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October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October 15, 2021/in All Blogs, Employee Spotlights /by Symphony Talent

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

With almost a decade at Allstate, Communications Manager, Barbara I., has focused on technology communications, with much of that time spent on cybersecurity. Today, she’s part of a team that supports Allstate’s Chief Information Security Officer as well as enterprise cybersecurity awareness. That’s a particularly big job this time of year, with October marking Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

We chatted with Barbara to learn more about what Allstate has planned for Cyber Security Awareness Month.

What’s planned for Cybersecurity Awareness Month this year?

One of the biggest threats to our organization is phishing. We’re offering two events in our week called Fight the Phish. Allstaters can sign up as a team for a Ninjio viewing party. A cybersecurity leader will take them through two 3-minute Ninjio videos. Then they’ll ask the team to work together on a cybersecurity commitment, a simple action plan. The other opportunity is the cybersecurity escape room. It’s about a 30-minute exercise, very collaborative. It really helps with team building and engagement.

Week three’s event is Bring Your Parent to Work Day. We’re having a one-hour session of our Cybersecurity for Older Adults program on Thursday, October 21 at 9:00 a.m., and we’re encouraging every Allstater to bring a parent, grandparent, aunt, neighbor – any older adult in their life. It’s cybersecurity 101 and teaches the basics in a very digestible way from how to create secure passwords to avoiding common phishing or smishing attempts. This event is also opened to the public, to register visit here.

In week four, we’re bringing back our popular lightning talks. It’s one hour, and we have about 10 cybersecurity experts who are going to talk for three minutes each and give Allstaters their main tip for staying secure – in areas that everybody deals with every day.

How does your team stay connected in this virtual work environment?

In some ways, with my immediate team, this hasn’t been a big departure. Three of my team members are in Northern Ireland, one is in North Carolina and one is in the Chicago area. So, we’ve always been a virtual team. We’ve always worked well together that way. I think the key to our success, honestly, is a real common bond and goal. Everybody on my team really feels on a mission to help people be more secure, so they’re very driven. I’m fortunate in that.

Ready to join Allstate? Check out our open roles! 

Want to get involved?

Join Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October at Allstate! Protect yourself against phishing scams, cyber fraud and identity theft by joining this Allstate Cyber Safety for Older Adults session. Learn how to create secure passwords, check privacy settings, avoid common phishing or smishing attempts and navigate the internet securely. This lively, interactive one-hour Zoom call will enlighten adults of all ages and questions are welcome.

Event Date: Thursday, October 21, 2021

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. CT

Register here: https://allstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_o1-ovj6VSh2-X88zbBuf3g

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Having a Front Seat to Allstate’s Sustainability Story

October 11, 2021/in All Blogs, Employee Spotlights /by Symphony Talent

Having a Front Seat to Allstate’s Sustainability Story

As a manager on the Sustainability team, Scott has a unique appreciation for how much Allstate’s work on sustainability and ESG (environmental, social and governance) issues can make a difference – for the business and in the world. Scott helps tell Allstate’s sustainability story to a range of stakeholders – making sure they also understand how it connects with the company’s broader strategy.

We sat down with Scott to learn more about his role and Allstate’s sustainability efforts. Check out his interview below:

What is Allstate’s sustainability work focused on now?

We’re always paying close attention to what our key stakeholders – employees, investors and customers – are focusing on. Right now, the big areas for those stakeholders are climate change mitigation, inclusive diversity and equity, employee well-being and safety, customer-centric and responsible products, responsible investing, and privacy and information security.

How does your role fit in with all of that?

My work is largely around capturing information so we can tell as accurate and holistic a story as possible to employees, investors and customers. I’m working very closely with partners across the enterprise to capture information to present through our different reports. I really would categorize my work as relationship-building more than anything. For example, I don’t own data protection, so I rely on data protection partners to provide the information, and then our team figures out how to present it in a way that resonates with people who are looking for that information.    

What energizes you most about your role?

What I love is that Allstate is such a big brand with so much credibility in the marketplace that we really have the power to make a big difference. There’s so much opportunity at the intersection of strategy, societal impact and ESG or sustainability. So really, just having a front seat to it all is what energizes me.

What would you highlight about this year’s Sustainability Report?

We’ve pulled out some key topics that we know stakeholders are interested in. These topics include Our Shared Purpose, climate change, governance, data protection, and employee well-being and safety.

We also have new stories. These are the first-person anecdotes and narratives that help to bring some of the content off the page and to life. We know this resonates with audiences as well.

To learn more about Allstate’s sustainability efforts visit: https://www.allstatesustainability.com/.

Ready to join Allstate? Check out our open roles!

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Tips for an Allstate Behavioral Interview

September 9, 2021/in All Blogs, Getting the Job /by Symphony Talent

Tips for an Allstate Behavioral Interview

Behavioral interviews focus on a candidate’s past experiences to assess how they’ve navigated specific situations and utilized skills relevant to the position. Rather than asking theoretical “How would you handle ___?” questions, your interviewer will focus instead on concrete “How did you handle ___?” prompts.

Here’s what our expert recruiters at Allstate say to remember before a behavioral interview:

Come prepared with examples of your past experiences. Questions asked in behavioral interviews should be based on the core competencies for the position, so give the job description a close read and think about experiences you have that demonstrate your abilities in desired areas.
When answering prompts during your behavioral interview, use the STAR (situation, task, action, result) format to effectively demonstrate your experience and impact. Here’s how Allstate recruiters suggest thinking about the STAR framework:
Situation: “Describe and provide relevant details of your example, explain the context of the situation and why it connects to the question.”
Task: “Describe your role in the situation. This can help establish the level of responsibility you had in the previous role.”
Action: “Explain how you addressed the situation and what steps you took to overcome the challenge. A good answer shows how you added value to the situation and made logical decisions.”
Result: “At the end of your answer, explain the outcome of the situation. A quality answer includes concrete examples and quantifiable achievements, including the direct effects of your efforts in your response.”
Remember the basics. Allstate reminds all of its candidates that—especially when interviewing virtually—it’s best practice to speak strongly, confidently, and clearly, always remaining cognizant of your body language. Just like you wouldn’t want to mumble or cross your arms throughout an in-person interview, avoid these habits during your video calls!
Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Remember, job interviews are for you, too! If you need clarity on a prompt, or have a question that you’d love to dig into a bit more with your interviewer, be sure to speak up. This process exists for both you and your prospective boss to have the chance to assess whether you’re a good fit for the position!

*The tips provided are recommendations that do not guarantee the outcome of an interview.

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Allstate 2021 Summer Interns

September 2, 2021/in All Blogs, College to Corporate, Employee Spotlights /by Symphony Talent

Meet Two Summer 2021 Allstate Interns

Allstate has been proud to host summer interns virtually the past two summers amid the pandemic. “In-office experience” no longer has to be in-office thanks to the many different learning and development sessions curated for the intern cohort’s success.

Meet two of our summer interns for a glance at our 2021 cohort!

Peyton
School: Purdue University
Internship Role: Actuarial Intern
What was your virtual internship experience like? From the start, I was welcomed by my team and other people across the department. Even though I haven’t had the experience of working in a corporate office, I was still surrounded by the collaborative and inviting atmosphere of Allstate. I made an effort to reach out to people I wanted to learn from and I’m grateful that everyone was more than willing to chat about anything.
What was your favorite project to work on while at Allstate? This summer, I worked on pricing deductibles for Allstate’s Renters line. I enjoyed using different modeling techniques, learning about the pricing process, and making decisions that drive the formation of a new rating plan.

Ruba
School: The University of Illinois at Chicago
Internship Role: Internal Audit Intern
What was your virtual internship experience like? Working remotely was something not all of us were used to. However, everyone at Allstate made this transition for me smooth and effortless. I don’t feel that I got any less of an internship experience than I would have in the office. My team was proficient in building good relationships and supporting one another.
What has your experience as an intern be like at Allstate? My experience at Allstate has been exciting and challenging. I’m grateful that I get to work on a team with great people on meaningful work. I’ve seen what I’ve learned in college turn into practical knowledge that can be applied to real situations happening at Allstate. I know that knowledge will serve me well in my last semester of college and in my future career.

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Tips for an Allstate Technical Interview

August 26, 2021/in All Blogs, Getting the Job /by Symphony Talent

How to make a great impression in a technical interview

When interviewing for a specific position, you might be asked to participate in technical interview as part of the application process. If you’re wondering what exactly a technical interview is and tips for how to prepare for one, read on!

Technical interviews are common during the recruitment process for roles that require a very specific skill set, such as software engineering or data analysis. A technical interview will vary depending on the organization but may include a behavioral descriptive interview (BDI), analytical algorithms/coding section, and a predictive modeling case study. If you’re invited to a technical interview, expect to dig deeply into your technical skills!

Allstate looks for three main things in candidates during technical interviews: an analytical mindset, communication and collaboration skills, and potential for growth. Here are some top tips that Allstate recruiters provide to incoming technical interviewees to help them put their best foot forward during the allotted time.

Focus on the details: “Be prepared to talk in detail about technical skills and knowledge listed on your resume.”
Stick to what you know best: “Code in the language you are most comfortable in, whether that’s Python, R, SQL or something else.”
Tell—don’t just show—your work: “Coding interviews are different than working in isolation. When completing practice problems, also practice explaining your techniques and thought process while working through a coding solution.”
Invite collaboration while you work: “The interview should be interactive, so talk through what you are thinking. Your interview team does not expect you to get to a perfect solution right away and is prepared to help you work through the problem together.”
Ask clarifying questions: “You may not have all the information you need to come to an answer right away, and that’s okay!”
Don’t rush yourself: “Take your time and take notes if you like.”

*The tips provided are recommendations that do not guarantee the outcome of an interview.

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Tips for An Allstate Situational Interview

August 23, 2021/in All Blogs, Getting the Job /by Symphony Talent

We asked our recruiters for the best strategies for situational interviews.

Unlike a behavioral interview, which focuses on concrete past examples, situational interviews focus heavily on theoretical scenarios to assess how you would behave when faced with a potential problem. This is the type of interview where you’ll encounter “How would you handle ___?” or “What would you do if ___?” prompts, giving you a chance to showcase your quick thinking and problem solving abilities through your answers.

Remember that there are no right or wrong answers. Be honest about how you’d handle a scenario, because it will help the employer (and you!) decide if you’re a good fit for what this specific role entails. “Simulation questions demonstrate how you would handle realistic challenges faced by individuals in this role,” Allstate’s hiring guide tells prospective hires. “There are no right or wrong answers.”
Know what to expect of the format so you can practice ahead of time. Allstate’s team describes the format, which they use when hiring for certain Claims roles, simply: “You will read about a situation and then talk about how you would handle it. [A technical interview question] is an opportunity to share your thought process and capabilities when faced with real life situations.” Consider contacting your school’s career center about a mock interview, where the staff can give you some examples of situational interview questions relevant to the role you’re interviewing for and help you craft your responses.
Tell a story. Situational interview questions serve as a great opportunity to flex your story-telling muscle. While the questions are mostly theoretical, they may tie into your experience around handling a similar situation in the past, for example, “How would you deal with an irate customer on the phone?” Follow the STAR method to tell a good story. Start your response by describing the situation, the action you would take to address it, and any results you’d set out to achieve.

*The tips provided are recommendations that do not guarantee the outcome of an interview.

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Customer Service and Claims Virtual Career Fair

August 23, 2021/in /by Symphony Talent

Join recruiters and hiring managers for a virtual career fair to learn more about licensed and unlicensed customer service and claims roles at Allstate.

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5 Ways to Maximize Your Summer Internship

April 28, 2021/in /by Symphony Talent

5 Ways to Maximize Your Summer Internship

2020 Actuary Intern, Ranya, is preparing her workspace for the day.

It’s finally summer, your work materials came in the mail, you’ve chatted with HR, virtually met with your manager (and other interns along the way!), and now it’s finally happening- you’re starting your summer 2021 internship! The nerves are setting in and you’re wondering- now what?

How can you make the most of your summer work experience? The professional environment can feel different from university life, but don’t sweat it; we’ve got you covered! Look through these 5 tips to help you maximize your summer work experience.

1. Create your space

Whether you find space on your family’s dining room table, in your dorm room, in a home office, or a shared space with other family members, it is important to create a space that works for you! What matters is that you form an environment that provides you the right level of productivity and energy to stay ready for the workday ahead!

Some suggestions on creating your space: bring in nature, decorate a wall or other small section with your unique personality, adjust the lighting to provide the right level of comfort for you, or even have some snacks and water nearby!

2. Immerse yourself in company, office, and team culture

At Allstate, we value every employee and pride ourselves on giving Allstater’s the opportunity to make an impact, while supporting to help you live well in all areas of your life!

Utilize video chats and other methods as a way to communicate! This is a great opportunity to learn more about different career paths, get advice and tap into other people’s networks. Participate in team and program activities as best you can, including team chats and connecting individually with colleagues.

Lean on your buddy and manager to understand culture. An internship is an opportunity to learn – don’t be afraid to ask questions and get to know your new company and its wonderful culture!

3. Set goals and expectations

It is always a good idea to meet with your manager weekly or bi-weekly during your summer internship to discuss expectations. Take the initiative to reach out and confirm that putting some time on their calendars would work for them. Come prepared with some agenda items to ensure you receive the information you’re looking for too. Make sure you request feedback throughout your internship to get the most out of your experience. Reminder that your goals should be aligned to what you want out of your 2021 internship!

4. Get involved with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Companies are recognizing that Employee Resource Groups, aiming to foster a diverse, inclusive workspace aligned with the organizations they serve, are vital to an employee’s professional and personal development! At Allstate, we have 12 ERG’s that provide an open forum where Allstate employees with a shared interest aspire, develop and collaborate.

Becoming a member of at least one ERG is a great opportunity to develop your career, create lasting mentor and work relationships, and broaden your understanding of a company and their overall culture. Visit this link to learn more about Allstate Employee Resource Groups.

5. Cut yourself some slack

Although we’ve all been living in a full virtual environment for some time now, it can still be a big adjustment to work virtually in a professional work setting, but don’t worry! You can ask for support from your manager, mentor, program lead or other interns! Don’t forget to take a break from the computer screen, get a quick snack or beverage of choice, or take some time to enjoy the outdoors; whatever works best for you! In the end, the most important thing is that you feel great about the work you do and have fun in the process.

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From NSBE to Allstate Technologist

March 22, 2021/in All Blogs, College to Corporate /by Symphony Talent

Meet Niandre, a current participant of Allstate’s Compute/Hosting Services Rotational Program, who was first introduced to Allstate through UNC Charlotte’s National Society of Black Engineers’ student chapter.

“I became involved with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) while attending the University of North Carolina – Charlotte as a first-year mechanical engineering student. The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is one of the largest student governed organizations in the world. NSBE’s mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black Engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community. Initially, I was just a member but by my senior year I became the chapter president.

At the beginning of last year, Allstate reached out to our student chapter to collaborate as they were going to be attending the NSBE National Convention in March. As part of the collaboration, a few members and I visited Allstate’s Uptown office in Charlotte and that’s when I was introduced to Allstate’s Compute/Hosting Services Rotational Program, a two-year rotational program for new grads. At first, I was looking at this program as an opportunity for our members who were computer science majors. However, Allstate came to campus and shared more information the program and culture, stating that even if you majored in something, you can take your career in a different direction at Allstate. I realized that this was the program and company for me regardless of my major.

Although I did not get to see Allstate at the NSBE National Convention because it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I joined the company in May 2020 as a participant in Compute/Hosting Services Rotational Program. This program is designed to help build my career as a technology specialist at Allstate while making an impact Through hands-on work, I’ve gained valuable experience and insight into two areas that make up Allstate’s Compute/Hosting Services: Client Computing and CSTS Platform Engineering. My favorite thing about working at Allstate so far is that even though we’re all working from home, everyone is still connected. My favorite part of the program is starting a new job/career with people with my age and background. We are all figuring this out together.

My advice to students attending the NSBE Virtual Convention is don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Make sure to ask questions. Before my Allstate interview, I had a list of questions I wanted to ask about the program. Also, showing you can communicate effectively is important. Think about how you can incorporate your communications skills in an interview.”

Allstaters will be attending NSBE’s 47^th Virtual Convention April 5-9. Are you attending? If so, we look forward to meeting you at our virtual career booth! More information: here.

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Allstate at the 47th National Society of Black Engineers Virtual Convention

February 24, 2021/in /by Symphony Talent

Join us and chat with the team at our virtual 2021 National Society of Black Engineers booth to hear about our exciting tech opportunities.

The Career Fair will take place on April 8-9, 2021.

Click here for more information. We look forward to speaking to you soon!

It is the Company's policy to employ the best qualified individuals available for all jobs. Therefore, any discriminatory action taken on account of an employee's ancestry, age, color, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual and reproductive health decision, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, race (include traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles), religion (including religious dress), sex, or sexual orientation that adversely affects an employee's terms or conditions of employment is prohibited. This policy applies to all aspects of the employment relationship, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, salary administration, promotion, job assignment, benefits, discipline, and separation of employment.

Effective July 1, 2014, under Indiana House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1242, it is against public policy of the State of Indiana and a discriminatory practice for an employer to discriminate against a prospective employee on the basis of status as a veteran by refusing to employ an applicant on the basis that they are a veteran of the armed forces of the United States, a member of the Indiana National Guard or a member of a reserve component.
We will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local Fair Chance laws.

To view the "Know Your Rights" poster click here. This poster summarizes the federal laws prohibiting job discrimination and explains how employees or applicants can file a complaint if they believe they have experienced discrimination.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

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Having a Front Seat to Allstate’s Sustainability Story

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Tips for an Allstate Behavioral Interview

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Meet Two Summer 2021 Allstate Interns

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How to make a great impression in a technical interview

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We asked our recruiters for the best strategies for situational interviews.

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5 Ways to Maximize Your Summer Internship

1. Create your space

2. Immerse yourself in company, office, and team culture

3. Set goals and expectations

4. Get involved with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

5. Cut yourself some slack

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Discover Allstate

Inclusive Diversity & Equity

Veterans & Transitioning Military

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Meet Niandre, a current participant of Allstate’s Compute/Hosting Services Rotational Program, who was first introduced to Allstate through UNC Charlotte’s National Society of Black Engineers’ student chapter.

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Discover Allstate

Inclusive Diversity & Equity

Veterans & Transitioning Military

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