Aptitude and a willingness to work hard were cited as what it takes to move ahead in Bermuda's insurance sector, according to a group of Bermudians recently promoted at Renaissance Re (RenRe).

Although coming from diverse educational backgrounds, the group said there are significant opportunities for Bermudians in the sector if one is "able and willing to put in the time".

Josephine Smith, who was just appointed as an assistant vice president at RenRe, could be called a veteran of the industry. She started out in the industry some 20 years ago, "when insurance first came to the Island."

Ms Smith added: "I started out at the bottom and worked my way up through the years. I found people (in the industry) very willing to teach and mentor. And I was able to develop to where I am now," she said.

Although the group said a University degree and industry designations are key, some have done well without.

Ms Smith did not pursue post-secondary education, and said: "When I started it was not about your degree but aptitude and willingness. And I am a product of that," she said.

Speaking of what drives them to do well in their jobs, the group said it is a desire to get the job done, and "done right".

In addition, the group said there there is also a sense of "ownership". And in this case, doing the job well does translate into real and tangible ownership - all of the staff members are owners in the company with stock options and incentive programmes.

James Burnett-Herkes, senior analyst - US Underwriting said the company's small size also contributed to the company working "as a team". He said: "Personal differences are set aside in favour of getting the job done. We work as a team, and we have fun too."

As senior network analyst Dion Tucker is the only one of the group not strictly working in insurance.

Mr. Tucker studied information technology (IT) in the US and worked there before returning to the Island. He said: "I started at rock bottom. I was literally cleaning computers and I worked my way up to where I am now heading (a department) of four people."

Mr. Tucker, who joined RenRe in 1996, had strong words for some of the young Bermudians he has encountered in the course of interviewing job applicants: "The work ethic stinks," he said.

Mr. Tucker also said that he had heard a wide range of gripes including "all the ex-pats have the jobs" and "you mean I have to work week-ends".

Mr. Tucker said he had, the day before, worked in to the late hours of the night and had also worked through the May 24 holiday.

"I have to put in time, and with IT I often work after everyone else goes home. And I don't mind a bit," he said.

Mr. Tucker also sought to dispel the notion that getting a job in the industry is based on knowing the person hiring: "I did not know anyone here (at RenRe). I saw the job advertised in the newspaper and I was offered the job the next day," he said.

Ms Smith added: "There is the perception that certain Bermudians go up the corporate ladder. Black, white, male, female; it does not matter. If you do a good job - it is on that basis that you will be promoted," she said.

Michael Cash, who was recently promoted to the position of senior vice-president, was the only one of the group to study an insurance discipline in University. He graduated from the University of Waterloo with a degree in actuarial science and statistics.

Mr. Cash said: "I wanted to make my home in Bermuda. And being an actuary on the Island is a good door opener (to the sector)" he said. An actuary is an insurance professional who specialises in statistical information. Ultimately, actuaries are responsible for determining rates and rating methods and evaluating insurance company reserves.

Mr. Cash said the discipline's strong focus on mathematical, business and analytic skills are sought after in the industry. But as pure actuary work is "not all that interesting", Mr. Cash has held several underwriting positions. After his recent promotion to senior vice president for specialty insurance, Mr. Cash is the company's most senior Bermudian.

It was Jon Paradine's tongue-in-cheek opinion that being a musician in the Middle East was the way to get in to insurance.

Of course, Mr. Paradine also has a degree in economics and in his own words, "worked his ass off" over the last six years. But he did jump from being a musician in Dubai to working in insurance. Mr. Paradine said he returned to the Island and although Renaissance Re agreed to take a chance on him, he had to prove himself.

Playing music to the crowds may be an unorthodox base from which to jump in to insurance but Mr. Paradine said in his work today he draws from the same skills he used on stage: "As a musician you stand up in front of people and do a job. This is similar. You have to be competent and have your skill set. And you have to sell yourself in either case. As a musician it is to the crowd or in this job, to the brokers and clients," he said.

Mr. Paradine said: "I was hired on for a we-will-see basis as a technical analyst. And after two weeks I was hired on full-time, but you do have to work really, really hard. We work long hours and depending on the time of year we may start at 8:30am and go through to 10:30 at night. We work whenever to get the job done," he said..