Forums

The key to any carrier is getting your foot in the door..you can always apply for other positions once inside and have a stronger shot at being selected. Some carriers do have a time requirement to serve in one position before they allow you to apply to others.

Cross training is always a big item/goal inside carriers offices as it makes you easier to place as their needs change. It also is helpful to you as carrier downsize/reorganize various departments thus giving YOU more options if the need arises.

From an independent standpoint, it's been interesting with the slow cat season to see my staffing firm has had more requests for auto staffing this year than for property on the daily(non cat) side of things the past few months so I don't think it would hurt you at all to learn auto adjusting whether you are staff or independent.

I did work auto for one year but much preferred property as your other contact advised you but I think it's a matter of personal preference.

The most limiting thing I run across from a staffing standpoint for carriers and for independent firms is an adjuster who has worked property only as most daily/staff assist positions are looking for adjusters with a well rounded background working both Property and Casualty claims and many cat adjusters lack the liability experience and training thus are overlooked for consideration for Daily claims that require both skill sets. Slow periods like we are experiencing right now are great opportunities to take liability classes offered through many schools.

Here are just a few of the many many liability training options out there!

http://www.wardlawclaims.com/training/ilac.cfm

http://www.insuranceinstitute.com/c...ining.html

http://www.abtrainingcenter.com/AIC.asp

http://www.aicpcu.org/flyers/aic.htm /AIC 36 is the liability part of the course

I started out handling windshield claims over the phone (good ole mother Aetna) 25 years ago. From there I went on to handle PIP claims, small med pay,and progressed to property claims, larger liability cases and eventually million dollar (plus,plus, plus) class action litigation, professional liability,law enforcement, etc. Finally when my kids were grown up (the baby was in college) I joined my other half as a cat adjuster. We all start somewhere and it is usually doing, boring, simple, monotonous tasks. The key is every boring task is a spring board to the next level. But you alone can make the choice regarding which way you want to go. There are benefits to staff positions ( pay check security, paid vacations, health insurance, 401K), etc along with the opportunity for much more training (paid the the company rather than by you). There are also disadvantages like being stuck in a cubicle 8+ hours a day, tied to a head set, with all calls monitored, email monitoring programs, blah, blah, blah. In other words besides the expected work related supervision you will also have to put up with supervision of all your on the job activities . Some supervisors are fair and reasonable while others are anal and love to ride people. Sometimes it is hard for someone who is used to the road to accept the restrictions of a beginners desk job. All in all there is good and bad in everything and only you know what is best for you. I wish you well whatever you decide.
Malvi

Doug, I started as a staff auto adjuster, did some property scoping for other staff guys. I have since handled cat prop and auto. In my opinion, the  more knowledge you have, the more valuable you are. I personally do not care to ever work another auto claim again, but if needed, I have the knowledge to handle auto. As for your cat supervisors opinion, a job at quik-lube might be pretty humbling.

JWG

Also a quick note about Malvi's cubicle experience. The office staff makes all the difference. We had a great staff where I worked, and a very good atmosphere. I enjoyed the inside work, but can see how it could be absolute torture.

I'll add an "Amen" to the sentiments of others here.  It certainly has helped me to have as varied a background in claims as possible.  Remember that there are auto-cats as well as cat assignments that involve only residential/commercial property.  There are also some types of big ticket claims (such as those involving 18 wheelers or commercial equipment like bulldozers or grading equipment) for which auto experience would be the basic training.  Though I haven't worked an auto cat for several years, I had one claim during a branch assist not too long ago that involved hundreds of RVs on a sales lot.  Time and expense for over 80 billable hours on one claim did not hurt the bottom line on that assignment.  I'm glad I had the experience and skills to take the claim.

Let me ask you a couple common sense questions.  If you were staffing for a cat and only needed six people, but had 50 to choose from, wouldn't you take someone who has a wide range of experience in claims over someone who has only done cat work?  If you had a long term branch assist assignment and had to choose from applicants who had worked all types of claims and worked on staff and as an independent or someone who has only worked cats as an independent, who would you choose?

Of course there are down sides to being on staff for an extended period of time.  That's why I'm independent again.  But, as long as you have weighed this decision carefully, you may find it makes you more marketable. 

This may be called full circle plus 20 degrees. I have been working General Liability Claims for several months, while many of the cat. property only loss adjusters are not working.

Thanks for the input. You all have helped me solidify my decision on what i need to do if i am not offered a property position. Desk and phone work has not been my forte' previously, but maybe i can look back on it as a big "positive" in a few years.

Happy holidays to all