Each month, we share an image from GEICO’s past and invite you to exercise your caption-writing skills.
We’ve been enduring some unseasonably chilly weather around the nation’s capital of late, so when I came across this photo, I immediately wanted to step right into it. Just look at these happy GEICO employees, out in their shirtsleeves on a balmy day, getting ready to take this sweet ride out for a little lunchtime cruise. Meanwhile, here in 2013, on Monday morning I watched snow falling outside my office window most of the day.
Correction: what I meant to say is that I occasionally glimpsed that snow falling during those fleeting seconds when I had a free moment to look up from my work to see it. Yeah, that’s better.
And Tuesday, it was cold, cloudy and gloomy all day. March doesn’t seem to have gotten the message about going out like a lamb. Anyway, the suggestion of carefree, warm days with the open road beckoning isn’t the only reason this photo appeals to me. It also reminds me of my own learning-to-drive experience, which came behind the wheel of my father’s black VW Beetle.
They don’t make ’em like that anymore.
Does this photo jog any memories for you? Let us know in the comments.
It’s a pretty good feeling to work for a company that comes to people’s aid when they’re in dire straits. But sometimes, events occur that make me even prouder of GEICO than I usually am. For example, after Superstorm Sandy left the Long Island and New Jersey coastal areas in shambles, GEICO associates arrived on the scene immediately afterward to take care of our customers. I heard some firsthand accounts of those events from our associates and our customers that were truly heartwarming.
Another extraordinary event occurred this week, when GEICO announced plans to open a new sales and service facility in Indianapolis. Within a year, we expect to hire 400 new associates, and ultimately will employ more than 1,000 there. That is great news for GEICO, certainly, but that’s not really why it puts a smile on my face.
I think back nearly 30 years to Jan. 9, 1984 – my first day working at GEICO. I didn’t know a lot about the company at the time, and little did I realize then what a critical moment that was in my life. GEICO has given me a great career and allowed me to provide the wife I would marry later that year and the three sons we now have with a comfortable home and a pleasant lifestyle.
Thanks to the Gecko, the 400 people we’ll be hiring in Indianapolis probably know a bit more about GEICO than I did when I was hired. What they probably won’t realize for some time is how GEICO is going to change their lives for the better. And who knows? Thirty years from now, one of them might be writing a little essay just like this one, about another new GEICO office opening. And that person will probably be just as proud of GEICO as I am right now.
Interested in a career with GEICO? Submit your application online through GEICO’s career site.
Welcome to our newest blog series! Here, we’ll introduce you to some of our information technology associates so that you can learn what it’s like working in IT @ GEICO. In the first of this series, you’ll meet Carolyn and Dave … bright, driven members of GEICO’s cutting-edge mobile team.
Carolyn T., lead application systems analyst GEICO associate since 2010, U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign alum
Carolyn came to GEICO through the IT track of our Emerging Leaders Program, after graduating with a double major in information technology and finance. Today, she’s leading a team of analysts, working on challenging projects, discussing concepts and designs, mentoring other associates … and having fun along the way!
What is the most exciting project that you are working on?
My team is constantly striving to provide our customers with the best mobile and tablet experience when interacting with their policies. Our projects stem from our research conducted on emerging technologies and methodologies.
What do you like most about GEICO?
I love working with the people on my team and providing them with career growth opportunities. Technology is constantly changing and our management team can utilize that to provide our team with fun, exciting projects while enhancing our customer’s experience at the same time. In addition, GEICO’s culture is to promote from within, and there are development programs for those who would like to one day be in IT management.
What other activities are you involved in?
I attend college career fairs and give classroom presentations to students in order share my experiences and advice for transitioning from college to work.
What is your favorite GEICO moment?
Seeing our CEO, Tony Nicely, dance with the Gecko at our annual meeting!
What is your favorite GEICO commercial?
In the current rotation of GEICO commercials, my favorite one is “Happier than Dikembe Mutombo.”
Dave K., senior programmer analyst GEICO associate since 2009, Penn State alum
After graduating with a degree in management information systems, Dave began his GEICO career. Today, he’s an iOS Developer on our mobile team, working to ensure our customers have the best possible mobile experience.
What is a typical day like for you in IT?
I spend much of my time coding and then testing with different iOS devices. When we have enough new features, we begin the update process. I then work with Apple to submit and update our apps on the AppStore.
What is the most exciting project that you are working on?
Every project I work on is exciting and interesting! Recently I helped implement a fully automated architecture to build and deploy our apps to our developers and analysts. This drastically cut down on the time it takes to fully test code and allows us to deliver more functionality at a faster pace.
What do you like most about working at GEICO?
The people I work with are some of the greatest people I have ever met, along with being the biggest influences in my career. GEICO is a family and I wouldn’t be where I am today without their support.
Are you involved in any GEICO volunteer events?
I volunteered for a Habitat for Humanity project and helped rebuild houses in southeast D.C. It was a very rewarding experience, and it was very interesting to work with my colleagues in a much different setting than we usually do.
What is your favorite GEICO moment?
A few years ago, we had a lot of snow and were outside on our breaks helping the Gecko sled with the neighborhood children on a nearby hill. The kids loved it and it was quite comical to see the Gecko sledding!
Working in IT @ GEICO offers analyst and developer career paths, the ability to utilize the latest technologies, and the chance to work with an industry-leading team. You will learn a lot, be challenged on a daily basis, and have the opportunity to build a lasting IT career. Learn more and apply today at geico.jobs/IT.
As part of our newest blog series, we’ll introduce you to some of our associates to learn first-hand about what it’s like working in various GEICO departments. Our first post in this series is all about working in our claims department, where you’ll meet Michael and Bonnie.
Michael D., liability claims in Marlton, N.J. GEICO associate since 2007
Prior to beginning his career in claims, Michael graduated from Rutgers University with a business degree in finance. Today, he’s in our supervisor preparation program, and is responsible for mentoring and coaching other claims associates, analyzing claims data to make strategic business decisions, and auditing complex claims and personal injury cases.
What do you like most about your job? I enjoy interacting with our customers and assisting them in their time of need. A car accident can be stressful … I want to show them that we are here to help in any way possible.
What do you want people to know about GEICO? GEICO is not only the fastest-growing major auto insurer; it’s also a company that provides many different job opportunities across the country.
What is your favorite GEICO moment? I was a part of a new claims system rollout and traveled to our Macon, Ga., location to assist. It was a great experience!
What is your favorite GEICO commercial? My favorite commercial is definitely the “Easier way to save” one with the pet possum.
Bonnie B., liability claims in Virginia Beach, Va. GEICO associate since 2011
What does a recreation and leisure studies grad do after college? Why, work at GEICO, of course! Bonnie launched her career with us soon after graduation, and has been learning new skills, assisting customers and getting involved ever since.
What are your main responsibilities as a telephone claim representative? I handle first-party injury claims when our insureds are hurt. This requires me to investigate car accidents, specifically those in which there is a liability dispute (meaning it’s not immediately clear who was at fault). It’s my job to gather all the facts and come to a final decision based upon the evidence obtained.
What do you like most about your job? Every day, my job provides me with the opportunity to interact with a variety of people and situations. Each accident is unique and rarely occurs the same way. I play a vital role in uncovering fraudulent claims and do my best to protect the company against fraud.
I also get the chance to work with our insureds – who were badly injured in accidents – and follow them through the recovery process until they are well again. Throughout the recovery process, I build relationships and feel great joy, as they do, once their treatments are complete.
How are you involved within your office? I am on the Virginia Beach marketing team, and help spread the word about GEICO to current and potential policyholders, and anyone else within the community that we can reach out to. I am also on the Distracted Driver Committee. Our latest campaign involves reaching out to local high schools and encouraging students to pledge to stop using their cellphones while driving.
What is your favorite GEICO moment? My favorite moment occurs on a near daily basis, when I see the involvement of the company in the community. GEICO is involved in many major sporting events, charity events, organizations, etc. Every time I see that involvement, I feel a great sense of pride in my company.
Working in claims requires the tenacity to investigate complex situations, the ability to build trust and relationships, and the skill to efficiently resolve and manage simultaneous cases. You can learn more about careers in insurance claims by visiting our career site and watching our associate video.
Each month, we share an image from GEICO’s past and invite you to exercise your caption-writing skills.
GEICO associates work hard to provide our customers the best service possible. But after the bell rings (Yes, we used to have a dismissal bell here at the corporate headquarters back in the day – and you sure didn’t want to be blocking the exit when it went off!), we like to play hard, too.
And GEICO supports our athletic endeavors; the company sponsors a variety of activities for its associates. During my time at HQ, we’ve had bowling, tennis, soccer, softball, basketball and golf leagues at one time or another.
These days, our softball teams are coed, but back in the 1960s, not so. These ladies were a force to be reckoned with when they took up the bats and gloves. Looks like they had a darn good time in the process, too.
Take a guess at what these women were thinking in the comments.
Imagine being parked on a quiet street visiting a friend for a couple of hours, and returning to find your car is gone! How likely is your car to be a target? That depends on what kind of car it is and what you do to reduce the chances of it being stolen.
For car thieves, speed is the name of the game; the quicker they can get into your vehicle and get it on the road, the more attractive it is to them. Any measures you can take to slow down car thieves and joy-riders will make your vehicle a less appealing target, say the auto insurance experts at GEICO.
“As long as there are cars on the road, auto theft will always be a concern for car owners,” said Steven Rutzebeck, director of GEICO’s special investigations unit. “However, there are a few simple tips you can follow to help minimize your chances of being a victim.”
GEICO recommends the following measures to protect against theft:
Lock your vehicle’s doors at all times, even while driving.
Never leave your car running and unattended, and don’t leave your keys in the car. Close all the windows, doors and the sunroof.
Make sure no personal items are in plain sight and remove all valuables from the vehicle if possible.
If your vehicle doesn’t already have an anti-theft system, have one installed. Thieves are more likely to break into cars that do not have alarm systems; they are less likely to steal vehicles that can be tracked. Many insurers offer discounts for vehicles equipped with anti-theft systems.
At night, park your car in well-lit areas and be aware of your surroundings.
If you park on an incline, leave your car in park or in gear with the wheels turned toward the curb. This makes it harder for thieves to tow your vehicle.
Know who you’re dealing with. Most auto thefts are committed by professionals who often target high-performance cars and popular models whose parts are interchangeable. They usually turn the cars they steal over to “chop shops” or to third parties that export them to other countries.
Watch out for the “bump-and-rob” move. Carjackers may intentionally bump your car from the rear and then steal it when you get out to examine the damage.
If confronted by a carjacker, do not resist. Cars can be replaced; you can’t.
As the manager of GEICO’s National College Recruiting team, one of the best parts of my job is being involved with our annual GEICO Achievement Award Program. For as long as I have been at GEICO, and way before that, we’ve given these awards to undergraduate students in recognition of their academic excellence and true dedication to their campuses and surrounding communities.
In 2012, more than 50 college students each received a $1,000 award to assist in paying for tuition, books and other school expenses. This year’s program is in full swing and the application window is quickly coming to a close. If you know any high-achieving college sophomores or juniors majoring in business, math or computer science, please encourage them to download an application and apply today!
To apply, each student must submit a completed application, resume and transcript, letter of recommendation from a faculty member or advisor, and an essay describing why he or she deserves to receive one of these awards. All of these application materials should be mailed in one envelope, so that required documents do not become separated.
The postmark deadline is Feb. 22, so get those applications in and be rewarded for your excellence. We are all very excited to receive your information and select the next group of outstanding recipients!
There’s a long history of love and marriage at GEICO. It goes way back to our earliest days; our founder, Leo Goodwin, and his wife Lillian worked side-by-side to get GEICO up and running. Today, more than 75 years later, Cupid’s arrow continues to strike, as some associates are finding more than just careers here.
Ivy & Jason, married in 2012
These newlyweds were working in different GEICO locations when they met in 2010. Ivy, who was an analyst in our Washington, D.C., corporate headquarters, was visiting our Fredericksburg, Va., regional office when she met Jason. “We loved ‘talking shop’ and bouncing ideas off each other,” said Ivy. Their first date was a Washington Wizards basketball game with some other associates, and the rest is history!
Cheryl & Todd, married in 1998
Nearly 20 years ago, Todd did not make the greatest first impression on Cheryl during an actuarial training session. She thought he was a bit of a “know-it-all,” but soon after, they became friends and occasionally played a little tennis. Four years later, he finally won her over and they married. “It is great seeing each other at work every day, albeit briefly,” says Todd. “And, it’s also nice having someone who understands completely when you describe how things are going at work. “
Joanne & Al, married in 2010
Five years ago, Joanne met Al briefly during one of GEICO’s annual golf outings. Then, while she was transitioning from our supervisor leadership program to her new role as a college recruiter, her laptop needed fixing. Systems technician Al was just the man for the job. Today, the couple is happily married, living in Virginia with their beautiful daughter … and are expecting their second child later this year!
When you spend eight or more hours a day, five days a week at work, it’s important to be with people you respect, support and care about. While we can’t guarantee you’ll find everlasting love inside our office walls, we know it’s certainly within the realm of possibility. So from all of us at GEICO … Happy Valentine’s Day!
Spring is just around the corner and you can just feel it … can’t you? The weather is going to change, the flowers are going to bloom, birds are going to sing, and soon-to-be graduates will be seeking out opportunities to put their hard-earned degrees to use.
The good news for these students is that there will be plenty of companies that will be happy to provide them the opportunities they seek. The spring recruiting season is upon us and the GEICO college recruiters, like many others, will be hitting the road searching for top talent to join the fastest-growing insurance company in the industry.
So you are probably asking yourself … why all the hoopla? Graduates need jobs and GEICO has jobs … end of story. Well, not quite. You see GEICO recruiters are not looking for just ANY graduates to fill our opportunities we are looking for the best of the best. The problem is that every other company is vying for the same talent.
The competition on campus has continued to grow from season to season and our college recruiters are constantly working hard to separate themselves from the pack. The college recruiters across the company are the brand ambassadors and the “face” of GEICO on campus. Over the next few months, you’ll find GEICO college recruiters at more than 100 schools and events to promote the opportunities that GEICO has to offer.
These events will range from the general career fair to specific events that will target diverse student populations. The recruiters’ work will make a lasting impression on the candidates they talk to on campus, and will have long-term effects on GEICO’s future talent base.
We are very excited for the spring – should be busy months for our recruiting team!
Each month, we share an image from GEICO’s past and invite you to exercise your caption-writing skills.
… and everything in its place!
Each of the bins atop this shelf was dedicated to a specific type of claims paperwork, and the slots below were each reserved for a particular claims associate. These ladies were tasked with making sure that not one single sheet wound up where it didn’t belong.
How did they do? Well, GEICO’s claim service has always earned us pretty high marks from our customers, so they must have done all right. But it sure seems like a cumbersome system compared to the speed with which claims information travels these days, via computer networks, email, instant message and smartphone.
One thing hasn’t changed, though. The job still isn’t finished until the paperwork is done!
Take a guess at what these women were thinking in the comments below.
Each month, we share an image from GEICO’s past and invite you to exercise your caption-writing skills. 
Another extraordinary event occurred this week, when GEICO announced plans to open a new sales and service facility in Indianapolis. Within a year, we expect to hire 400 new associates, and ultimately will employ more than 1,000 there. That is great news for GEICO, certainly, but that’s not really why it puts a smile on my face.
Carolyn came to GEICO through the IT track of our Emerging Leaders Program, after graduating with a double major in information technology and finance. Today, she’s leading a team of analysts, working on challenging projects, discussing concepts and designs, mentoring other associates … and having fun along the way!
After graduating with a degree in management information systems, Dave began his GEICO career. Today, he’s an iOS Developer on our mobile team, working to ensure our customers have the best possible mobile experience. 
Michael D., liability claims in Marlton, N.J.
Bonnie B., liability claims in Virginia Beach, Va.
Each month, we share an image from GEICO’s past and invite you to exercise your caption-writing skills. 
Ivy & Jason, married in 2012
Cheryl & Todd, married in 1998
Joanne & Al, married in 2010
By guest blogger Steve Cairns
Each month, we share an image from GEICO’s past and invite you to exercise your caption-writing skills. 
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