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Just put the phone number and the name of the hiring manager and somebody here will call them and get your questions asked.

TexasPride........I would save my money on Haag certification........That is gonna cost you over $800. I have been contractiing for over 20 years and adjusting as well. In my opinion this certification can wait. Spend your money training on Xactimate and getting certified there for level 1 and 2.

Whomever hired you has a website with all their information on training. Read many posts here to figure out how things work. It is a "great" learning tool.

Spend that Haag certification on TopAdjuster.com and get level 1 & 2 certified. Money better spent. As a rookie knowing Xactimate will get you more business the "Haag"

Good luck !

Mark

Posted By TexasPride on 31 Jan 2013 08:29 AM

Hello,

   I have recently became a licensed all-lines adjuster. I'm registered for Haag and NFIP certification courses within the next 2 weeks. I took an Xactimate class (no certification), but it was a breeze for me. I was miles ahead of my class, and I really loved using Xactimate. I've practiced using Xactimate on my house, and several others.

   I've been in contact with a firm who has decided to go ahead and offer me a 'conditional offer of employment contingent on a background check'. They've e-mailed me and said I've successfully passed the background check, and now I'm to wait on an e-mail from the training department to set up training.

   I'm so anxious I'm about to lose my mind. The firm is one of the big firms located on/near the gulf. What should I expect from the training, and should I be prepared to pay for my own expenses? Yes, I realize I'm an independent adjuster. However, I am serious with this question. Should I expect a webinar type training, or should i expect to drive/fly to their office?

.................................

Hello there,

Whilst I do NOT know which particular vendor you are speaking of, a few words that I hope you will take in the best possible manner. For starters, congrats on your successful completion of your" introduction to XM8 course" I can also tell you that one of CADO's greats would be tickled to know that a rookie adjuster actually made the effort to do something constructive with their budding knowledge of XM8 and scoping their "OWN" home. That great is Ray Hall. He was a claims professional (and I suspect still is as he is probably schooling GOD on the finer points of the FICUS tree) that passed not to long ago. 

Ray continually offered rookie adjusters a weekend of training to include lodging at NO cost. Inexplicably, he often had NO takers. It seems folks were only looking for the kind of training they had to pay for and at the end get a certificate.

In any case, in regard to HAAG and NFIP certification. 

In order to qualify for the residential HCRI course, you must have completed a minimum of 100 residential (sloped) roof inspections where you were the primary inspector, or you must have a minimum of 2 years of experience inspecting residential roofs for damage.

In order to qualify for the commercial HCRI course, you must have completed a minimum of 50 commercial (flat) roof inspections where you were the primary inspector, or you must have a minimum of 5 years experience inspecting commercial roofs

NOTE: Inspections are defined as adjusted claims, roof estimates, home inspections, or damage assessment of roofs.

In regard to NFIP certification, you must have a minimum of 4 years continuous verifiable experience handling insurance claims in addition to taking an NFIP adjuster workshop. (it took me 5 12/ years to get my NFIP certification and FCN# as I had a tough time documenting my first year or so as I worked as an apprentice)

You CAN in fact take an NFIP certification workshop, you are just NOT eligible to become NFIP certified until you have obtained the requisite experience.

There is an exception to that rule, certain vendors have come together with FEMA to offer an NFIP Apprentice Program where qualified individuals are paired with an NFIP certified adjuster. These individuals will receive an FCN # and are qualified to handle NFIP claims under the senior adjuster's supervision. (Two of these vendors are Pilot and Colonial)

Understand that many offers of "employment" are nothing more than cleverly worded training solicitations. Nevertheless, over the last few years many a career has been launched in this industry.

This could very well be a real offer, we just need more info.

As far as what to expect, well it's NOT rocket science but if you pay attention and take copious notes, you should do fine. I suspect if it's Pilot, or Worley CAT, you will be tasked with becoming State Farm or Allstate certified and will handle "mock" claims without XM8, you will be handwriting these claims.

State Farm is one of the largest carriers and many adjusters get their start with them. I would never ever work for SF again(many experienced adjusters share that opinion but you must come to your own conclusions), but the fact remains that many get their start with them.

I would NOT expect any webinar training

Whether you should drive or fly, well, as an independent adjuster you are essentially your own entity. As such, you should figure out what makes more financial sense, driving and lodging or flying rental car and lodging and meals. It depends where you are travelling from. I am on the west coast and as such 5.00 + per gallon of fuel to get to the gulf coast is NOT economical and I would fly and rent a vehicle. You should get used to operating on a ROI (return on investment) starting right now

If you would like to discuss in more detail I can be reached at catadjusterx@gmail.com 

Robby

Robby.....

I was wondering when you might chime in. You were extremely nice to the "newbie". I wrote a response right after Leland, but again it was too long and didn't get posted due to "operator error".

TexasPride....there is much you can do in researching for your answers, as Robby has "posted in the past".

Robbie, maybe you should call his manager for him. You don't find it curious that this individual doesn't have the gumption to ask simple questions of his prospective employer? Why is he asking us when we don't even know which company? Is he scared to ask them? Does he have problems speaking? Each and everyone of his questions are simple softball questions that his hiring manager should be happy to answer. None of his questions involve any secret insider information. None of his questions should embarrass him to ask. None of his questions could possibly make him look bad in the eyes of his manager- to the contrary it makes perfect sense to ask basic questions like "Where is my training going to occur?" or "Do I get paid during training?".

As adjusters we may have to ask an insured tough questions like "Are you behind on your mortgage? and " Do you know anyone who might have a reason to burn down your business?" or "Are you under the influence of any drugs, alcohol or medication that would affect your ability to answer my questions today?".

Maybe this person is very young. I can remember about 30 years ago when I felt uncomfortable asking a customer to pay a bill, the first time I had to do it. The next 1000 times weren't a problem.

My humble opinion is that we should advise this person to muster the courage and the communication skills to ask his employer directly. We can only guess at the possible answers, which is not really helping. If he can't ask on his own, I know it might sound cruel, but he is really not qualified to be a trainee adjuster.

After he gets the answers "from the horses mouth" we can tell him what we think of the answers.

I agree Leland....Texas needs to call the IA firm and ask all these questions. We all will be gald to give our "opinions" to any questions once he gets his facts together.

Robbie - Robby?

Posted By Pondman on 08 Feb 2013 02:23 PM
Robby.....

I was wondering when you might chime in. You were extremely nice to the "newbie". I wrote a response right after Leland, but again it was too long and didn't get posted due to "operator error".

TexasPride....there is much you can do in researching for your answers, as Robby has "posted in the past".

.................................................

Under normal circumstances, I would have stated roughly the same thing yet more curtly (is that even a word?) It just made me remember when hundreds of newly licensed rookie would ask ,"what can I do to get experience?"  Ray Hall would tell the new folks, "If you are serious about the industry, start by scoping your own house." Almost without fail, NOBODY would respond. So I suppose hearing that person say they DID scope their house, it resonated.........a little.

As you know, I am very shy and rarely voice my opinion***. I was trying to let this person down easily. He/she seemed under the impression that they were all but hired to start running claims. 

Nevertheless, it did seem a bit odd that said individual was already registered for both HAAG and NFIP. Both certifications require substantial experience.

In closing, normally I am all over telling the new folks (after initial licensing) to ONLY spend money on XM8 level 1/2/3. Pondscu uhm I mean, Pondman, you nailed it and TA is indeed a solid XM8 vendor

***(That's SARCASM by the way)

Posted By Pondman on 08 Feb 2013 02:23 PM
Robby.....

I was wondering when you might chime in. You were extremely nice to the "newbie". I wrote a response right after Leland, but again it was too long and didn't get posted due to "operator error".

TexasPride....there is much you can do in researching for your answers, as Robby has "posted in the past".

................................

One more thing, being that I tend to write far too long manifestos, I have learned if you take longer than 15 to 20 minutes on creating a response, when you hit "SUBMIT (which by the way Chuck Deaton says I should NEVER do again LOL) you will lose the post. So, if I write a doozy, when I am done I copy and paste the text, sign back in and hit.............................................................wait for it Chuck.........S-U-B-M-I-T)

Posted By Leland on 09 Feb 2013 03:07 AM
Robbie, maybe you should call his manager for him. You don't find it curious that this individual doesn't have the gumption to ask simple questions of his prospective employer? Why is he asking us when we don't even know which company? Is he scared to ask them? Does he have problems speaking? Each and everyone of his questions are simple softball questions that his hiring manager should be happy to answer. None of his questions involve any secret insider information. None of his questions should embarrass him to ask. None of his questions could possibly make him look bad in the eyes of his manager- to the contrary it makes perfect sense to ask basic questions like "Where is my training going to occur?" or "Do I get paid during training?".

As adjusters we may have to ask an insured tough questions like "Are you behind on your mortgage? and " Do you know anyone who might have a reason to burn down your business?" or "Are you under the influence of any drugs, alcohol or medication that would affect your ability to answer my questions today?".

Maybe this person is very young. I can remember about 30 years ago when I felt uncomfortable asking a customer to pay a bill, the first time I had to do it. The next 1000 times weren't a problem.

My humble opinion is that we should advise this person to muster the courage and the communication skills to ask his employer directly. We can only guess at the possible answers, which is not really helping. If he can't ask on his own, I know it might sound cruel, but he is really not qualified to be a trainee adjuster.

After he gets the answers "from the horses mouth" we can tell him what we think of the answers.

.................................

Leland, well said, point taken.

Robby,

***** = SARCASM....awww come on Robby...we all know Sarcasm is Spelled R-O-B-B-Y....that's understood ! ;)

Robbie, I think its great the way you help newcomers. But on another note, how come you didn't return my calls? I was looking for someone to help with my workload.

not from you personally but from one of the people in your rookie database

Posted By Leland on 12 Feb 2013 09:53 AM
not from you personally but from one of the people in your rookie database

Leland,

I am SO sorry that is absolutely unacceptable. I have had some issues that have taken me away from my normal mindset and as such have not been around my websites or work numbers.

If I or anyone I can get you in touch with can still help you in any way, I will eagerly do so.