June is the start of what is predicted to be a very busy hurricane season, which means carriers and independent staffing firms soon will need thousands of catastrophe adjusters. Claims spoke with Deborah Ward about résumé strategies to employ for those looking to join the ranks.

When reviewing résumés, what do you look for?

Normal résumés don’t fit the bill for catastrophe-adjuster selections because the carriers and vendors are very specific to select an independent based on what software the company uses and how many years experience and certifications they prefer their independents to have. Many carriers, such as State Farm where I worked 28 years, require catastrophe certification tests on wind, hail, and estimatics. A good résumé will take this into account.

What are some résumé trends in the industry?

Some things I’ve noticed lately are team résumés that combine the experience levels of all of the adjusters on the catastrophe team, although they want files assigned individually. I have yet to have a carrier, independent firm, or preferred contractor accept these résumés. The heavy storm seasons of the past two years have not changed the rules on what employers are looking for.

What tips would you offer to aspiring adjusters when submitting their résumés?

Always be sure to include correct contact information and your e-mail/mailing address. I also get many rejections because the e-mail address is no longer valid. Think about your e-mail address, too. While it might be humorous to you, how professional will it look to a carrier or an insured if you give out felloffroof@claims.com?

You also should be aware that if you fill out an online form, the data typically is transferred into a database so that a firm looking for experienced applicants can quickly assess individual skills. Comments in blocks that say, “see résumé” defeat this purpose. Also, if you write a recruiter with a general question, attach your résumé. It is hard to respond to questions when there are no details about the writer.

In the body of your résumé, be sure to include details of your claim history, training, number and type of files worked, carrier-specific certifications, estimatic software you have experience working with, and the names of the independent firms and carriers you have worked for. Special skills such as being bilingual or having steep-climbing experience may get you selected over other applicants. Also, always include your references. No one has the time to call you back and get that information, especially if there are plenty of applicants who supplied them upfront.

A lot of résumés also include a list of equipment. I have yet to be asked by anyone looking for staffing what equipment or travel method you will be using. Give them the information above that they really need and leave out the unnecessary details.

Last but not least, run spell check before sending anything out!