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Posted By get started on 14 Nov 2012 05:13 PM

I am a very experience pdrp estimator and will be receiving my Texas All Lines License in a few weeks. I am looking to get to the Sandy region. I am willing to go work for anyone needing assistance scoping and entering claim losses. I am also capable of taking a claim from assignment to closing. If anyone can help me "break in" I would really really appreciate the help. 

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Kudos to you for being pro-active. Nevertheless, you probably won't have much luck until you have your Texas license in hand. Hopefully, you are a resident of Texas because unless that adjuster's license is a resident adjuster's license, you will have a tough time to get licensed in any other state. If you are NOT a Texas resident and have taken the Texas course because your home state does NOT license adjusters, you will have to designate Texas as your home state for licensing purposes.

In the future for other adjusters who aren't texas residents but their own state does NOT license adjusters, foklks should consider Indiana as a designated home state. You can get your license much quicker and less hurdles to clear and can have license in hand in 3 to 5 days after you either sit for the exam or take the classroom or online course as opposed to multiple weeks from Texas or Florida to go through the process.

It should be stated that there is work for almost anyone with a pulse (and adjuster's license(s) right now) If you are solid with XM8, I suggest you grab the level 2 and level 3 XM8 certification. That WILL set you apart from the ranks of the rookie adjusters entering the industry through Sandy. With that cert on your resume, a higher level IA firm will prolly give you a chance. You don't want to be a part of the group of rookie adjusters who will cut their teeth on Sandy and get BURNED for monies owed. Going with a second or third tier vendor will carry that risk.

If your NOT solid with XM8 take these next few weeks and get solid. You can do it!!

 

Good luck to all of you and may god bless you all and keep you all safe 

Oops, I forgot to state something. If you are strong with XM8, you can break in on your own my friend. Just the moment you receive your Texas license apply for the states in the NE area where Sandy has decimated communities. Understand you will not be able to get licensed in New York without sitting for their exam

Although I don't recommend not getting an adjuster license, you can go ahead and apply with many firms and probably get a deployment. I've worked since Ike without a license. I did pass the Texas exam, but didn't get the license because I never had time to get it sent in on time because I was so busy working multiple deployments last year. Like CatAdjusterX stated, I am going to work on getting the Indiana license this time around when I get a chance after this storm. A license makes it easier on the IA firms to find you a deployment.

A good way to get your feet wet in the industry is try to get a rope & harness team assignment. It's a good way to learn what to do and not do. I started as a ground assist, and I learned from the lead adjusters I worked under. I got to see the mistakes the rookie lead adjusters made, and I also got to learn under long time vet adjusters who gave me valuable lessons.

I think the 3 or 4 bigger IA firms will pull emergency licenses for you if they really want you out there.

I was in your same position 2 months ago. I had 9 years experience in estimating, I knew how to use XM8, but I was not licensed. I applied with all the big firms and got offered a job with 3 of them (After orientation I realized they hired just about everyone who applied lol)  The firm started me in NJ with no license. Once the claims started slowing down in NJ they sent me to NY to take the Indiana exam on Thanksgiving day. I have been working claims in the Brooklyn/Rockaway area ever since. My advice would be to apply right away even if you do not have your license yet. I can only speak for the firm I am working for, but most of the rookies have been sent home from the NE area. My admin told me there are only 4 rookies left working claims in NY. Everyone else still working have been with the firm for awhile, and most of them opted to go on day rate because most of the claims now are all supplements. I would say over 50% of the claims I am receiving at this point are supplements. With that said, there should be a ton of supplements for you to work if you can get hired, and my admin said that fresh claims tend to pick back up after the holidays.