Part 1: Working on Your Education
1. Decide if claims adjuster is a good fit for you. Most
claims adjusters live active lives, as they spend their time out in the
field investigating claims. The job can be high stress, but you won't
be stuck behind a desk all the time.
- Also, know that in many parts of this field, you'll be dealing with emergencies and catastrophes. That means that at some point you will be dealing with people who are facing the death of a loved one or coworker, and you'll likely be witness to some of the aftermath.
2. Get a high school diploma. A high school diploma or
its equivalent is absolutely necessary to work in the insurance field as
a claims adjuster. In fact, you can enter some insurance agency at the
entry level with just this level of education. Nonetheless, moving on
for more education will be helpful.
3. Work on a bachelor's degree. A bachelor's degree or
even an associate's degree can be helpful to you if you want to become a
claims adjuster. The problem is, it's helpful to decide what part of
the field you want to work in before deciding on a degree. The best
option is to follow what you love. For instance, if you enjoy numbers
and details, perhaps pursue a degree in accounting so you can work in
the financial claims adjusting, a field where you assess losses due to
problems in the company such as equipment loss or employees striking.
- Another option is getting an engineering degree, which can be helpful in assessing damage in the industrial fields.
- If the idea of extra school isn't your thing, consider getting a trade school degree in auto repair, as being able to assess the cost of a repair is something you could use in the claims adjuster insurance business.
4. Decide what major course you want to take. Mainly,
claims adjusters are divided into two types, catastrophe and everyday
claims. If you work as a catastrophe claim adjuster, you'll be the
person on the ground after major weather events and emergencies, such as
big tornadoes in Oklahoma or a hurricane hitting the coast. Because of
the nature of these events, you may need to move around. Everyday claims
adjusters focus on smaller events, such as car crashes, problems with
homes, or claims made by companies.
5. Get the experience you need. If you can, try to get
an internship while you are still in school. You can often find
internships through your school or by looking at some of the major
insurance companies in your area. Often, you can take just a summer
internship or one where you work a few hours a week. One of the best
things about internships is you'll get on-the-job training for the
career you want.
- Ask your school if you can earn credit for your internship.
