Insurance Adjuster Jobs
Who can be an insurance adjuster
It is possible for anyone to become an insurance adjuster. Since there is no no college degree necessary, the only requirement that you need to meet is to be 18 years of age or older. While it is true that some professionals started their careers in the claims industry, many adjuster's claims careers begin after spending several years working in other fields. There are some more common backgrounds that people usually move from, such as construction, contracting, insurance, and property inspections. But really anyone can become an insurance adjuster: teachers, farmers, lawyers, truckers, plumbers, computer technicians, auto mechanics, and many others have all transitioned smoothly from their old worlds to their new insurance claims adjusting jobs.
What insurance adjusters do
An insurance claims adjuster's job is to inspect claims of damage or loss, to interpret and applie customers' insurance policies, and to negotiates settlement, and some may even authorize payments.
Why insurance adjusters are needed
Insurance adjusters are needed because settling an insurance claim will ultimately require human judgment to be done well. Since no 2 claims are exactly the same, call-in centers with computers can only so much before the unique qualities of each claim require the intelligence, initiative, and judgement of on-site field adjusters. Insurance adjuster jobs will always be around, because while outsourcing to technology can decrease the workload for adjusters, computers will never be able to replace humans in insurance adjuster jobs.
The need for insurance adjusters is never higher than the times when catastrophe strikes. In the wake of the 2005 hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita, major insurance companies found themselves in desperate need of licensed and trained independent insurance adjusters. Even though many major companies maintained a contingent of their own salaried "storm troopers" - these staffs were quite simply unable to handle the sheer volume of claims that were created just by the arrival of Katrina. When Rita and Wilma made landfall, it seemed as if the requirement to be hired as an independent adjuster changed from needing a license to just having a car. Thousands of inexperienced, newly minted "cat adjusters" cut their teeth on the storms of 2005 and many more will likely join the ranks in the future, as meteorologists have predicted that the next 10 to 15 years will be unusually high in storm activity.
Where insurance adjusters work
- Independent Adjuster. Independent adjusters generally will work wherever damage has been done by the vagaries of mother nature. Where the adjuster actually lives can have little or no impact upon where he or she works at. An independent adjuster who's residence is in Minnesota may have a contract with an adjusting firm based Iowa and be sent to work on hurricane claims in Florida! If your goal is a job as an independent claims adjuster you should be prepared for extensive travel.
- Staff Adjuster. Staff adjusters will typically work in a fairly limited geographical area around their place of residence. While is possible to travel for work, the range and frequency of doing so is far less than it is for the average independent adjuster. A job as a staff Adjuster may be more suitable for people who's family demands prohibit extensive travel and prolonged periods of time away from home.
When insurance adjusters work
- Independent Adjuster. Independent adjusters work for as long as the job requires. A hail storm may only need 3 weeks of time where as a category 5 hurricane could provide insurance adjusters with work for as much as a year of time. It is the intensity and scope of damage that determines the amount of claims filed and the time needed to settle each claim. It is not unusual for independent adjusters to be without work for months at a time. However, the compensation for "cat adjusting" is excellent, and prudent independent claims adjusters should be able to survive the lean times.
- Staff Adjuster. Staff adjusters generally have a more stable schedule to work by than the independent adjusters do. As a salaried employee, staff adjusters have work year round much like many other types of jobs. The security and consistency of cash flow make staff adjusting the more appealing option for some adjusters.
How you can become an insurance adjuster?
Successful insurance claims adjusting can be a very demanding career and it requires a high degree of professionalism. To see what it takes, check out the 7 habits of highly effective adjusters. Or if you are ready to get started on your adjuster career - check out how to become an insurance adjuster or obtain your claims license now.
If you h ave more questions you can see the 10 frequently asked questions in our Adjuster FAQ or send an email inquiry to us.
