Up for a Job with AIG. Should I take it?
 

I have been out of work for almost 2 years, but recently got a lead on a position with AIG. The position is in the insurance side of things, nothing to do with all the toxic assets or other financial shenannigans that are going on there. I have a good shot at the job, as I have inside contacts with AIG that have promised to put a good word in for me. I have many questions, and I wonder what other think of the situation and how I should/should not proceed.

What would you ask the HR person during the interview? What would you want to know in light of AIG's current situation?

Is this a good time to take a job with AIG? Should I request a contact or get some security/commitment that I will still have a job in a few months. Better yet, should I pre-arrange a severance package in case of layoff?

Do you think the current mess with help or hurt my salary negotiations? If they are finding it hard to keep/attract people, that could be good for me. However, if there is a lot of pressure to keep overhead low...not so good for me.

Do you think I can get a contract for one of those great AIG bonuses....;)

You're talking about the AIU unit within AIG. That portion is extremely well capitalized and will definitely survive in one form or another, regardless of what happens with their parent. My guess, as an insurance professional, is that it will be either spun off or sold within 3 years.

I wouldn't bother asking the HR person any questions about the future of the company during the interview. They won't know anything that isn't public information already, and I've found most of the AIG employees I know are pretty sensitive to those kinds of questions. But if it comes up organically, ask away.

You've been out of a job for 2 years, so, yeah, now's a good time to get in with them. Unless you're applying for a job in a brand-new unit, I wouldn't worry about job security too much. It sort of depends on what you're applying for (underwriter, claims, support, etc.), but I can't imagine that they're going to be eliminating jobs anytime soon. They are highly motivated to build their business right now, and with the attrition from the top jobs to other carriers, they're turning to their internal talent pool and raising folks to new positions. That means that if you're good, you can rise fairly quickly. But the bottom levels are filling pretty quickly since AIG is still the best training grounds for insurance talent there is out there.

And don't even think about the bonuses. They're not going to the insurance side.

You've been out of work for two years and you wonder if you should take a job offer? Your bank account must not look anything like mine.

Even if you're concerned about what the company's future looks like I'd like an income would be preferable to no income.

No offer yet, just in the interview process. Ironically, it has been feast or famine. Either I have a lot of leads at once, or none at all. The AIG gig is one of two stong ops that I have going at the moment. Of course, I will take any job that is offered with resonable salary.

As far as making it for two years with no job...we were a two income family, so with 3 months expenses in the bank before my work ended and a pattern of being very frugal (no extras...I mean no extras), you can make it a while on one modest income. We moved to a new apartment (cut rent by 50%), dropped all extras and put ourselves on a strict budget. I am not saying we are special, pleanty of people do it to get by, just the way it is right now.

The traditional part of AIG's business has just got to be cut loose from its toxic offspring at some point soon.

Take the job, but prepare for regular business card changes. ;)

I hear they give out good bonuses.

AIU now?

Yes, for about 3 weeks now. That's the core insurance operation - National Union, American Home, Lexington, etc. - that know what they're doing and are writing to something like a 97% loss ratio at the moment, which is one the best in the industry. They're going to jump that up soon, but that's as much a product of where we are in the insurance market cycle as any of the AIG fallout.

I'd be surprised if AIG doesn't get broken apart and restructured soon.

Take any job you can get. And enjoy it.

Yeah, you're about 4 weeks behind. That's already happened. AIU is the insurance piece.