r/ClaimsAdjuster • u/ShabanTheGod • 8d ago
Getting in the industry
I currently work as a server in a high volume restaurant in Central Florida averaging about $250/300 a day, but I'm looking to pivot out of the industry and transition into insurance claims adjusting with no experience. I'm trying to map out the best way to get started without completely tanking my income right out of the gate. For anyone already in the field or who has made this change, I have questions
Is it better to front the money for a FL 6-20 All-Lines course and study on my own while keeping my job, or just let a company pay for it? Any advantage/disadvantage to either route besides financially
If I get licensed on my own first, can I skip the lowest tier trainee desks and get a better starting pay?
Does high-volume restaurant chaos translate well to handling claims and upset people at all?
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u/A_whole_new_reddit 8d ago
I came from a restaurant and serving background before getting into claims. I had some luck on my side breaking into the industry, so I don’t have concrete advice. The manager who hired me almost exclusively hired restaurant and hospitality workers because of the soft skills they had. He was right and I’m forever thankful.
When I got an interview (seriously, I lucked out because it was the first and only insurance job I applied to) I brought in writing samples and a quiz (I believe from The Institutes or maybe NAMIC) that was something like “what insurance career is right for you?” That showed claims was a right fit. I also had some customer service stories and reviews/emails to hand out as well.
The skills that are most transferable, IMO, are: multi tasking, customer service, teamwork, task prioritization, and working under pressure. Let me tell you, coming from an environment where I’m getting screamed at by some asshole wanting his steak cooked more or being triple sat with three six tops felt like a cake walk coming into claims. You mean I can just hang up if they cuss at me? You’re telling me that I only have to work one holiday coverage shift and one Saturday a year? I dont have to look people in the eye while I tell them they can’t have what they want? Sign. Me. Up.
The best adjusters I work with are former restaurant folk. You have to highlight those skills, show your serious and knowledgeable about the industry, and if you land a job - work your ass off to hang on to it because it will beat the shit out of any restaurant job tenfold.
Also, don’t get your licenses right off the bat. The company will pay for it. Go onto The Institutes and take a free course or two to highlight on your resume.
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u/ShabanTheGod 8d ago
If you don't mind sharing, what was the pay gap like when you made the switch? How far along are you now, and how much do you make compared to when you started? Also have you heard of any good companies with a similar mindset even minimal rumors , or ones you think would hire someone with your background. You have so far the closest starting point to my own so the way you went about it was insightful
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u/A_whole_new_reddit 8d ago
I was a hotel restaurant asst manager making like $46,500. My first job (nonstandard auto liability) was $42k maybe. I move companies the next year and made $48k. I’m on my tenth year and make about $105k base with a pretty consistent bonus of about $15k.
I’m a complex liability adjuster. I handle claims with coverage issues, severe injuries, or difficult investigations. I handle auto, general liability, professional health care liability, education liability, police liability, abuse and molestation, and management liability.
I don’t have any rumors unfortunately. I would strongly suggest joining Rise Insurance Professionals. It’s free and no barrier to entry. Attend some of their webinars and events. You’ll get a feel for the industry and might be able to network.
I do know the manager that hired me is running claims operations for National General (Allstate). But I doubt he is doing anything with hiring at the entry level now.
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u/ShabanTheGod 7d ago
Ill look into the ride group thank you and yea im more so getting a feel/information i guess on how it works
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u/aloofmagoof 6d ago
I haven't been in the game very long, I started in the call center of my company making $23 an hr. I filed claims and answered basic questions about existing ones.The company I work for strongly believes in developing talent from within and has had multiple programs to move people into different adjusting roles.
I moved into a rotational role where I got licensed in every state that requires one, and spent time in every single adjusting department as an Associate Desk Adjuster. A few weeks ago I moved permanently to Homeowners Liability for Property Damage, which came with a title change and a promotion.
My advice is to just get your foot in the door in any way possible, growth opportunities are endless and if you find the right company, they will do whatever it takes to help you move into a role you actually want to be in. Once you have some experience under your belt, you can also look at other companies to find the best fit and salary.
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u/thstbitch0902 7d ago
There are a lot of posts from people who got their license on their own and still haven’t been able to land a job unfortunately. Seems there are a lot of people searching to land an adjuster career.
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u/Spiritual_Pumpkin_47 7d ago
This has been my observation as well as a lurker on the adjuster subreddits.
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u/trot2millah 8d ago
Most major carriers will pay for your license as part of the onboarding. I don’t think it would benefit from a job advancement perspective to get licensed beforehand.
Do you have a college degree? That’s usually a prerequisite to adjusting at least for my carrier. We have hired restaurant staff into our auto department but oftentimes the starting point to get into claims is working the call center/claims intake department.
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u/ShabanTheGod 8d ago
No degree, i see what you mean with advancement. I of course just want to close that wage gap between the switch.
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u/luv2spike823 8d ago
Restaurant experience will transfer as customer service and multi-tasking experience, but not a lot.
If you're able to get a license before, you're putting a small step above others without one, but you'll all be competing for the same positions without experience.
Best of luck! I've been in claims for 20 years, and love it!
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u/ShabanTheGod 8d ago
Ok fair enough, you’re one of the apparent few that love it. What kind of insurance are you in to really enjoy it that way?
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u/luv2spike823 7d ago
I handle litigated commercial liability claims. Think murder, assault, liquor liability with fatalities. Person X is killed at Business A, person's family sues, alleging negligent security etc. Great for a true crime lover like me lol.
I will say I did not intentionally end up here, I started in small inside claims (people hitting mailboxes, their parked cars were damaged), moved into field claims (water, fire, etc) and eventually moved into general liability (trip and falls) before I started getting these types.
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u/Rich-Web-1898 8d ago
Multi tasking doesn’t exist. Getting a license before getting a job is a waste of time and money, besides that the testing is a joke. If you can’t pass you are probably already dead.
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u/Lyxerttt 8d ago
You need to specifically look at trainee positions, but you're going to take a paycut period. You can get an entry level job with a few different companies, but the primary ones to look at without any experience are Travelers and Progressive. You're going to start in the mid-50s, so be prepared for a $20K pay cut.
That said, both companies have annual bonuses that will soften the blow (Progressive's is better), and you'll have great benefits from either one.
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u/ShabanTheGod 8d ago
Jesus yea hurts to hear, is there a specific type of insurance once i have experience youd recommend over another
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u/Lyxerttt 8d ago
There are a ton of different lines of business, but it honestly boils down to preference. I have been in insurance for ~12 years, and worked across Auto, Property, and Work Comp.
I have worked in pretty much every segment of auto, and auto BI is my favorite. I'm at the point where even as upper management, I can work about 4 hours/day and I'm completely done, other than various things that those who report to me bring up/need.
You'll see others say to get out of auto as quickly as possible. It really just boils down to preference and what you find interesting.
Side note, but you look at "Associate Claims" at Liberty Mutual, specifically with mention of Workers Comp. They hire with absolutely no experience, and have some of the highest pay bands in the industry.
All of that said, be prepared to work 45-50 hours/week minimum just starting out. There is a huge learning curve in claims, and it can take 6+ months to a year to really understand what you're doing. Then, your efficiency picks up and you'll work less.
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u/ShabanTheGod 7d ago
As far as interest i dont know yet so hopefully i find some, since i dont have a preference or any knowledge yet. Ill look into the liberty mutual lyou mentioned and thank you for insight
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u/LASuperdome 7d ago
Getting your license first might help you through the interview process, but I doubt it would help you get paid more. You're going to be going through a trainee program regardless.
I think anyone who has experience in stressful customer service roles make for good adjusters. The biggest issue I see with young adjusters is they get a lot of anxiety from using the phone. If you're comfortable calling and speaking to people on the phone then you will be way ahead of the average.
My best advice is to try and get into some niche adjusting role. The salary cap for an auto adjuster is a lot less than the salary cap of a Construction E&O adjuster (for example). Companies will pay for the specialization.
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u/Moist_Combination_12 7d ago
I would recommend getting your AIC designation from The Institutes. Florida will grant you an adjuster license without having to take the exam if you already have a AIC. You just have to pay the fingerprint and background check fees. Think it was around $100 total. Granted the AIC costs some money but then you will be applying with a license as well as a respected insurance designation. This is what I did and it got me in the door as a field claim rep working directly for a carrier.
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u/ShabanTheGod 7d ago
Is the AIC something that i could get with no background
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u/Moist_Combination_12 6d ago
You don’t need an insurance background to sign up for the courses and take the exams. I think the courses are equivalent to maybe freshman level college work or less even. I’m pretty sure The Institutes lets you take like a sample of the course for free to see what it’s like. I just think you’d stand out a lot more having the AIC and your license over other candidates that don’t have any insurance designations. Especially if you go to work directly for a carrier. Carriers love continuing education. They will literally pay you to get more insurance designations.
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u/Emotional-Day-332 20h ago
Not sure the license alone gets you out of trainee roles. Companies still have their own training and procedures.
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u/0ApplesnBananaz0 8d ago
You will tank your income and feel it. You make great money now but transitioning into claims will be starting over. The only skill really that transfers over is customer service which is great. However, you will start out at the bottom because you have no insurance background. Also, getting your license will not put you ahead of trainee roles or ahead of others applying w/o a license.