Work for living

I'm an environmental scientist specializing in sediment. Currently volunteered to lead a team project assessing a watershed in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. 

Good advice.

A buddy of mine had a transmission shop, and I asked him what led to most people ending up at his shop. Without hesitation, he said “People not reading the owner’s manual and towing without taking it out of automatic overdrive”.

I have a question for you. Not claim related.

My nephew is interested in insurance adjusting as a career. He is thinking home insurance but open to other property types. My question is where does one get the training and certification needed to apply for these jobs? Is there a program of study?

Any advice is appreciated.

I'm not familiar with how it works in the home insurance industry but I can tell how to start out in the auto industry. Most insurance companies start by hiring inside claims adjusters. You get trained in how insurance works, policies, liability, recorded statements and everything you need to do the inside processing of a accident claim. One you have passed your probationary period and have successfully done the job for 6 months to a year you can then apply for an outside position actually handling the damages. Most insurance companies have their own internal training programs that teach you how to write damages, work with body shops and deal with the customers. When I started I was flown to Phx for two weeks of auto training, then back home to start handling damages. Then a year later was flown back out again for another two weeks for advanced auto training. The one exception to this is people who already have a background in autobody/mechanical damage/were already a damage adjuster(i.e they worked in a autobody shop/were a service writer/or a mechanic). These people can sometimes be hired right into a damage position. They go to 2 weeks of claims training, do some basic claims in house for 2-4 weeks then head right back out to auto damage training.

Last piece to throw out there and this is with my company which is one of the top 3 in that nation. Is that a inside insurance adjuster should plan on working a minimum of 10-12 hrs a day for the first year. Once you are past that point it eases up but that's what you should expect.  Also once you have passed training you go from hourly to salary.

Hopes this helps, if you have any other questions happy to help.

I thank you very much for your concern. Not too many people understand the mental side of this job and the things we hold down in order to show a smiling face to the next person we come in contact with. The academy emphasizes leaving the job and its stress at work before going home to your family. But in all reality, my wife is my stress reliever. She wanted to get into law enforcement herself but never had the opportunity to act on it, so she kind of lives vicariously through me. She wants to know all the things I did on shift, no matter how bad things got. To some this may seem morbid, but it's a huge weight off my shoulders to talk to someone, and that someone happens to be my loving wife. I fully believe everyone needs an outlet, not just in law enforcement, but any job that can cause stress. 

This is my last week in my current job. For 18 years I've worked for Hamleys in London,specialising in die cast cars

I'm a software weenie at a very large financial firm in NYC. As a wiser man than I once said, "my job is not rewarding, but it compensates."

I've spent most of my adult life doing software, or something closely connected to same.

Software is an uncommonly dull line of work with very fine perquisites. I can't complain.

The legal side of the job would likely bore a member or two to end it all.  But, I work in a 40 lawyer shop, and we put a lot of stock in keeping things light.  You know that this job will eat you up, if you let it.

I have 20 years in as a bridge and roadway construction inspector/resident engineer. This covers all aspects of constructing a new road/bridge or reconstructing on interstates and highways. It is a pretty interesting field. My advice, please obey all signs in a work zone as most of us have families and we want to go home alive. I know construction zones are a pain in the butt but this type of work takes time and needs to be done in order to keep our roads safe and in good condition. 

Hamleys is a nexus of realities my friend! I've been asked my name there by visitors from Belfast...turns out my grandfather taught them to swim

i first visited there when I was 16. Three guys working there that day ended up being part of my team twelve years later.

For a toy shop,it's a surprisingly profound place. If a fella there asked you to have an Ulster Fry for him when you got home,that would have been me

Considering the location that could be one hell of chore!

I guess I have diesel in my blood, I have been trucking since 1980 and still like it...the snapperheads I share the road with, I have less fondness for.

I started out:


Now I drive a 2018 Mack similar to this without the sleeper...I prefer my bed at home.



It has been quite an evolution.

Yes, it will be a challenge, but there is a promotion involved.