I took an online assessment, recorded/submitted video responses to interview questions then I received an email inviting me to schedule a live virtual interview. I scheduled the interview and I thought it went well.. the interviewer complimented me for my response to his question about what progressive is looking for for this position & they complimented me again after I asked questions about the position. I was thrown off by one of the STAR format questions that he asked me.. I struggled to think of a work experience that matched his question but I tried my best. He said I’d hear back in about a week. I waited anxiously all week and never heard anything. I followed up the week after that via email and received an email response a few hours later stating that I wasn’t selected for the position and I can’t reapply for the position for 12 months. Yikes!!! I’m smart, nice, I have a degree, I’ve always done well in interviews, I work in law (which is a high stress, fast paced, difficult career field to work in), and I’m familiar with the legal side of auto accidents so I would at least have a little bit of knowledge going into the position if I had been chosen… what more do they want?! It’s an entry level trainee position! So disappointing because I really wanted this job and it sounded like a great fit for me. I personally believe that insurance companies are putting way too much emphasis on the STAR method. The STAR method responses are a natural way of responding during an interview anyway.. putting a label to it and grading people so harshly on whether they abide by it or not seems odd to me. I think that insurance companies are also interviewing too many people compared to the number of spots available for the position.. so more people are being rejected for the position, can’t reapply for an entire year, and only a few are being selected for the position. I think insurance companies are being overly selective with hiring for entry level positions. It shouldn’t be difficult to land an entry level insurance job. A lot of insurance companies aren’t paying well at all for these entry level positions and the cost of living is so high that I can’t even consider applying to some of them because I wouldn’t be able to cover my living expenses. Overall, super disappointing and frustrating experience.