How to Apply to Nationwide

10 min read Last updated March 7, 2026 40 open positions
Blake Crosley
Blake Crosley Researched using publicly available information, hiring data, and ATS analysis.

Key Takeaways

  • Tailor every application to the specific line of business — Nationwide's roles are niche (farm, human services, construction, middle market), and generic insurance resumes will not pass initial screening
  • Create a thorough Workday candidate profile and verify all parsed fields for accuracy — this profile serves as your persistent record across all Nationwide hiring teams
  • Place professional designations (CPCU, ARM, CIC, AIC) prominently on your resume and in your Workday profile, as recruiters actively filter candidates by these credentials
  • Prepare for scenario-based interview questions grounded in real insurance situations relevant to the specific role and line of business you're targeting
  • Research Nationwide's mutual company structure and be ready to articulate why that model appeals to you — this is a cultural differentiator interviewers genuinely care about
  • Monitor Nationwide's careers portal regularly, as their focused posting strategy (typically 10-40+ open roles) means high-fit opportunities appear and fill quickly

About Nationwide

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company stands as one of the largest and most diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States, consistently ranked among the Fortune 100. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Nationwide operates as a mutual company — meaning it is owned by its policyholders rather than public shareholders. This structure fundamentally shapes its culture: decisions are driven by long-term member value rather than quarterly earnings pressure. The company's portfolio spans property and casualty insurance, life insurance, commercial lines, agribusiness, pet insurance, and retirement and investment services, giving employees unusually broad career mobility within a single organization. Nationwide's culture is anchored by its iconic promise — 'Nationwide is on your side' — which extends internally to how the company treats its workforce. With approximately 26,000 employees, Nationwide is large enough to offer enterprise-scale resources and career development but maintains a reputation for genuine collegiality that many former employees of larger carriers note as distinctive. The company has invested heavily in hybrid and remote work infrastructure, and many roles — particularly in claims, underwriting, and loss control — offer geographic flexibility. People seek out Nationwide for its stability (over 95 years in operation), its strong benefits package including pension and 401(k) matching, its commitment to diversity and inclusion through associate resource groups, and the opportunity to build deep insurance expertise across multiple lines of business. For professionals in property and casualty insurance, Nationwide represents a career destination where technical mastery in underwriting, claims, and loss control is genuinely valued and rewarded with advancement.

Application Process

  1. 1
    Explore Roles on Nationwide's Workday Careers Portal

    Visit Nationwide's dedicated Workday careers page at nationwide.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com to browse open positions. Nationwide currently maintains a focused slate of openings (often 10-30 active postings at any given time), so roles are targeted and competitive. Use the search filters to narrow by job family (Claims, Underwriting, Loss Control, Finance, etc.), location, and work arrangement (remote, hybrid, or on-site).

  2. 2
    Create Your Workday Candidate Profile

    You'll need to create an account in Nationwide's Workday instance before applying. Complete every section of your candidate profile thoroughly — Workday profiles at Nationwide serve as your persistent record, meaning hiring managers across departments can discover you for future openings even if your initial application doesn't result in an offer. Upload your resume, but also manually fill in work history fields, as Workday's parsing can sometimes mismap insurance-specific job titles.

  3. 3
    Submit a Tailored Application for Your Target Role

    Each Nationwide posting includes specific qualifications, preferred credentials (such as CPCU, ARM, or CIC designations), and line-of-business context. Tailor your resume and any supplemental answers to mirror the language in the posting — particularly around insurance product lines like commercial, farm, or specialty. Nationwide's Workday system uses keyword matching, so aligning your terminology with the job description is essential.

  4. 4
    Complete Any Pre-Screening Assessments

    Depending on the role, Nationwide may include Workday-integrated assessments or questionnaires as part of the application. Claims and underwriting roles, for instance, commonly include situational judgment or technical knowledge screening questions. Answer these carefully — they often serve as an initial gate before a recruiter reviews your full profile.

  5. 5
    Recruiter Phone Screen

    Qualified candidates typically receive outreach from a Nationwide talent acquisition specialist within two to four weeks. This initial conversation commonly covers your insurance experience, licensure status, familiarity with specific lines of business (farm, commercial middle market, human services, etc.), compensation expectations, and geographic flexibility. Recruiters at Nationwide are known for being transparent about role scope and next steps.

  6. 6
    Hiring Manager and Panel Interviews

    Nationwide's interview process for professional roles typically involves two to three rounds. You'll likely meet with the hiring manager first, followed by a panel that may include peers, senior underwriters, or claims leaders. For technical roles like Loss Control Consultant or Senior Underwriter, expect scenario-based questions rooted in real insurance situations — analyzing a risk, evaluating a claim, or recommending a coverage structure.

  7. 7
    Background Check, Offer, and Onboarding

    Nationwide conducts thorough background checks, and some roles (particularly in claims and financial services) require specific state licensure or designations. Offers are typically extended within one to two weeks after final interviews. Nationwide's onboarding process is structured and includes orientation to company values, compliance training, and line-of-business-specific ramp-up programs — particularly robust for claims service center and underwriting roles.

Resume Tips for Nationwide

critical

Lead with Insurance Lines of Business Experience

Nationwide's open roles are highly specific to lines of business — farm commercial, middle market, human services, construction loss control. Your resume should explicitly name the insurance lines you've worked in, the types of accounts you've handled, and the policy complexity level. Instead of 'Managed commercial accounts,' write 'Underwrote commercial property and casualty policies for middle-market accounts with $5M–$50M in annual premium.' This specificity helps Workday's keyword matching and immediately signals relevance to hiring managers.

critical

Highlight Professional Designations and Licensure Prominently

Nationwide values industry credentials — CPCU, ARM, CIC, AINS, AIC, and state-specific adjuster or producer licenses appear frequently in their job postings. Place these designations in a dedicated 'Certifications & Licenses' section near the top of your resume, and also include them after your name in the header (e.g., 'Jane Smith, CPCU, ARM'). Workday's search functionality allows recruiters to filter by certifications, so missing this section could mean your application is never surfaced.

critical

Use Nationwide's Own Terminology and Role Titles

Nationwide uses specific naming conventions — 'Loss Control Consultant' rather than 'Risk Engineer,' 'Claims Specialist' rather than 'Claims Adjuster,' 'Commercial Lines' rather than 'Business Insurance.' Study the job descriptions on their Workday portal and mirror these terms throughout your resume. This isn't about keyword stuffing; it's about demonstrating you understand Nationwide's organizational language and can operate within their framework from day one.

recommended

Quantify Underwriting, Claims, or Loss Control Impact

Insurance professionals often undersell their quantifiable achievements. Include metrics like book of business size, loss ratios managed, claim closure rates, number of risk assessments completed annually, premium volume underwritten, or retention rates. Nationwide's hiring managers — many of whom have decades of P&C experience — look for evidence that you can handle the volume and complexity their portfolios demand.

recommended

Demonstrate Knowledge of Nationwide's Diverse Business Segments

Nationwide isn't just personal auto insurance. Their commercial lines encompass farm and agribusiness, specialty human services, construction, and middle-market commercial — plus financial services, retirement, and group benefits. If your experience touches multiple segments, make that breadth visible. A candidate who shows awareness of Nationwide's full footprint signals long-term career potential and internal mobility — something a mutual company values highly.

recommended

Format for Workday Parsing: Clean Structure, No Graphics

Workday's resume parser handles standard .docx and .pdf formats but struggles with multi-column layouts, embedded tables, headers/footers containing critical information, and graphic elements. Use a single-column format, standard section headings (Professional Experience, Education, Certifications), and clean bullet points. Verify that Workday correctly parsed your content after uploading by reviewing the auto-populated fields in your candidate profile before final submission.

nice_to_have

Include Technology and Systems Proficiency Relevant to Insurance

Nationwide, like most large carriers, operates on enterprise platforms — Guidewire for claims and policy administration, various data analytics tools, and proprietary underwriting systems. If you have experience with Guidewire ClaimCenter, PolicyCenter, ISO rating tools, catastrophe modeling software, or insurance data analytics platforms, list them explicitly. These technical competencies increasingly differentiate candidates, especially for senior underwriting and claims roles.

nice_to_have

Showcase Community and Volunteer Involvement

Nationwide has a deep institutional commitment to community engagement, including its well-known Nationwide Children's Hospital partnership and various local philanthropy programs. If you have volunteer experience — especially related to community resilience, disaster relief, or financial literacy — include a brief section. This isn't fluff; it aligns with Nationwide's mutual company ethos and values-driven culture, and hiring managers notice it.

ATS System: Workday

Nationwide uses Workday Recruiting (specifically their wd1 instance) to manage all external hiring. Workday parses uploaded resumes to auto-populate candidate profiles, ranks applicants using keyword and qualification matching, and provides recruiters with filtering tools to surface candidates by credentials, experience level, and location. Your Workday candidate profile persists across applications, so accuracy and completeness are essential for both immediate and future opportunities at Nationwide.

  • Upload your resume as a .docx or standard .pdf — avoid scanned image PDFs, as Workday cannot parse them effectively
  • After uploading, manually review and correct every auto-populated field in your Workday profile, especially job titles and dates that may be mis-parsed from insurance-specific formatting
  • Use exact phrases from Nationwide's job descriptions — 'Loss Control,' 'Commercial Lines,' 'Farm,' 'Human Services' — since Workday's screening uses these as keyword filters
  • Complete the optional sections of your Workday profile including skills, certifications, and education details — recruiters at large carriers like Nationwide use these fields to search for candidates across open requisitions
  • Do not use headers, footers, or text boxes for critical information like your name or contact details — Workday's parser often skips content in these areas
  • Apply to specific roles rather than submitting a general interest application — Workday routes applications to requisition-specific hiring teams, and a general profile without a linked application may not be reviewed
  • If a posting disappears, check back regularly — Nationwide's focused job count means roles are posted strategically and new openings may appear as business needs shift

Complete Workday Resume Guide →

Interview Culture

Nationwide's interview culture reflects its identity as a mutual company with deep insurance roots — expect a process that is thorough, professional, and relationship-oriented rather than high-pressure or adversarial. For most professional roles (underwriting, claims, loss control), the process typically spans two to three rounds conducted over three to five weeks. The first round is almost always a phone or video screen with a Nationwide recruiter from the Talent Acquisition team. This conversation focuses on verifying your insurance background, understanding your career trajectory, confirming licensure and designation status, and assessing basic cultural alignment. Recruiters tend to be well-versed in the specific line of business they're hiring for, so expect informed questions rather than generic screening. The second round typically involves the hiring manager and may be conducted via Microsoft Teams video. For technical roles like Senior Underwriter or Loss Control Consultant, prepare for scenario-based questioning: you might be asked to walk through how you'd evaluate a commercial risk, handle a complex claim, or approach a loss control survey for a specific industry (construction, human services, agriculture). Nationwide values depth of technical knowledge and sound judgment over flashy presentation. A third round, when required, often involves a panel of peers and cross-functional leaders. For senior roles like VP National Accounts Executive or Director-level positions, expect conversations with multiple stakeholders including regional leaders and executive sponsors. These discussions evaluate not just your expertise but your collaborative style — Nationwide's culture emphasizes teamwork across business units. Culture fit signals that Nationwide interviewers respond to include: genuine commitment to policyholder outcomes (not just premium targets), intellectual curiosity about insurance trends, willingness to mentor and develop others, and comfort with Nationwide's measured, consensus-driven decision-making style. This is not a move-fast-and-break-things environment — it's a protect-and-serve-members environment, and your interview demeanor should reflect that. Come prepared with specific examples of how you've balanced business results with customer advocacy, and demonstrate awareness of Nationwide's mutual structure and what that means for day-to-day priorities.

What Nationwide Looks For

  • Deep expertise in specific insurance lines of business — Nationwide hires specialists, not generalists, for roles in farm commercial, middle market, construction loss control, and human services
  • Professional designations and continuing education commitment — CPCU, ARM, CIC, and similar credentials signal the technical seriousness Nationwide expects
  • Policyholder-first mindset aligned with Nationwide's mutual company structure — candidates who frame decisions around member outcomes rather than purely shareholder returns
  • Quantifiable track record of managing complex insurance portfolios — book size, loss ratios, claim volumes, and retention metrics that demonstrate real-world impact
  • Collaborative working style suited to Nationwide's team-oriented, cross-functional culture — lone wolves and highly competitive personalities are a poor fit
  • Adaptability to hybrid work models and enterprise-scale technology platforms, including comfort with tools like Guidewire, data analytics systems, and virtual collaboration
  • Long-term career orientation — as a mutual company, Nationwide invests heavily in employee development and values candidates who see the role as a career chapter, not a stepping stone

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Nationwide's hiring process typically take from application to offer?
Based on common patterns reported by candidates, Nationwide's hiring timeline typically ranges from four to eight weeks from initial application to offer. The recruiter phone screen usually occurs within two to four weeks of application submission, followed by one to two additional interview rounds spaced one to two weeks apart. Senior and director-level roles (such as VP National Accounts Executive or Director of Business Development) may take longer due to multi-stakeholder interviews and executive approvals. Setting email alerts on your Workday candidate portal helps you stay informed about status changes throughout the process.
Does Nationwide require a cover letter with applications submitted through Workday?
Nationwide's Workday application typically does not include a mandatory cover letter upload field for most roles, but many postings allow you to attach additional documents. For highly specialized or senior positions — particularly those in commercial underwriting, loss control consulting, or executive leadership — submitting a cover letter can meaningfully differentiate your application. If you do write one, focus on your specific line-of-business expertise, relevant designations, and why Nationwide's mutual company model appeals to you. Avoid generic letters; hiring managers at a company of this size can immediately tell when a cover letter wasn't written for them.
What resume format works best with Nationwide's Workday ATS?
Submit your resume as a .docx or text-based .pdf file using a single-column layout with standard section headings. Workday's parser at Nationwide auto-populates your candidate profile from the uploaded document, but it struggles with multi-column designs, tables, text boxes, headers/footers, and graphic elements. After uploading, always review the auto-populated fields in your Workday profile to correct any parsing errors — particularly around insurance-specific job titles like 'Loss Control Consultant' or 'Associate Claims Specialist' that may be unfamiliar to the parser. Your profile accuracy directly impacts whether recruiters can find you when searching the candidate database.
What should I prepare for in a Nationwide interview for underwriting or claims roles?
Nationwide's interviews for technical insurance roles are heavily scenario-based. For underwriting positions, expect to discuss how you'd evaluate specific commercial risks, price policies given certain loss histories, or handle a renewal negotiation with an agent. For claims roles, prepare to walk through your approach to investigating a complex claim, managing litigation, or handling a coverage dispute. Bring specific examples from your career — actual account types, industries, and outcomes — rather than theoretical answers. Interviewers at Nationwide are experienced insurance professionals who value practical knowledge and sound judgment. Also prepare to discuss how you balance business growth targets with underwriting discipline, which is a core tension in P&C insurance that Nationwide takes seriously.
Does Nationwide offer remote or hybrid work for insurance professionals?
Nationwide has been at the forefront of flexible work arrangements in the insurance industry, having shifted to a significant hybrid and remote model. Many professional roles — including claims, underwriting, and certain loss control positions — offer remote work options, though this varies by role. Loss Control Consultants and Specialists, for example, typically require travel to client sites and operate from home offices within assigned territories. When reviewing postings on Nationwide's Workday portal, check the location and work arrangement details carefully, as each role specifies its flexibility level. During the recruiter screen, confirming work arrangement expectations is both appropriate and expected.
What experience level does Nationwide typically require for open roles?
Nationwide's current openings span a wide range — from Associate Claims Specialist positions suited for early-career professionals with one to three years of insurance experience, to Director and VP-level roles requiring 15+ years of specialized expertise. Many mid-career roles like Loss Control Consultant or Senior Underwriter commonly require five to ten years of relevant P&C insurance experience plus professional designations. Nationwide also has a strong track record of developing internal talent, so demonstrating growth potential and a learning orientation can help if you're slightly below the stated experience threshold. Entry-level candidates should watch for Associate and Specialist-level postings, which serve as on-ramps to Nationwide's career development framework.
How important are insurance designations like CPCU or ARM when applying to Nationwide?
Professional designations carry significant weight at Nationwide and are frequently listed as preferred or required qualifications. The CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter) is particularly valued across underwriting and claims roles, while ARM (Associate in Risk Management) and CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor) are commonly sought for commercial and loss control positions. Even if a designation is listed as 'preferred' rather than 'required,' holding one — or being actively enrolled in coursework — meaningfully strengthens your candidacy. Nationwide invests in continuing education for employees and views designation pursuit as evidence of professional commitment. If you're currently working toward a designation, mention your progress and expected completion date on your resume.
Can I apply to multiple positions at Nationwide simultaneously through Workday?
Yes, Workday allows you to apply to multiple open requisitions at Nationwide, and doing so is reasonable if you genuinely qualify for each role. However, given Nationwide's typically focused number of active postings (often around 10-30 at any time), be strategic rather than applying indiscriminately. Each application goes to a different requisition-specific hiring team, and recruiters can see your full application history in Workday. Applying to three closely related roles (e.g., two Loss Control Consultant positions in different territories) is sensible; applying to ten unrelated roles signals a lack of focus. Tailor each application's resume focus to the specific line of business and seniority level of the posting.
What makes Nationwide different from other large P&C insurance carriers as an employer?
Nationwide's mutual company structure is the most consequential differentiator. Unlike publicly traded competitors driven by quarterly earnings, Nationwide's policyholder-ownership model creates a culture that prioritizes long-term member value, underwriting discipline, and sustainable growth. In practice, employees commonly report less pressure to hit aggressive short-term targets and more freedom to make decisions they believe are right for policyholders. Nationwide also offers unusually broad internal mobility — with business lines spanning personal and commercial P&C, farm and agribusiness, life insurance, financial services, pet insurance, and retirement — allowing you to build a diverse career without changing companies. The company's Columbus, Ohio headquarters provides a lower cost of living compared to competitors based in New York or Hartford, and its benefits package (including pension eligibility) is considered strong within the industry.

Sample Open Positions

Check Your Resume Before Applying → View 40 open positions at Nationwide

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Sources

  1. Nationwide Careers - Current Job Openings — Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
  2. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company - About Us — Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
  3. Nationwide Insurance Reviews and Company Information — Glassdoor
  4. Workday Recruiting - How Candidates Navigate the Application Process — Workday, Inc.