’s nice. My neighborhood has good spots to eat and shop. I also like hanging out in center city, meeting friends for happy hour, and seeing concerts and shows. Stand-up comedy is my favorite.
Honestly, getting everything done in a day’s time gives me a feeling of accomplishment. I like to stay busy, but also like to feel I have a handle on things. Being out of school, my life has more balance than it ever did before. I have a great job that keeps me engaged during the day, which means I also have an income that gives me more freedom to do the things I want. I enjoy my apartment and being immersed in the activity of the city. I try to practice productive habits every day that keep me in line with my goals. Time management is key.
I usually wait for someone to ask a question like, “Oh, you mean like Geico or State Farm?” I explain that Conner Strong is an insurance brokerage and I work in consulting. We are not an insurance company and I have nothing to do with car insurance. If they’re still interested, I explain further. “Our clients are mid-size employers who hire us to manage their employee benefits. You know, things like medical, dental, life and disability?” Usually, the person nods, and I continue, “We advocate on their behalf and negotiate the best rates and coverages from competing insurance companies in the health and benefits space.” The response is somewhere along the lines of, “Oh, cool” and the conversation moves on.
