While doing a little research online as to some available positions for some of you new adjusters, I came across an article titled "How I Got My First Job," by an Adjuster named Darren Moser.  Now the method used in the article below may not be for you, but it is an interesting method to say the least.  I felt obliged to include it as an option here on the AATX blog for your review.  The article has been reprinted below.

I've been in the business for about three weeks and I've already worked for an IA Firm (I adjusted one claim) and accepted a Staff Adjusting job. When I started I had no contacts, no inside info and no guidance.

After I got my license I spent a week sending out 200+ resumes, I found the companies at:

• Well-Adjusted

• Catadjuster.org

• Monster.com

• the FOATA NETWORK

The most important thing I did was kept a list of all the companies’ addresses, phone #'s and Web Pages that I sent resume's to (every time I sent a resume out, I wrote down all the contact information for that company). I used a regular spiral note book (I only used this book for job searching) and I left a few blank lines after each entry for notes.

Each company’s website has an email link to contact them, try to find the link that goes to Human Resources or find the career link on that webpage. Don’t mail your resume, email it as an attachment and use your email content as your cover letter.

I used a generic cover letter and simply copied and pasted it to the contents of each email. I only had to change the company’s name. In a week I was able to send out over 200 resumes.

The following week starting Tuesday (Not Monday), I started making follow up calls. I had all the Names and numbers wrote down so it really didn’t take that long. My standard call was something like:

• May I speak to the human resource department?

• Answer: we don’t have a human resource department, how can I help you?

• Response: I sent in a resume last week and I’m just following up to make sure it was received.

• Answer: That would have gone to Jim, he’s out of the office right now - can I take a message?

• Response: No thanks, can I get his email address? I’d like to send a revised copy of my resume.

• Answer: No problem, it’s Jim@1234.com

• Response: Thanks, I really appreciate your help, what was your name again?

• Answer: It’s April, is there anything else I can help you with?

• Response: I think that covers everything, thanks for your help.

After this one minute conversation I’d send Jim a resume directly; a couple hours later I would call the same company and when the same person answered the phone I would respond: HI APRIL, IS JIM IN? April didn’t remember my voice but because I knew her name she automatically forwarded me to Jim and Jim had more than likely just finished reading my resume.

Basically I did this 200+ times; it didn’t always work, sometimes I got redirected to a website, sometimes I just got nowhere. But in the end it got me a job and I’m currently on 20 IA Rosters. I receive several emails a week from company’s I contacted; some are still asking questions, others are sending me company information because I’m on their roster.

There is no genius to how I did it, I just thought I’d share this basic information with others out there who are looking for a job.

Darren Moser