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Last Post 07/05/2007 10:52 PM by  wiggles030
Yet another CAT Adjuster Wannabe
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jhite
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07/02/2007 12:41 AM

    Greetings,

    Just read the responses to Stacy Hudson's post regarding US Staffing and became slightly disillusioned. But reflecting on the inexperience of some of my classmates in real estate inspection school I understand the the prospects offered in the reply.

    Given my credentials (or lack thereof) listed below is this a viable field for me?

    Secondly, should I infer it would be a better path to seek a position with an employer who will provide training rather than take classes on my own?

    Lastly, I see in the CADO hot ads that http://www.1stceu.com offers a 3 day online course for $299. Does CADO screen their advertisers?

    I am learning a lot just reading this forum and appreciate all the time you veterans put into your replies.


    Thanks,

    John

    Denison, Texas



    Relevant experience
    ===================

    Licensed and 5 years experience Texas Profession Real Estate Inspector.

    Plumbing, electrical, and AC experience w/ EPA certification.

    General construction and home construction experience. Not a skilled tradesman, but I have built, wired and plumbed buildings here on the farm.

    Roofing sales and estimating.

    BS degree - engineering. Mostly software last 20 years.

    Enjoy working on the road, and outdoors. Don't mind physical labor or climbing.

    Age: 53

    Tags: FAQ
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    JimGary
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    Posts:470


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    07/02/2007 7:10 PM
    JHite, Let me be the first to welcome you aboard. Your credentials will surely get you deployed in the event of a major catastrophe the level of Katrina or Wilma. I'm sure right now you will be able to be added to many "first call" lists, and you should start recieving emails requesting your presence at training and certification classes....for a nominal fee of course, but this will solidify your position with vendor...and as a support system we all meet at the local coffee shop and compare notes on how long its been since our last deployment.

    Well enough with the sarcasm, and my appologies if I offend. The reality is yes your credentials will probably qualify you as a cat adjuster. The reality is also that there are many many adjusters right now with many years experience waiting for deployment. If you wish to try your hand this, get trained, get certified, get equiped, keep your day job and wait for an event that will deploy you.

    And welcome to our world.

    JWG
    I know the voices aren't real, but sometimes they're right!
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    jhite
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    07/02/2007 10:24 PM
    Thanks for the reply, Jim. Now I need to read the archives and see what folks are doing to get trained, certified and equipped.

    Anyone care to take a shot at my 2nd and 3rd questions in my original post?

    Thanks,

    john
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    wiggles030
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    07/04/2007 2:47 AM

    Yes, another wannabe....I recently got my Texas license and I am looking to ride someone's coat tails 

    for a few weeks just to get a little more educated and some hands on experience...any advice, or

    direction would be appreciated...

                                                            Shawna C.

                                                              Whitesboro, Tx

     

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    JimGary
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    Posts:470


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    07/04/2007 2:57 PM

    Well I'll give my 2 cents worth for your consideration. As for working for a company as a staff adjuster, that is a viable option. I can only relay my own experience. WIth Farmers, I was trained, equiped, and given a company car along with a steady salary. Of course with that comes dealing with a corperate hierarchy that is sometimes unpleasant. But in all it was a good start.

    As far training courses, each individual is different, as are the courses. I had some experience, so I took a 1 week course in Dallas, and it was enough for me, but some in the class needed a lot more help. A friend took a three day course and retained nothing. Another took Vales 3 week course and said it was great. I don't know if there is a screening process, that would be for CADO to answer, but I'm sure if a shyster is found, the ad would be pulled.

     

    Hope that helps, and good luck

    JWG

    I know the voices aren't real, but sometimes they're right!
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    01Snake
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    07/04/2007 4:00 PM

    I'd say got the staff route as well. Spent some time there and then make the jump when you feel more comfortable.

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    wiggles030
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    07/04/2007 10:52 PM

    Thank you, guys, for the input. It does lead me to one other question, though: How do you get on as a staff adjuster when they all seem to require X years of experience but one has NO experience? How do you get the experience when you can't get going?

             Shawna

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    Ray Hall
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    Posts:2443


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    07/05/2007 12:52 AM

    Shawna and others . Unlicensed people will be hired  as independant contractors(FICUS) to inspect and photo damaged homes- buildings this year. You will need a laptop computer, a digital camera , a folding ladder, a high speed internet card. This work will be for licensed adjusters who will scope the loss before you become involved. You will transmit the furnished tic sheets back to the adjusters office to be input into the computer programs.

    You will pay your own expenses to travel and live at the storm site. This is piece work and you should be able to gross $300.00 per day each day you work..

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    JimGary
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    07/05/2007 8:46 AM
    Shawna, It is a problem getting experience when no one will hire you without experience. Just keep plugging, apply for positions that even require experience. What employers are looking for is knowledge. If you can show you have the knowledge they may consider you even without experience.
    I know the voices aren't real, but sometimes they're right!
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    wiggles030
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    07/05/2007 10:56 AM

    I have my Texas license,laptop, internet, etc...but NO JOBS.......Maybe I am over anxious, but I'm just really ready to get out there and get going. I guess I'll do what you suggested and apply for every adjuster position I come upon...maybe something with come through eventually...  I know once I can get going it'll be OK. I learn quick, I retain the info, I have a good base knowledge ( I think..), and I am very determined to make this work. I just need the opportunity to prove it...

    Thank you for the advice

    Shawna

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    ranger
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    Posts:56


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    07/05/2007 11:01 AM
    I worked as a staff adjuster for Crum & Forster and Farmers Insurance Group. There is no better place to get trained than as a Staff Adjuster. Both of these companies required a four year college degree to be hired. I have worked Georges for an independent and I have worked Ivan, Katrina and Wilma as a temporary employee with Eberl's. I took a course with Vale National and their training was very good. After taking a course with Vale, I would suggest trying to get hired with a large independent before you lose the knowledge you paid for. I would also suggest taking training with Walker Group as you would stand a good chance of being deployed by them.

    If we have another major hurricane I believe you will get hired. I met new adjusters during Katrina that did not have any background to qualify them as an adjuster. I also saw 75 adjusters quit during the first two weeks of Katrina.
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    wiggles030
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    07/05/2007 11:45 AM
    I would love to get on as a staff adjuster with a good company, but that college degree (lack of) is what gets me. How do I get on with a company with no degree and no experience? I pick up on things pretty quick, but I know that does NOT compare with a degree... Who is Walker Group and how can one get in contact with them? Should I apply for staff jobs even if I don't meet all of their requirements?

    Shawna
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    ranger
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    07/05/2007 1:26 PM
    Shawna, I do not know where you are located and you stand a chance if you are close to a major city. I worked as a temporary inside adjuster for Fireman's Fund Marine Department from October through February of 2007. There was a woman in that department that had worked for that company for 15 years and was an Adjuster III. She did not have a college degree but she was very aggressive and a quick learner. She started out as a policy typist.

    Your chances of being hired as a staff adjuster are not good. There are too many degreed people applying for the same position.

    Walker Group is located in Fairfield, Iowa and the telephone number is 641-469-5900 and I believe you can locate them on the Internet.
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    wiggles030
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    07/05/2007 1:38 PM
    Well, that was encouraging and discouraging all at the same time! I am about 60 miles north of Dallas-Ft. Worth. I did not think my chances as a staff adjuster would be very promising, but I was told to apply anyway...what should I do? Where do I start? Do I need to go ahead and get some certifications(i.e flood, earthquake, etc., etc)? What do I need to do to make myself marketable/employable?
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    Ray Hall
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    07/05/2007 1:53 PM

    I will chirp up. If you do not have a 4 year degree do not apply to any insurance company. If you have a four year degree apply and do not spend any $ on any school. They will train you at their expense for several months.By the way the starting pay is around $32,000. per year with some insurance coverage.

    Look at it another way. If you can make about $30.00 per hour now working 40 hours per week just multiply that time by 150% and the $30.00 by 150% and that could be your pay if you are a top notch adjuster.

    Now if you will work as a non-licensed FICUS TREE person for about $300.00 per day and  pay all your expenses you can find a job this year, if a big storm hits the US.

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    wiggles030
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    07/05/2007 2:48 PM
    Yes, I would be willing to do someone's "dirty work" for them iin order to get my foot in the door...but how would I go about getting in touch with someone willing to go along with this? A friend of mine who used to adjust said this would be the best way to get experience and get my foot in the door...but as of now I have 0 prospects....
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    JimGary
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    07/05/2007 3:01 PM
    Just a quick note. After my last storm I decided not to persue day claims. That was a mistake. 2 weeks ago I decided to stop digging ditches and start finding some claims to work. Yes it looks like I can keep myself busy and make a decent living with what I have found. The work is there, but it will not find you. If you have the knowledge and ability, there are claims to be worked.

    JWG
    I know the voices aren't real, but sometimes they're right!
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    wiggles030
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    07/05/2007 3:09 PM
    I am more than willing to do daily claims! And I do not expect the work to find me, but my question is how do I find it??!! I just got my license and all of the companies I've spoke with tell me they want experienced adjusters or if I take this class and that class they'll put me on their roster...Is this what I need to do or is it a ploy to get me to spend some money on their classes????
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    JimGary
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    07/05/2007 3:24 PM

    I do not want to call it a "ploy", but that same offer is being made to every adjuster on the roster. I get call like that every week, "if I take the class I'll be in the top 25 list.....". If you are looking for work from a "CAT" company you'll have to wait for a storm. Typically I've found that cat vendors do not handle daily claims, or if they do they are handled by the folks they want to keep busy.(their long time adjusters). You will have to look for local companies that handle daily claims for small companies that do not have field staff to handle claims.

     

    JWG

    I know the voices aren't real, but sometimes they're right!
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    wiggles030
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    07/05/2007 3:40 PM
    Will these local companies give newcomers a shot to get going? I see ads for daily claims, but they don't seem to want to train a new adjuster...I don't necessarily want to "wait on storm" , I want to work now. I want to get experience, gain more knowledge and get more secure in this before I go off to a big catastrophe!
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