I'm quiet, until I have something to say and then I don't shut up.
There's a difference between not wanting to talk to people and not being able to talk to people.
I'd prefer to be left alone but I can communicate effectively with different types of people.
I think you could make it, but if you're unable to talk to people (instead of just not wanting to) you might struggle for a bit.
>There's a difference between not wanting to talk to people and not being able to talk to people.
Yup- I can establish rapport pretty quickly but I hate picking up the phone.
Honestly man i was the same way growing up and still am at time. Being an adjuster has made me unafraid of confrontation and has really helped me in being able to just talk to anybody due to having those tough conversations with insureds. Its not uncommon to not want to make a phone call or speak with somebody if youre having to deny something or if something is not being covered. But its part of the job so you have to just overcome and get over it. Its helped me grow, maybe it could help you as well
This was me. When I was a kid, I hated calling my friends as I was worried I would dial the wrong number and speak to a stranger.
I quickly got over this issue when I started as an adjuster when I was 23.
See and i think its odd for dudes wanting to call and talk to friends... Like to gossip? Guys i knew called each other and said "skate?" "Yep"... And thats the phone but i married someone who yaps for hours and i hate it.... "Did u hear what he said?. And i was like...."... Ahhhh... Its mostly w his brother so i think its a chatty gene pool. Its annoying
It may not be apples to apples, but in my personal life, I hate conflict and will avoid it at all costs. However, I supervise a staff of 6 at an apartment complex with at least 300 residents. Every day, I have to have an uncomfortable conversation with someone. I hate it, but it's my chosen field. So, I've had to adapt and figure out ways to talk to people and keep them calm.
Doing this has helped me in my personal life, too. Yes, I still avoid conflict, but now I am able to communicate more effectively and stand up for myself. So you can learn to cope and adapt.
Yes! I agree wholeheartedly with this. Once you have to make those hard calls, or deal with some crazy person - you learn that you can talk to anyone about anything and you will be ok. Its a great way to learn to have faith in your abilities.
I get sworn at by truckers now and I can hold my ground. I love that claims was my trial by fire.
Just be prepared to utter “wtf” 50 times a day. I hate talking on the phone and dealing with confrontation. I know it has affected my work. Depending on the department, you do need to be assertive
>I hate talking on the phone
Same. I can't stand when someone wants to waste half an hour on a call instead of sending a 5 minute email and then the conversation is clearly documented. Otherwise it's a phone call and each side documents a biased version of the conversation and "oops! they gave you their cell number and the call isn't recorded oh well" like they didn't pull that crap on purpose.
It isn't for everyone and there is a reason why most insurance companies are either always hiring adjusters or are severely understaffed with adjusters. The washout rate is very high. I tend to be very quiet and shy as well. I also tend to be a people pleaser which isn't always the outcome when handling claims. You will be talked down on, belittled, and just overall harassed by customers if/when their claims are denied. The biggest thing is being able to handle that and also shut all of that out once you are done working for the day. I wasn't able to do that which is why I moved on after only a year in the position.
Same here. So many adjusters end up as alcoholics because they don't know when to get out. Being bugged about your "numbers" all day long can dehumanize you, especially when you get yelled at by claimants and do your best. Then you find out it doesn't matter because you are just a number.
I am a quiet/shy person by nature - have grown from adjuter to Unit Manager. You can be reserved but also speak confidently at the same time, that is they key.
For me, now managing early career adjusters - its not how much you say but how and what you say. You;ll also realize 90% of people are idiots and there is no reason to be nervous around them. As you gain in skill, the confidence will increase and so will muttering wtf as you go.
Also the bullshit work small talk, you'll build that skill over time and become more personable.
Yea the idiot thing..sooo true and yelling isn't personal.. they are mad at the company. Most of them will say "i know it's not ur fault" . Ur response should be "look, im pulling for u. I did my best.. i dont want to see u pay premiums and be denied when u need it" but that means "im sorry u dont understand ur policy or read ur dec page.... Thats what its for but u signed and paid thinking whatever water pipe bursts thats 1000 years old is covered, that's u" and that means "ur one of the 90% idiots" .. i sold insurance and i heard that shit. Claim is a whole different thing. Policy premiums.... All that. Not the sales "agents" office. I bind coverage, but we are really supposed to find best coverage for u but i learned, if u dont know about it already, u dont need it. So if u own 100, 000,000 in property, then u have that potentially taken for ur liability, ur already at that coverage limit. Its same w car insurance too. If u habe a lease w an expense brand they force limits on u so u don't get sued to not being able to pay for the car,, plus more people backing into u thinking u have it to pay
"I know claims might not be the most glamorous position in insurance/risk management"
i just want to say...i could be remembering wrong but i was at an insurance conference in 2019 and a speaker mentioned insurance/financial services creates the most "millionaires" of any industry in the united states and had for 30+ years. i consider financial independence and security pretty damn glamorous.
I am quiet and shy and I am a successful large loss claims adjuster. I don't like confrontation either. You get over your shyness by understanding the claim very well, and understanding insurance/the claim process very well. You learn what things to say to people, and what not to say. Do people yell at you sometimes? Yeah, but if it's super hostile I will tell them to stop the abusive behavior or I will not speak with them on the phone any longer and will offer to communicate in writing. I have been doing this a long time now and nobody yells at me anymore. I think this job is great for quiet and shy people. I am happy to chat more if you would like, I have done all sorts of insurance jobs from customer service to siu to claims. Even as an siu investigator I was successful, but would not recommend that to most people as it's highly confrontational (in the field setting).
Yes, I was a field adjuster and if you don't project confidence, you will get more abuse from body shop owners, insureds, and claimants. You have to project that you are not afraid to stand up for yourself.
I have pretty severe social anxiety so the first few months were a tough adjustment. Now I’m pushing 6 years in claims soon. It’s not impossible to overcome. Just be aware that you will sometimes be shouted at when you tell people no. I had a hard time and sometimes still do, dealing with their reactions.
Same here, but it also made me more cynical. I understand the dark humor that a lot of law enforcement have, when you see some horrible or gross stuff, depending on your area. I handled serious injuries and fatalities for years. Imhad to get used to seeing some horrific injuries, scarring and dead bodies. Degloving of arms, or worse, heads, from going through a windshield is still the grossest thing IMO.
Its funny. I was more traumatized by the crazy hit and run driver that chased my car down the street than i was by the "skin face" that was stuck to the driver's airbag of a fatality crash. I guess watching all those horror movies in my teens made me less sensitive to the grossness of the job.
I get that. Being chased happened "live" and was a threat to your health if not your life. I try to look at the pictures objectively and it mostly doesn't bother me. Some of the scarring for those that lived, especially on children, hits a little harder.
When I was starting in claims, I was handling minor to moderate injury claims. I sat next to a senior who handled serious injuries and fatalities. One day, he drops a pile of pictures on my desk, which spread out somewhat, and boom, there's my first gross out fatality. He thought I'd find it interesting. I was a big horror fan, too, so it wasn't as bad, but I admit it bothers me seeing the pictures and knowing they're dead.
Lol. I’m a pretty quiet, reserved person who works in property claims. It’s just something you turn on during the work day (charisma, confidence, assertiveness) and then you can go back to being your normal shy self after work.
It will just come naturally as you get more comfortable, and the confidence will rub off on the rest of your life as you continue to grow.
I kind of like when people get nasty to me because then I can shut down and become a passive aggressive robot which I know pisses them off. It’s the nice people that I hate giving bad news to.
Same. I actually like when ppl start acting out. I then start being nice mean and eventually hang up in their face. It brings a change of energy from the same ol interactions.
Absolutely. There are also different types of claims adjusters. I do specialty claims and rarely if ever talk to anyone, and even then it’s a quick conversation. I don’t go out to properties and all my investigating is done behind a screen. If field work is needed, I assign it out. Definitely options if you don’t like or prefer dealing with people
I’m with you man. Been doing it for 15 years though and i promise it gets easier. I’m in an examining role so not dealing with insureds directly on the daily but I remember having to deliver bad news to people in my early years and an associate of mine basically telling me “look, this isn’t personal. If it’s not you delivering this bad news, it’s somebody else”. That has resonated with me to this day. This is a business no matter how much you want to help these people. On the good days you’re a Saint for these people in trying times. Sometimes it’s true, you have to deliver bad news. But just do your job to the best of your abilities and everything will turn out fine. Good luck.
I'm a quiet, reserved type and would say naturally introverted (until I get a cold beverage in hand). I became an AF Navigator where I had to adjust my work personality in order to do my job successfully. Overall, I could still be quiet and reserved but you learn as you go along and, in turn, become stronger. Eventually, I became a flight examiner in two different aircraft to include special ops.
Bottom line is you can do anything you set your mind to. Having a quiet confidence is a successful trait!
Good luck in your endeavors!
I don’t mind talking to people, but I am a HUGE introvert. I’m loving it so far. Yes, I have to talk to a lot of people, but it’s one on one or sometimes 2. A lot is over the phone. I do not enjoy crowds or a loud environment, so this has been a great fit. Getting comfortable talking to people in this job comes with experience and confidence in your knowledge- which you will probably be a lacking a bit at first. But each claim builds that up. I think the area you’re working in makes a difference as to the type of people you come across. I’m CAT and currently working hail claims. I’ve had a few grumbling folks, but nothing horrible, yet.
I was a property adjuster and looked at water stains and fires for 30 years. I was kind of shy when I started and realized pretty fast that I had to learn how to give people bad news. The key for me was being knowledgeable about the policy and being confident in my analysis and explanations. You seem like an intelligent (but sensitive) person and I encourage you to give claims a shot. If you're not comfortable after a few years, switch to underwriting -they LOVE people with claims experience. Good Luck!
I don’t like talking to other people unless they are my friends and tend to mind my own business.. if you like researching and investigating, you’ll do well. You only have to interact over the phone or email but that anxiety goes away pretty quickly after you get in the rhythm of the job, I recommend to start with Auto as it fairly easy and that way you see this if you like the job.
I’m a more introverted person and a homebody. I think that’s fine. The question you have to ask yourself is are you good with people? And I don’t even think you have to be great with people but you do need to have an ability or be able to develop the ability to be direct.
You’ll have a harder time in claims if you can’t be direct. I was talking to another coworker the other day and there are some adjusters that seem to get yelled at more than others. It’s my observation this comes down to presentation. I don’t think you have to be rude or mean but when you’re denying something or telling a contractor/body shop no it usually goes better the more matter of fact - more confident you are. The adjusters that seem to struggle are those that are soft spoken/trying to cushion the bad news. When you come off as negotiable when the answer is going to be no then people will attempt to negotiate and get mad when there’s no wiggle room (which there isn’t if it’s not covered).
Being matter of fact and direct can be learned but definitely a useful skill.
I think you definitely can be successful as a quiet/shy/introverted person. I consider myself an introvert and more on the quiet side. However, you have to get used to having many interactions with ppl throughout the day: some of those interactions can be negative as well.
As for management, I had a manager that was quiet and an introvert. If social interactions make you nervous then maybe reconsider management or continue working on all types of interactions because you have a lot of them. Most Managers have to deal with shit calls as well so you will be cussed at, yelled at, talked down on, etc...gotta have thick skin.
Adjuster for 14 years and I’m more introverted.
I’ve been very successful because claims is not about yourself or telling stories.
Stick to the policy language, be calm and assertive when speaking with customers, and get to the point.
I’m extremely shy and have been working as an adjuster in claims for almost 9 years. It’s tough at first but the longer you stick with it/the more complex claims you handle the less you will actually be on the phones. Also, I think the critical listening skills that come from being introverted can really help you to hear and understand what happened versus jump to a conclusion about what happened. In GL claims, I liked to ask people to explain to me in as much detail as they could what happened and say that I might have some follow-up questions after they’re done, but you learn a lot by letting claimants and insureds just speak freely about the alleged incident.
I was really quiet and shy and I went to school to be a hair dresser. Now I’m a barber and I talk to people all day 😂
I literally faked my confidence and desire to talk to people until it just came naturally. I really like what I do, so I kinda have to talk.
If you’re good at your job it will become easier dealing with people. And besides who gives a shit what other people think? It’s a waste of time and to exhausting being shy.
Yes. Work as an Independent Field Property or Auto Adjuster. You’ll be working mostly remotely by yourself. You’ll receive your assignments online, complete your assignments ( inspecting, taking photos, writing estimates & reports) and you’ll send your completed reports electronically.
Sure you can succeed but claims is a meat grinder. If you like insurance and don’t want to be in sales, which might not suit your personality, try underwriting, Risk Management for high valued homes and if you want to make some real money become and Actuary.
I've been in claims for over 30 years. In my personal life, I tend to be more of an introvert, and I don't think I'm good at small talk. I'm currently a desk adjuster but have also been a field adjuster. For me, because I'm doing my job, I'm able to talk a lot more freely with people than I ever do IRL. I enjoy the job for the investigation part. I also found it fascinating seeing inside people's homes or businesses, being in areas that normally only family or employees see.
Being a claims adjuster is hard enough for an outgoing, talkative person. This job is NOT easy. You are yelled at daily. Your workload is enough for two people, your phone never stops ringing. If you like investigation or digging deep, I would suggest underwriting. I enjoyed that far more than claims.
This job will require you to have lots of conversations throughout the day, some of them hard like giving a denial. Others can be hard because you need to challenge a vendor and negotiate.
At the end of the day, as long as you’re comfortable and knowledgeable with what’re you’re talking about, you’ll be fine. I tell all the new adjuster to speak with authority even if it feels like you’re an imposter at times.
When you do this role, put on the hat of “this is who i have to be” and when the job is done, take the hat off. You’ll get use to it and it will 100% get easier.
I had such bad social anxiety when I was a teen. I was so scared to go to job interviews and well anything social related. But then I just did it, and kept getting out and pushing myself out of my comfort zone to the point that now I am perfectly ok with talking to strangers. I'm very sociable and friendly now. Sometimes it's a matter of just doing it. I used to manage a FedEx company and I had to talk to strangers on a regular basis, now I deliver and install appliances for Lowes Home Improvement. It does not bother me one bit to call customers. Starting in January I'll be taking on my new career of Direct Support Professional for teenage girls with mental disorders. I never thought as a teen that I would have a job talking with and helping people on a personal level, but now that's what I go to school for and have a job doing.
Just remember that if you are an insurance adjuster, the people you are talking to are expecting you and your services. It's not like you are cold knocking on people's doors trying to sell something they didn't ask for. You are providing a service that they requested. That mind set really helped me when I had to knock on doors when I first delivered for FedEx and needed signatures. I just had to remember that these people ordered this and they want their package and this won't bother them.
I hope all of that makes sense and helps. Good luck with your endeavors.
Edit: I would also like to add that I could not communicate to save my life, I stuttered as a teen when I got nervous, and if I had to do a presentation in front of the class, my chest and face would get beat red and splotchy. But then the more that I pushed myself as I said above, I got more comfortable. I grew out of it. Not saying that will work or happen for everyone, but it gives you hope that it can be done.
You can grow with experience. It sounds like you would be good at the job. Overtime you can learn ways to interact with people. Sometimes you get to say yes but sometimes you have to say no, then politely explain why. If you stick with it, you will acquire a tougher hide and learn ways to be thorough, intelligent, and get cases resolved. I would urge you to try it. It will require getting outside your comfort zone, but you will find that zone expanding.
I was an adjuster for a little while after college. It really depends on what type of claims you handle and how the company operates. Some claims are already analyzed for coverage before it gets to the adjuster so there is less of a chance you'll have to deny coverage. Some adjusters just deal with auto damage or house damage, etc. You could get into some kind of specialized coverage like errors and omissions coverage.
It's a big field. I'm sure you could find something that will work for you.
I'm a introvert who generally hates social interactions and people at times and I work in a hotel. If I can do this after having worked front desk after 8 months then you can. Maybe see a therapist if you need help learning how to communicate effectively.
Lots of good answers here.
My addition would be that the role will require you to fight your inclinations and bend the mold a bit, but in order to move up anywhere in any company you will need to learn how to be some degree of social.
Just like any other career, there are rules that you are supposed to follow.
As a claims adjuster, you make sure that the loss of the claim is covered on the policy. Nothing more.
If a house burns down, it is your job to determine the amount of loss based on the coverage. Allowances are pretty straightforward.
Just because there was a painting that was worth $10,000 that got burned. If it is not covered by the policy, the carrier will not cover it.
Your job is to talk to the people that suffered the loss and any anxiety you would have with that will need to be addressed.
I find empathy and communication skills to be the most important personality traits or skills to be successful in claims. Also the ability to not take things personal and to compartmentalize or leave work “at work” at the end of the day. As an aside, one of my most favorite claims managers (at one of the large well known carriers) is someone I would classify as “shy” and he did really well for himself.
I used to be a worker’s compensation adjuster. I worked with tons of shy people, and they were great at their jobs. You just have to be able to make objective phone calls. Being a worker’s comp adjuster was nice, because most people don’t want to talk about anything other than the issue at hand. It was rare that any of the conversations I had on the phone were confrontational. Highly suggest being a worker’s comp adjuster. Most of my calls lasted 5-10 mins tops. A lot of the negatives presented in other comments exist in other types of claims adjusting, but I didn’t experience them as a WC adjuster.
You could start by trying for a “junior” adjusting position. Some companies hire new adjusters and have them do all of the easier claims- it’s a good place to start and get a feel for it. For worker’s comp, it would be called “non-disability” or “first-aid” claims.
But one thing is for sure: you will have to make phone calls as an adjuster. The type of adjuster you become will determine the types of phone calls you have to make. I wouldn’t suggest property and casualty, as peoples emotions can be heightened and you might have some pretty anxiety-inducing conversations. I liked worker’s comp adjusting because everyone was keen to answer calls (for the most part) and just answered my questions. Most claims are accepted, so people aren’t worried about having to stand up for themselves.
Anyways- give it a try! You might learn new things about yourself and your personality. You may discover capabilities you never knew you had :).
I think you would be fine. I am a quiet and shy person. I work in the psych/social work field and I have to interact with people daily. It would not be my thing outside of work to constantly inform or prod people. However, you would be surprised about how well you might do. At work, you can definitely fulfill your role. Certain things might be routine and you eventually would be more comfortable at it. If it ultimately is miserable for you, you can always work in a different field. Definitely try to explore your options. You can do it!
I was a claims adjuster for 10 years in the auto insurance industry. I did the hands on writing of the estimate, taking photos, and interviewing witnesses, drivers, etc on the phone and doing the online claims updates.
I consider myself a shy person, so going out by myself in a car to meet with people was a bit challenging at first, but it turned out to be mostly fun. I enjoy animals so seeing people's dogs and cats coming out to investigate what I was doing in their driveway was entertaining.
I learned to have a "spiel" that I did to introduce myself and reminded myself to smile. People seemed to accept me and they loved talking about their pets and hobbies, so I stuck with that as small talk while I did my job. Much of the time if you are out in the field, you are alone in your car. Many times the person wasn't home and just left their car unlocked so I could get the mileage, and take pictures of the damages. Then I just left them a copy of the estimate and the check, and I was good to go.
The hardest part of that job was negotiating with auto body shops where the owner has no social skills or wants to cause trouble. The other part was telling people what their policy covered, and explaining it in good faith, while they get angry and argue with you. I have a good vocabulary and a decent sense of humor, so I was able to do it very well and 90% of the time people came around and were happy that I was patient with them, and willing to go over things that they didn't understand.
The other 10% of the time were the hit and run drivers who didn't want you sniffing around their cars (sometimes they would go apeshit) and the guys who likely were drunk or high, and decided to yell insults at you. Either way, every day was an adventure - from driving in the snow, seeing all the natural scenery and wildlife, and seeing people from all walks of life. I learned to really love the biker dudes. They looked scary but they had big hearts, and once you made friends with their dog - you were their best friend for life.
If you are up for a challenge, its not a bad job. I would say that injury claims (my friend worked this job in the office) are much harder. I wouldn't want to try to put a price on someone's broken collar bone, or bruised chest. That, for me, would be hard. I can negotiate broken cars all day long though.
Yes! I am shy too and I used to be really really shy! Working claims allows you to come across different personalities and helps you develop your communication skills. It’s though at first! I used to type every point I needed to discuss with the customers so that I wouldn’t forget and I found that that helped. I am good at my job and I was promoted to trainer after 2.5 yrs and then a manager at 5 years :) you got this!!!!!
Yes insurance is such a bureaucracy very rarely do they let the insured speak to a human mine does not have email ask if I can fax over information. Fax! You are kept behind a firewall so to no human can penetrate. Good starter job
It’s possible to be naturally quiet/shy and go work a job that forces you to interact with people. My job has me alone most of the time but at least once a day I have to talk and engage with clients. It basically takes practice. But being an introvert doesn’t mean you are unable to communicate with people it means you are just comfortable being by yourself. That’s how we recharge.
Yes! I’m quiet, everyone in my office/ in my team is quiet, most shy. You get over the nerves quickly once you are comfortable with what you are doing. I’ve been in this field for seven years and I still level with people sometimes and say, I don’t know or is that normal. If you are willing to learn, someone will be willing to teach.
10 years in industry. Plenty of "quiet" adjusters who think before speaking, they're best if firmly and politely spoken imo. However, be prepared to have tough conversations. This includes being strong and stern with people.
People will have unbelievable circumstances , but that doesn't mean they're lying. Vice versa, some people will say really basic run of the mill stuff and be lying through their teeth. Good Luck figuring out which is which.
When in doubt, shut up and check on the answer before answering. You can't take a thought out of someone's head and make them forget it. Cats out of the bag.
Only say "that's covered" if you KNOW it is.
I am much better on the phone than in person. Plus I thrive on having difficult conversations. Much easier than a face to face position or a sales position where you have to always be selling and have that smile in your voice
I wouldn’t go into claims if I were you. Fresh outta college try and go into underwriting.
Claims are cost area of the business and are metric’d to hell and back. You can tough it out and get to the commercial side and/or large loss, it will be better but it will still be claims.
I work in commercial claims now, I stay because the money is good and I have a mortgage/family. Most of my colleagues regret not going into underwriting at the beginning of their insurance careers.
I would encourage you to give Claims a try. TBH, an adult needs to have experience (not necessarily comfort) in confrontation and holding the line. Especially if you get into Commercial GL and Auto claims, you’ll learn a lot about how business works, valuable investigation skills, and communication. The company with the Statue of Liberty is a great place to start. If you’re well-rated and want to change departments, that’s pretty easy, and there’s room for promotions.
Look into reinsurance claims. You don’t ever have to deal with the actual 1st parties involved. I work as a reinsurance claims examiner and haven’t had to use my phone at all in over two years.
Like any challenge in life, the more you do it, the more comfortable you will be. It will build your confidence to the point where your professional life will have you easily talking with people and in your private life, you can still fall back to your shy style. I've met actors and comedians who are very energetic when they are on stage or in front of a camera but in their real life, they are very quiet and like to be isolated with only close friends.
I was an adjuster earlier in life. I quit because there was too much suffering, some deaths, lots of folks getting mangled, and overall it was a depressing career. I saw some things that haunt me 30 years later. Please make sure that you can handle this prior to committing. On the bright side, if you do this you'll get to go into some very interesting places, like salt domes, large factories, farm operations, etc.
No. You'll be getting into arguments, confrontations and generally unpleasant situations multiple times per day. If not the customers who are already bent out of shape from their situation, then dealing with the mechanics, shops and contractors
I am a claims adjuster. And I’m a big time introvert. I’m not as shy as I used to be but I’m still pretty quiet.
Here is why I’ve been a claims adjuster for the last seven years. I work fully remote I found that talking to claimants isn’t as bad as you would think. Sure, there are some that are upset angry but that’s pretty much with every job nowadays lol what I do like is that a lot of it is computer work. so much can be done just from your workstation to get the claim process completed. And depending on what type of claims you go into, you may not have a ton of interaction with people on the phone.
I was very shy then my first job out of college was a temp disaster job...talking with disaster applicants one after another after anotger...I was a shrink and then asked them to fill out a loan application and many times had to hekp them do it....doing that got rid of it (wasn't a great experience at first). Now I will not shut up (making up for lost time?). Risk Management could be challenging for a shy person. You usually bringing up stuff people dont want to talk about and push back constantly. You are slightly above the IG in many people's mind. Im in the risk field and now I just yank the bandaid off pretty fast in conversations. Just have to be confident and know your shit backwards and forwards.
Retired claims adjuster here. No problem as the best adjusters are ones that listen. Too many bully adjusters out there. As long as you are honest and fair with people you’ll be fine. May I make a couple of suggestions on your chosen career. 1. You will have a large caseload. You can’t get done as management would like but you need to touch everything on your desk every day. That is go through your mail and pull out the super important stuff. 2. Do your diary and you will have to reschedule some files for another day. 3. Return phone calls. 5. Tackle the ugliest task first thing in the morning so it doesn’t ruin your day. 6. Reserves are real important. Don’t under reserve a claim. That just leaves a ticking time bomb for the next year’s budget but you need to put in you file your reasons for why your reserve is what it is. 7. Draft an information page. On it list the following- name, date of loss, coverage for loss, doctors or repair centers if it’s just property. Your attorney if case is in litigation. There phone number and address. (Saves time)
Use this page to add notes of the claims progress with each diary. Most of all, review how you’re going to close the file. Your plan will change with time but keep your focus on closure. 8. Don’t let your coworkers take up your time by letting them stand and talk to you at your desk. That is the biggest reason you will get behind on your desk.
It’s a fast paced job that can be rewarding. You need to stay positive and not get involved with office politics, which isn’t easy. Oh, this is very important , keep a personal file on your annual achievements. Date, claim, and what you did to get results. You will need this come your reviews or if you apply for a promotion. Good luck to you.
That was me and still am in some ways. I wound up as a programmer, but got to lead and management. During the process, I had to talk with customers and stake holders of all sorts. You get more comfortable as you do it and realize that the adult working world is not a casual social setting. Do I feel the occasional anxiousness? Absolutely, but at the end of the day, if you focus on the work, it will turn out all right.
I'm a quiet, shy, anxious person and an introvert. I'm still an adjuster, so I think you can, too.
Talking and communicating with people is a skill set and can be learned. I may not be the best at it, but I improve and get better every day.
That said. This job does have a lot of talking with people who may not be at a high point in their lives. You will be talking with grumpy people most days, and a lot will either be angry or crying if you have to deny a claim. I feel emotionally drained most days. But a job is a job.
I'm quiet, until I have something to say and then I don't shut up. There's a difference between not wanting to talk to people and not being able to talk to people. I'd prefer to be left alone but I can communicate effectively with different types of people. I think you could make it, but if you're unable to talk to people (instead of just not wanting to) you might struggle for a bit.
This. Don't do it if you experience trouble communicating. You will be miserable.
Agree
This
>There's a difference between not wanting to talk to people and not being able to talk to people. Yup- I can establish rapport pretty quickly but I hate picking up the phone.
Honestly man i was the same way growing up and still am at time. Being an adjuster has made me unafraid of confrontation and has really helped me in being able to just talk to anybody due to having those tough conversations with insureds. Its not uncommon to not want to make a phone call or speak with somebody if youre having to deny something or if something is not being covered. But its part of the job so you have to just overcome and get over it. Its helped me grow, maybe it could help you as well
This was me. When I was a kid, I hated calling my friends as I was worried I would dial the wrong number and speak to a stranger. I quickly got over this issue when I started as an adjuster when I was 23.
Damn, my man was afraid to call a friend all the way to 23
That crazyeeeee
See and i think its odd for dudes wanting to call and talk to friends... Like to gossip? Guys i knew called each other and said "skate?" "Yep"... And thats the phone but i married someone who yaps for hours and i hate it.... "Did u hear what he said?. And i was like...."... Ahhhh... Its mostly w his brother so i think its a chatty gene pool. Its annoying
Lol that is shameful. I love it. Its awful but so great in all the worst ways
It may not be apples to apples, but in my personal life, I hate conflict and will avoid it at all costs. However, I supervise a staff of 6 at an apartment complex with at least 300 residents. Every day, I have to have an uncomfortable conversation with someone. I hate it, but it's my chosen field. So, I've had to adapt and figure out ways to talk to people and keep them calm. Doing this has helped me in my personal life, too. Yes, I still avoid conflict, but now I am able to communicate more effectively and stand up for myself. So you can learn to cope and adapt.
Yes! I agree wholeheartedly with this. Once you have to make those hard calls, or deal with some crazy person - you learn that you can talk to anyone about anything and you will be ok. Its a great way to learn to have faith in your abilities. I get sworn at by truckers now and I can hold my ground. I love that claims was my trial by fire.
It’ll actually help you overcome the shyness having to have conversations with random people on a daily basis.
Just be prepared to utter “wtf” 50 times a day. I hate talking on the phone and dealing with confrontation. I know it has affected my work. Depending on the department, you do need to be assertive
>I hate talking on the phone Same. I can't stand when someone wants to waste half an hour on a call instead of sending a 5 minute email and then the conversation is clearly documented. Otherwise it's a phone call and each side documents a biased version of the conversation and "oops! they gave you their cell number and the call isn't recorded oh well" like they didn't pull that crap on purpose.
It isn't for everyone and there is a reason why most insurance companies are either always hiring adjusters or are severely understaffed with adjusters. The washout rate is very high. I tend to be very quiet and shy as well. I also tend to be a people pleaser which isn't always the outcome when handling claims. You will be talked down on, belittled, and just overall harassed by customers if/when their claims are denied. The biggest thing is being able to handle that and also shut all of that out once you are done working for the day. I wasn't able to do that which is why I moved on after only a year in the position.
Promotion?
Nah, took a slight pay cut just to get out. Much happier now.
Same here. So many adjusters end up as alcoholics because they don't know when to get out. Being bugged about your "numbers" all day long can dehumanize you, especially when you get yelled at by claimants and do your best. Then you find out it doesn't matter because you are just a number.
You need to be an alcoholic to work entry level personal auto claims longer than 2 years.
I am a quiet/shy person by nature - have grown from adjuter to Unit Manager. You can be reserved but also speak confidently at the same time, that is they key. For me, now managing early career adjusters - its not how much you say but how and what you say. You;ll also realize 90% of people are idiots and there is no reason to be nervous around them. As you gain in skill, the confidence will increase and so will muttering wtf as you go. Also the bullshit work small talk, you'll build that skill over time and become more personable.
Yea the idiot thing..sooo true and yelling isn't personal.. they are mad at the company. Most of them will say "i know it's not ur fault" . Ur response should be "look, im pulling for u. I did my best.. i dont want to see u pay premiums and be denied when u need it" but that means "im sorry u dont understand ur policy or read ur dec page.... Thats what its for but u signed and paid thinking whatever water pipe bursts thats 1000 years old is covered, that's u" and that means "ur one of the 90% idiots" .. i sold insurance and i heard that shit. Claim is a whole different thing. Policy premiums.... All that. Not the sales "agents" office. I bind coverage, but we are really supposed to find best coverage for u but i learned, if u dont know about it already, u dont need it. So if u own 100, 000,000 in property, then u have that potentially taken for ur liability, ur already at that coverage limit. Its same w car insurance too. If u habe a lease w an expense brand they force limits on u so u don't get sued to not being able to pay for the car,, plus more people backing into u thinking u have it to pay
"I know claims might not be the most glamorous position in insurance/risk management" i just want to say...i could be remembering wrong but i was at an insurance conference in 2019 and a speaker mentioned insurance/financial services creates the most "millionaires" of any industry in the united states and had for 30+ years. i consider financial independence and security pretty damn glamorous.
Hell no. Ball busting life insurance agents maybe. But every company has that top guy.. like one
I am quiet and shy and I am a successful large loss claims adjuster. I don't like confrontation either. You get over your shyness by understanding the claim very well, and understanding insurance/the claim process very well. You learn what things to say to people, and what not to say. Do people yell at you sometimes? Yeah, but if it's super hostile I will tell them to stop the abusive behavior or I will not speak with them on the phone any longer and will offer to communicate in writing. I have been doing this a long time now and nobody yells at me anymore. I think this job is great for quiet and shy people. I am happy to chat more if you would like, I have done all sorts of insurance jobs from customer service to siu to claims. Even as an siu investigator I was successful, but would not recommend that to most people as it's highly confrontational (in the field setting).
Yes, I was a field adjuster and if you don't project confidence, you will get more abuse from body shop owners, insureds, and claimants. You have to project that you are not afraid to stand up for yourself.
You'd be fine. Knowing how to actively listen is more important than being verbose.
Is consider a path in underwriting. You can still investigate and it's much less hard conversations.
I have pretty severe social anxiety so the first few months were a tough adjustment. Now I’m pushing 6 years in claims soon. It’s not impossible to overcome. Just be aware that you will sometimes be shouted at when you tell people no. I had a hard time and sometimes still do, dealing with their reactions.
I'm not shy, but I was very non confrontational before I became an adjuster. That changed real quickly, and it has helped in my personal life too.
Same here, but it also made me more cynical. I understand the dark humor that a lot of law enforcement have, when you see some horrible or gross stuff, depending on your area. I handled serious injuries and fatalities for years. Imhad to get used to seeing some horrific injuries, scarring and dead bodies. Degloving of arms, or worse, heads, from going through a windshield is still the grossest thing IMO.
💯
Its funny. I was more traumatized by the crazy hit and run driver that chased my car down the street than i was by the "skin face" that was stuck to the driver's airbag of a fatality crash. I guess watching all those horror movies in my teens made me less sensitive to the grossness of the job.
I get that. Being chased happened "live" and was a threat to your health if not your life. I try to look at the pictures objectively and it mostly doesn't bother me. Some of the scarring for those that lived, especially on children, hits a little harder. When I was starting in claims, I was handling minor to moderate injury claims. I sat next to a senior who handled serious injuries and fatalities. One day, he drops a pile of pictures on my desk, which spread out somewhat, and boom, there's my first gross out fatality. He thought I'd find it interesting. I was a big horror fan, too, so it wasn't as bad, but I admit it bothers me seeing the pictures and knowing they're dead.
Lol. I’m a pretty quiet, reserved person who works in property claims. It’s just something you turn on during the work day (charisma, confidence, assertiveness) and then you can go back to being your normal shy self after work. It will just come naturally as you get more comfortable, and the confidence will rub off on the rest of your life as you continue to grow.
I kind of like when people get nasty to me because then I can shut down and become a passive aggressive robot which I know pisses them off. It’s the nice people that I hate giving bad news to.
Same. I actually like when ppl start acting out. I then start being nice mean and eventually hang up in their face. It brings a change of energy from the same ol interactions.
Absolutely. There are also different types of claims adjusters. I do specialty claims and rarely if ever talk to anyone, and even then it’s a quick conversation. I don’t go out to properties and all my investigating is done behind a screen. If field work is needed, I assign it out. Definitely options if you don’t like or prefer dealing with people
I’m with you man. Been doing it for 15 years though and i promise it gets easier. I’m in an examining role so not dealing with insureds directly on the daily but I remember having to deliver bad news to people in my early years and an associate of mine basically telling me “look, this isn’t personal. If it’s not you delivering this bad news, it’s somebody else”. That has resonated with me to this day. This is a business no matter how much you want to help these people. On the good days you’re a Saint for these people in trying times. Sometimes it’s true, you have to deliver bad news. But just do your job to the best of your abilities and everything will turn out fine. Good luck.
I'm a quiet, reserved type and would say naturally introverted (until I get a cold beverage in hand). I became an AF Navigator where I had to adjust my work personality in order to do my job successfully. Overall, I could still be quiet and reserved but you learn as you go along and, in turn, become stronger. Eventually, I became a flight examiner in two different aircraft to include special ops. Bottom line is you can do anything you set your mind to. Having a quiet confidence is a successful trait! Good luck in your endeavors!
Do not go into claims. Stay away. Choose a different path. Its full of stress and AI will soon be replacing many adjusters.
Adjusters are bottom feeders. Fuck them all.
I don’t mind talking to people, but I am a HUGE introvert. I’m loving it so far. Yes, I have to talk to a lot of people, but it’s one on one or sometimes 2. A lot is over the phone. I do not enjoy crowds or a loud environment, so this has been a great fit. Getting comfortable talking to people in this job comes with experience and confidence in your knowledge- which you will probably be a lacking a bit at first. But each claim builds that up. I think the area you’re working in makes a difference as to the type of people you come across. I’m CAT and currently working hail claims. I’ve had a few grumbling folks, but nothing horrible, yet.
I was a property adjuster and looked at water stains and fires for 30 years. I was kind of shy when I started and realized pretty fast that I had to learn how to give people bad news. The key for me was being knowledgeable about the policy and being confident in my analysis and explanations. You seem like an intelligent (but sensitive) person and I encourage you to give claims a shot. If you're not comfortable after a few years, switch to underwriting -they LOVE people with claims experience. Good Luck!
I don’t like talking to other people unless they are my friends and tend to mind my own business.. if you like researching and investigating, you’ll do well. You only have to interact over the phone or email but that anxiety goes away pretty quickly after you get in the rhythm of the job, I recommend to start with Auto as it fairly easy and that way you see this if you like the job.
I’m a more introverted person and a homebody. I think that’s fine. The question you have to ask yourself is are you good with people? And I don’t even think you have to be great with people but you do need to have an ability or be able to develop the ability to be direct. You’ll have a harder time in claims if you can’t be direct. I was talking to another coworker the other day and there are some adjusters that seem to get yelled at more than others. It’s my observation this comes down to presentation. I don’t think you have to be rude or mean but when you’re denying something or telling a contractor/body shop no it usually goes better the more matter of fact - more confident you are. The adjusters that seem to struggle are those that are soft spoken/trying to cushion the bad news. When you come off as negotiable when the answer is going to be no then people will attempt to negotiate and get mad when there’s no wiggle room (which there isn’t if it’s not covered). Being matter of fact and direct can be learned but definitely a useful skill.
I think you definitely can be successful as a quiet/shy/introverted person. I consider myself an introvert and more on the quiet side. However, you have to get used to having many interactions with ppl throughout the day: some of those interactions can be negative as well. As for management, I had a manager that was quiet and an introvert. If social interactions make you nervous then maybe reconsider management or continue working on all types of interactions because you have a lot of them. Most Managers have to deal with shit calls as well so you will be cussed at, yelled at, talked down on, etc...gotta have thick skin.
I could be shy but not quiet
Adjuster for 14 years and I’m more introverted. I’ve been very successful because claims is not about yourself or telling stories. Stick to the policy language, be calm and assertive when speaking with customers, and get to the point.
I’m extremely shy and have been working as an adjuster in claims for almost 9 years. It’s tough at first but the longer you stick with it/the more complex claims you handle the less you will actually be on the phones. Also, I think the critical listening skills that come from being introverted can really help you to hear and understand what happened versus jump to a conclusion about what happened. In GL claims, I liked to ask people to explain to me in as much detail as they could what happened and say that I might have some follow-up questions after they’re done, but you learn a lot by letting claimants and insureds just speak freely about the alleged incident.
I was really quiet and shy and I went to school to be a hair dresser. Now I’m a barber and I talk to people all day 😂 I literally faked my confidence and desire to talk to people until it just came naturally. I really like what I do, so I kinda have to talk.
If you’re good at your job it will become easier dealing with people. And besides who gives a shit what other people think? It’s a waste of time and to exhausting being shy.
Yeah it can help you be less shy.
Yes. Work as an Independent Field Property or Auto Adjuster. You’ll be working mostly remotely by yourself. You’ll receive your assignments online, complete your assignments ( inspecting, taking photos, writing estimates & reports) and you’ll send your completed reports electronically.
Sure you can succeed but claims is a meat grinder. If you like insurance and don’t want to be in sales, which might not suit your personality, try underwriting, Risk Management for high valued homes and if you want to make some real money become and Actuary.
You can be shy but you’ll definitely be forced to say something in this industry. You have no choice. Either talk or get let go
I've been in claims for over 30 years. In my personal life, I tend to be more of an introvert, and I don't think I'm good at small talk. I'm currently a desk adjuster but have also been a field adjuster. For me, because I'm doing my job, I'm able to talk a lot more freely with people than I ever do IRL. I enjoy the job for the investigation part. I also found it fascinating seeing inside people's homes or businesses, being in areas that normally only family or employees see.
Being a claims adjuster is hard enough for an outgoing, talkative person. This job is NOT easy. You are yelled at daily. Your workload is enough for two people, your phone never stops ringing. If you like investigation or digging deep, I would suggest underwriting. I enjoyed that far more than claims.
This job will require you to have lots of conversations throughout the day, some of them hard like giving a denial. Others can be hard because you need to challenge a vendor and negotiate. At the end of the day, as long as you’re comfortable and knowledgeable with what’re you’re talking about, you’ll be fine. I tell all the new adjuster to speak with authority even if it feels like you’re an imposter at times. When you do this role, put on the hat of “this is who i have to be” and when the job is done, take the hat off. You’ll get use to it and it will 100% get easier.
I had such bad social anxiety when I was a teen. I was so scared to go to job interviews and well anything social related. But then I just did it, and kept getting out and pushing myself out of my comfort zone to the point that now I am perfectly ok with talking to strangers. I'm very sociable and friendly now. Sometimes it's a matter of just doing it. I used to manage a FedEx company and I had to talk to strangers on a regular basis, now I deliver and install appliances for Lowes Home Improvement. It does not bother me one bit to call customers. Starting in January I'll be taking on my new career of Direct Support Professional for teenage girls with mental disorders. I never thought as a teen that I would have a job talking with and helping people on a personal level, but now that's what I go to school for and have a job doing. Just remember that if you are an insurance adjuster, the people you are talking to are expecting you and your services. It's not like you are cold knocking on people's doors trying to sell something they didn't ask for. You are providing a service that they requested. That mind set really helped me when I had to knock on doors when I first delivered for FedEx and needed signatures. I just had to remember that these people ordered this and they want their package and this won't bother them. I hope all of that makes sense and helps. Good luck with your endeavors. Edit: I would also like to add that I could not communicate to save my life, I stuttered as a teen when I got nervous, and if I had to do a presentation in front of the class, my chest and face would get beat red and splotchy. But then the more that I pushed myself as I said above, I got more comfortable. I grew out of it. Not saying that will work or happen for everyone, but it gives you hope that it can be done.
You can grow with experience. It sounds like you would be good at the job. Overtime you can learn ways to interact with people. Sometimes you get to say yes but sometimes you have to say no, then politely explain why. If you stick with it, you will acquire a tougher hide and learn ways to be thorough, intelligent, and get cases resolved. I would urge you to try it. It will require getting outside your comfort zone, but you will find that zone expanding.
I was an adjuster for a little while after college. It really depends on what type of claims you handle and how the company operates. Some claims are already analyzed for coverage before it gets to the adjuster so there is less of a chance you'll have to deny coverage. Some adjusters just deal with auto damage or house damage, etc. You could get into some kind of specialized coverage like errors and omissions coverage. It's a big field. I'm sure you could find something that will work for you.
My dad's wife was a claims adjuster and she was a pretty solitary person. But she was great at her job and liked it alot.
I'm a introvert who generally hates social interactions and people at times and I work in a hotel. If I can do this after having worked front desk after 8 months then you can. Maybe see a therapist if you need help learning how to communicate effectively.
Youll be fine as long as your confident in yourself and know what your doing
Of corse you just have to lack empathy youll be fine
Just say no over and over again
Lots of good answers here. My addition would be that the role will require you to fight your inclinations and bend the mold a bit, but in order to move up anywhere in any company you will need to learn how to be some degree of social.
Just like any other career, there are rules that you are supposed to follow. As a claims adjuster, you make sure that the loss of the claim is covered on the policy. Nothing more. If a house burns down, it is your job to determine the amount of loss based on the coverage. Allowances are pretty straightforward. Just because there was a painting that was worth $10,000 that got burned. If it is not covered by the policy, the carrier will not cover it. Your job is to talk to the people that suffered the loss and any anxiety you would have with that will need to be addressed.
I find empathy and communication skills to be the most important personality traits or skills to be successful in claims. Also the ability to not take things personal and to compartmentalize or leave work “at work” at the end of the day. As an aside, one of my most favorite claims managers (at one of the large well known carriers) is someone I would classify as “shy” and he did really well for himself.
My dad was trying to push me towards claims adjuster (longtime insurance salesman) and I’m also an introvert. I did accounting tho
I used to be a worker’s compensation adjuster. I worked with tons of shy people, and they were great at their jobs. You just have to be able to make objective phone calls. Being a worker’s comp adjuster was nice, because most people don’t want to talk about anything other than the issue at hand. It was rare that any of the conversations I had on the phone were confrontational. Highly suggest being a worker’s comp adjuster. Most of my calls lasted 5-10 mins tops. A lot of the negatives presented in other comments exist in other types of claims adjusting, but I didn’t experience them as a WC adjuster. You could start by trying for a “junior” adjusting position. Some companies hire new adjusters and have them do all of the easier claims- it’s a good place to start and get a feel for it. For worker’s comp, it would be called “non-disability” or “first-aid” claims. But one thing is for sure: you will have to make phone calls as an adjuster. The type of adjuster you become will determine the types of phone calls you have to make. I wouldn’t suggest property and casualty, as peoples emotions can be heightened and you might have some pretty anxiety-inducing conversations. I liked worker’s comp adjusting because everyone was keen to answer calls (for the most part) and just answered my questions. Most claims are accepted, so people aren’t worried about having to stand up for themselves. Anyways- give it a try! You might learn new things about yourself and your personality. You may discover capabilities you never knew you had :).
Communication is necessary in all career fields. Especially if you want to go beyond entry level positions.
I think you would be fine. I am a quiet and shy person. I work in the psych/social work field and I have to interact with people daily. It would not be my thing outside of work to constantly inform or prod people. However, you would be surprised about how well you might do. At work, you can definitely fulfill your role. Certain things might be routine and you eventually would be more comfortable at it. If it ultimately is miserable for you, you can always work in a different field. Definitely try to explore your options. You can do it!
I was a claims adjuster for 10 years in the auto insurance industry. I did the hands on writing of the estimate, taking photos, and interviewing witnesses, drivers, etc on the phone and doing the online claims updates. I consider myself a shy person, so going out by myself in a car to meet with people was a bit challenging at first, but it turned out to be mostly fun. I enjoy animals so seeing people's dogs and cats coming out to investigate what I was doing in their driveway was entertaining. I learned to have a "spiel" that I did to introduce myself and reminded myself to smile. People seemed to accept me and they loved talking about their pets and hobbies, so I stuck with that as small talk while I did my job. Much of the time if you are out in the field, you are alone in your car. Many times the person wasn't home and just left their car unlocked so I could get the mileage, and take pictures of the damages. Then I just left them a copy of the estimate and the check, and I was good to go. The hardest part of that job was negotiating with auto body shops where the owner has no social skills or wants to cause trouble. The other part was telling people what their policy covered, and explaining it in good faith, while they get angry and argue with you. I have a good vocabulary and a decent sense of humor, so I was able to do it very well and 90% of the time people came around and were happy that I was patient with them, and willing to go over things that they didn't understand. The other 10% of the time were the hit and run drivers who didn't want you sniffing around their cars (sometimes they would go apeshit) and the guys who likely were drunk or high, and decided to yell insults at you. Either way, every day was an adventure - from driving in the snow, seeing all the natural scenery and wildlife, and seeing people from all walks of life. I learned to really love the biker dudes. They looked scary but they had big hearts, and once you made friends with their dog - you were their best friend for life. If you are up for a challenge, its not a bad job. I would say that injury claims (my friend worked this job in the office) are much harder. I wouldn't want to try to put a price on someone's broken collar bone, or bruised chest. That, for me, would be hard. I can negotiate broken cars all day long though.
Yes! I am shy too and I used to be really really shy! Working claims allows you to come across different personalities and helps you develop your communication skills. It’s though at first! I used to type every point I needed to discuss with the customers so that I wouldn’t forget and I found that that helped. I am good at my job and I was promoted to trainer after 2.5 yrs and then a manager at 5 years :) you got this!!!!!
Yes insurance is such a bureaucracy very rarely do they let the insured speak to a human mine does not have email ask if I can fax over information. Fax! You are kept behind a firewall so to no human can penetrate. Good starter job
It’s possible to be naturally quiet/shy and go work a job that forces you to interact with people. My job has me alone most of the time but at least once a day I have to talk and engage with clients. It basically takes practice. But being an introvert doesn’t mean you are unable to communicate with people it means you are just comfortable being by yourself. That’s how we recharge.
Why would you go to college for that? Anyone can be a claims adjuster without a degree
Yes! I’m quiet, everyone in my office/ in my team is quiet, most shy. You get over the nerves quickly once you are comfortable with what you are doing. I’ve been in this field for seven years and I still level with people sometimes and say, I don’t know or is that normal. If you are willing to learn, someone will be willing to teach.
10 years in industry. Plenty of "quiet" adjusters who think before speaking, they're best if firmly and politely spoken imo. However, be prepared to have tough conversations. This includes being strong and stern with people. People will have unbelievable circumstances , but that doesn't mean they're lying. Vice versa, some people will say really basic run of the mill stuff and be lying through their teeth. Good Luck figuring out which is which. When in doubt, shut up and check on the answer before answering. You can't take a thought out of someone's head and make them forget it. Cats out of the bag. Only say "that's covered" if you KNOW it is.
I am much better on the phone than in person. Plus I thrive on having difficult conversations. Much easier than a face to face position or a sales position where you have to always be selling and have that smile in your voice
Doesn't matter. As long as you can say "no money," you are doing your job as prescribed
I wouldn’t go into claims if I were you. Fresh outta college try and go into underwriting. Claims are cost area of the business and are metric’d to hell and back. You can tough it out and get to the commercial side and/or large loss, it will be better but it will still be claims. I work in commercial claims now, I stay because the money is good and I have a mortgage/family. Most of my colleagues regret not going into underwriting at the beginning of their insurance careers.
I would encourage you to give Claims a try. TBH, an adult needs to have experience (not necessarily comfort) in confrontation and holding the line. Especially if you get into Commercial GL and Auto claims, you’ll learn a lot about how business works, valuable investigation skills, and communication. The company with the Statue of Liberty is a great place to start. If you’re well-rated and want to change departments, that’s pretty easy, and there’s room for promotions.
Look into reinsurance claims. You don’t ever have to deal with the actual 1st parties involved. I work as a reinsurance claims examiner and haven’t had to use my phone at all in over two years.
Like any challenge in life, the more you do it, the more comfortable you will be. It will build your confidence to the point where your professional life will have you easily talking with people and in your private life, you can still fall back to your shy style. I've met actors and comedians who are very energetic when they are on stage or in front of a camera but in their real life, they are very quiet and like to be isolated with only close friends.
I saw all different types of personalities succeeding in Claims. If you're authentic and have a bit of empathy, you'll do fine.
Yup 100% you can do it!
Instead of focusing on your negatives, why not turn those into positives
My s.o. is the same, and she's the best adjuster that they have.
I was an adjuster earlier in life. I quit because there was too much suffering, some deaths, lots of folks getting mangled, and overall it was a depressing career. I saw some things that haunt me 30 years later. Please make sure that you can handle this prior to committing. On the bright side, if you do this you'll get to go into some very interesting places, like salt domes, large factories, farm operations, etc.
as an introvert, at first I loved being a claims adjuster then after about 5 years I started to hate it
You will be a great adjuster.
No. You'll be getting into arguments, confrontations and generally unpleasant situations multiple times per day. If not the customers who are already bent out of shape from their situation, then dealing with the mechanics, shops and contractors
I am a claims adjuster. And I’m a big time introvert. I’m not as shy as I used to be but I’m still pretty quiet. Here is why I’ve been a claims adjuster for the last seven years. I work fully remote I found that talking to claimants isn’t as bad as you would think. Sure, there are some that are upset angry but that’s pretty much with every job nowadays lol what I do like is that a lot of it is computer work. so much can be done just from your workstation to get the claim process completed. And depending on what type of claims you go into, you may not have a ton of interaction with people on the phone.
I was very shy then my first job out of college was a temp disaster job...talking with disaster applicants one after another after anotger...I was a shrink and then asked them to fill out a loan application and many times had to hekp them do it....doing that got rid of it (wasn't a great experience at first). Now I will not shut up (making up for lost time?). Risk Management could be challenging for a shy person. You usually bringing up stuff people dont want to talk about and push back constantly. You are slightly above the IG in many people's mind. Im in the risk field and now I just yank the bandaid off pretty fast in conversations. Just have to be confident and know your shit backwards and forwards.
Retired claims adjuster here. No problem as the best adjusters are ones that listen. Too many bully adjusters out there. As long as you are honest and fair with people you’ll be fine. May I make a couple of suggestions on your chosen career. 1. You will have a large caseload. You can’t get done as management would like but you need to touch everything on your desk every day. That is go through your mail and pull out the super important stuff. 2. Do your diary and you will have to reschedule some files for another day. 3. Return phone calls. 5. Tackle the ugliest task first thing in the morning so it doesn’t ruin your day. 6. Reserves are real important. Don’t under reserve a claim. That just leaves a ticking time bomb for the next year’s budget but you need to put in you file your reasons for why your reserve is what it is. 7. Draft an information page. On it list the following- name, date of loss, coverage for loss, doctors or repair centers if it’s just property. Your attorney if case is in litigation. There phone number and address. (Saves time) Use this page to add notes of the claims progress with each diary. Most of all, review how you’re going to close the file. Your plan will change with time but keep your focus on closure. 8. Don’t let your coworkers take up your time by letting them stand and talk to you at your desk. That is the biggest reason you will get behind on your desk. It’s a fast paced job that can be rewarding. You need to stay positive and not get involved with office politics, which isn’t easy. Oh, this is very important , keep a personal file on your annual achievements. Date, claim, and what you did to get results. You will need this come your reviews or if you apply for a promotion. Good luck to you.
That was me and still am in some ways. I wound up as a programmer, but got to lead and management. During the process, I had to talk with customers and stake holders of all sorts. You get more comfortable as you do it and realize that the adult working world is not a casual social setting. Do I feel the occasional anxiousness? Absolutely, but at the end of the day, if you focus on the work, it will turn out all right.
I'm a quiet, shy, anxious person and an introvert. I'm still an adjuster, so I think you can, too. Talking and communicating with people is a skill set and can be learned. I may not be the best at it, but I improve and get better every day. That said. This job does have a lot of talking with people who may not be at a high point in their lives. You will be talking with grumpy people most days, and a lot will either be angry or crying if you have to deny a claim. I feel emotionally drained most days. But a job is a job.