When trying to get started as an insurance claims adjuster, your resume can totally ruin your chances — or propel you to the top of the recruiting ladder.

Knowing what is important to recruiters and hiring companies is SO important. Putting the wrong information, in the wrong format, can result in a false start when it comes to your career.

I’ll walk you through some of the finer points of creating an insurance adjuster resume that stands out and communicates clearly so you aren’t shoved to the bottom of the “do not call” drawer.

What makes a good insurance claims adjuster resume?

What makes a resume “good” is debatable and subjective, but if you take what we know about resumes, they are used for someone to decide if you are right for a work opportunity. With that in mind, we can start to make some good decisions about how to make an adjuster resume stand out.

When a company receives a new resume, a recruiter will review your resume and decide in under ten seconds if you are right for the job. 

In ten seconds you will be judged, so making sure the correct and most important information to the hiring company is located at the top is PARAMOUNT.

If the first thing an insurance company sees is that you were a plumber, and they see nothing about claims experience or estimatics training right off the bat, you’ll likely be passed over for the job.

The number one mistake people make with their resume is that they tell the hiring company what they’ve done — not what they can do for the company. It is easy to bury the most important information at the bottom of the resume and to put all the experience you are proud of at the top. 

You have good reason to be proud of your work history, but that likely ISN’T what will get you hired.

What makes a good adjuster resume? Showing the hiring company in less than ten seconds that you know how to do the job of an insurance adjuster. 

Like an advertisement, the job of your resume is to intrigue a recruiter so they will dive deeper into your work history and consider you for the job.

What are companies looking for on an adjuster resume?

Different jobs and careers require different resumes. The resume you used to get a real estate job does NOT work as an insurance adjuster resume. 

Hiring managers are looking for different skills and attributes, and we need to put those FRONT AND CENTER.

Here’s what insurance companies are looking for in a potential claims adjuster hire.

1. Experience

Not everyone has experience as a claims adjuster, and it may not even be required on the job you are applying for. But make no mistake, if someone has claims experience, they will be brought to the front of the line. So if you have it, make sure it’s featured prominently in your resume.

2. Training

Second only to experience is training. If you don’t have extensive claims experience, having extensive claims training is doubly important. Showing that you’ve been trained to use estimating software is a key piece of information they’ll need to know. Checking out some free claims adjuster training can help you decide on a program if you need to beef up this section of your resume.

3. Qualifications

Do you, as a job candidate, have a good grasp of the job you are applying for? Do you get what it takes to handle claims? Communicating that you understand and have the skill set required to do the job will position you in a positive light.

4. Licenses

If you already have an adjuster license add it to your resume! The hiring company is looking to see if you are able to work claims in the areas they need help in. Have an appraisers license? Add that as well. Showing what type of claims you can legally handle is an important part of crafting your adjuster resume.

5. Professionalism

If your resume looks professional, GREAT. If it looks pathetic, HORRIBLE. It seems straightforward, but having misspellings or a goofy picture on your resume can hinder your chances of getting hired, no matter what experience or education you have.

6. Education

Depending on the job you are pursuing, a college education may be a big plus or even required. If it is, make sure your degree is front and center. For other jobs, like independent adjusting, a degree won’t be near as important. Always look at the job you are applying for and determine what level of importance they are placing on formal education and move it to the corresponding spot accordingly.

7. References

Depending on the type of job you’re going for, references can play a big role in nudging a hiring manager to schedule an interview. Have great professional references — that are not related to you — on your resume to help seal the deal.

Tips for creating an awesome insurance adjuster resume

Now let’s take this new approach and perspective and apply it to your resume. Here are some tips that will increase your chances of getting hired or called in for an interview.

1. Put a HEADLINE on your resume

Make the headline something that promises how you will do the job. For example, “I close auto claims FAST!” is way better than something vague like “I work with principles.”

2. Place relevant skills, training, and experience above the fold

This is a term talking about what someone sees when they go to a website. Anything that is above the fold is what they see when the website or document loads on screen. Whatever the hiring manager sees when they open your resume should CONVINCE them to scroll through the rest of your resume.

Be sure to include any relevant certifications, like a state all lines adjuster license, NFIP flood certification, State Farm adjuster certification, near the top.

3. Put work and education history and references at the bottom or second page

No one wants to see your unrelated work history or references UNLESS you are qualified and can do the job. If they are interested in you for the job they will scroll. Don’t waste space talking about your past life above the fold.

4. Write an estimate in the software they require you to know

Want to show up in a big way? If applying for a position that requires knowledge in Xactimate, Audatex, or CCC One, write an estimate in that software and submit an estimate. That may seal the deal for you!

5. Consider a visual resume

Depending on whether you are going for a traditional insurance job or if trying to get someone’s attention at an independent adjusting firm, it may make sense to submit a visual resume. These types of resumes are GREAT at catching attention, but if applying for a traditional insurance company may get the wrong kind of attention. Understand who your potential job is for, and whether it’s the right play or not.

If you’re not sure what type of claims adjusting jobs you want, this article covers the various roles and insurance adjuster salaries.

6. Tweak your resume to fit the job

A mistake I’ve often seen with resumes is using the same resume for every job and every company.

If a company says they want to see a certain type of training or education requirement, move it up to the top. If you’re applying for a property or auto job, move the proper training and experience up, and move the unrelated things down. Taking one hour to tweak your adjuster resume may be the difference between being unemployed or working.

Applying to independent adjusting firms & insurance companies

After you’ve adjusted your resume, finding companies to apply to is the next step. 

If you are an independent adjuster, I recommend you check out our list of 125+ independent adjusting firms that you can send your resume to.

For those searching for a job at an insurance company, I’d suggest looking at Indeed, Glassdoor, or Zip Recruiter.

Don’t get discouraged if one company doesn’t hire you. Try and try again. Being consistent and applying to lots of different companies is often the KEY to getting work.

Networking as an insurance adjuster can also improve your chances of success. If you aren’t sure how to network properly, you can check out my book called the Networking Adjuster’s Playbook.

Adjuster resume example

Below is an example of a resume one of our students created after taking the Building a 6-Figure Adjuster Resume through IA Path as a part of our auto mentorship program. 

This visual resume, as I mentioned earlier, may not work for all job situations. However, it’s a great example for an independent adjuster trying to catch a potential employer’s attention. 

But, it will stand out compared to a boring old resume.

Look at how he showcases his technical skills in an easy-to-consume format. He also posts front and center that he is a licensed adjuster so the recruiter doesn’t have to search for that vital price of information.

Because he uses this resume primarily for auto adjusting jobs and become an auto damage appraiser, he lists his auto estimating software skills above Xactimate, which is for property claims. He also focuses his core competencies on handling auto claims, rather than being generic.

Need help with your resume?

Working on your resume can be a daunting task, and changing your perspective can be impossible on your own. 

If you need more help creating your resume I’d suggest checking out John Bachmann and I’s book the Adjuster’s Resume Playbook on Amazon.

Your resume can be a crucial part of your search for employment, but it is just one part. Making sure you are properly trained, connected, and prepared to handle claims can boost your chances of success in this lucrative career.

Most new adjusters struggle to find a path to getting work, and we want to help you figure out your insurance adjuster path.

If you need help getting started in your adjusting career check out our free adjuster video training. It will guide you through how to get started as an adjuster, step by step.