7 Characteristics of Top-Performing Independent Adjusters
Claims Adjuster
4 min read
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Sam Miller
RevOps Manager
Do you have what it takes to be a successful independent adjuster? The benefits of working in this role include significant freedom, a sense of accomplishment, and high earning power. Yet not everyone is actually cut out to do it. So, let’s take a closer look at the traits of top adjusters. Read the list of ideal behavioral characteristics that we compiled below, and see how many match up with your own approach to working.
1. Integrity
2. Inquisitiveness
3. Resourcefulness
4. Meticulousness
Do you have a keen eye for detail? Do you tend to be precise and thorough with your work? Are you careful with your decisions and actions? All of these attributes point to a meticulous personality, which is ideal for a career in claims adjusting.
5. Dependability
When you work for Independent Adjusting (IA) firms, you will need to demonstrate your dependability on a continual basis. The people who hire you need to be sure that they can rely on you. And they will expect you to manage and close every assigned claim in a professional, thorough and efficient manner. If you do that, you’re more likely to get hired again and again.
6. Confidence
Working independently requires handling a wide variety of tasks, developing your own unique workflows, navigating the claims process with no supervision, and making critical decisions about financial settlements. When you face all of these challenges on a regular basis, you must remain confident and self-assured about your own abilities. Having a positive mindset is a key to succeeding in this type of career.
7. Determination
Claims adjusting requires fortitude and persistence in the face of obstacles. You may have to deal with dangerous weather, travel complications, unresponsive claimants, language barriers and other problems. Nevertheless, having a can-do attitude, a will to succeed and an ability to adapt and overcome can help tremendously, to help you persevere during those times when your job isn’t easy.
But Wait – You’ll Need Some Essential Skills as Well
The seven characteristics listed above should be thought of as distinguishing qualities that can help you be successful as an independent adjuster. You may exhibit some or even all of those qualities. If so, that’s great. Yet it’s important to know that personal characteristics or qualities are quite different from job skills.
If you believe you have the right characteristics and the desire to be an independent adjuster, then you’ll also want to work on acquiring these seven important skills:
Communication skills – being able to interact professionally and pleasantly with all types of people, while displaying patience, empathy and a cooperative attitude
Investigative skills – knowing what questions to ask, and demonstrating expertise in systematically researching and exploring factual evidence
Analytical skills – being able to analyze information and use logic in a careful manner to determine the proper outcome of each claim
Math skills – having enough math aptitude to calculate property damage
Software skills – knowing how to use relevant, independent adjuster software to close claims quickly
Organizational skills – being able to maintain an uncluttered workspace and use organized systems for appointments, notes, documents, photos, floor plans, reports, etc.
Time-management skills – knowing how to manage multiple claims simultaneously, prioritize tasks effectively, and complete tasks efficiently
Summary
In this article, we covered seven characteristics that make certain independent adjusters stand above the rest. We also identified what skills are needed to be a claims adjuster. If you can already check off a lot of these characteristics and skills, then you may be well suited to work in this type of role.
Demonstrate resourcefulness by using a floor plan app for home insurance claims
Or find out how to become an independent adjuster.
