As a claims adjuster, you deal with people at some level of distress. They have experienced a loss and have turned to their insurance company to help them recover what they can. That means that when you begin your job search, you need to project calmness, competence and keen investigative skills.
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Resume.io’s writing guides and resume examples for 300+ professions will get your there. We offer an easy-to-use resume builder and design templates that will make creating your job application easy.
This resume guide, along with the corresponding claims adjuster resume example will cover the following topics:
- What does a claims adjuster do?
- Advice and tips for writing your claims adjuster resume
- The best format for a claims adjuster resume
- Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
- Professional resume layout and design hints.
What does a claims adjuster do?
Claims adjusters investigate insurance claims and property damage to determine the liability of a company in relation to the damage at hand. They might handle automobile, life or home insurance claims. Some claims adjusters are able to handle all types of claims while others specialize in certain areas.
To review a case, a claims adjuster interviews the claimant, witnesses, police and other people involved with the claim. They may also research medical or other records related to the claim. They then verify insurance policies and evaluate the risks, losses, damages to property or bodily injuries involved in a case. Claims adjusters communicate their findings and inform claimants of their discoveries. Then they negotiate with claimants to find a reasonable settlement for the claim and issue payout amounts.
Some claims adjusters are independent contractors who work for a third party or for themselves and are hired by insurance companies to address individual claims.
The median salary for a claims adjuster is $55,478, Payscale reports, with a range from about $41,000 to more than $81,000.
How to write a claims adjuster resume
Before you begin writing, you need to understand the structure of your claims adjuster resume. Your CV should contain the following components:
- The resume header
- The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
- The employment history section
- The resume skills section
- The education section
We will explore them in detail below.
Choosing the best resume format for a claims adjuster
Typically, resumes follow a reverse chronological format. That means you list your most recent position and work backwards from there. Unless your career falls into a special circumstance, we recommend this format because it is favored by recruiters and applicant tracking systems (see our Expert Tip below.)
If you are trying to change careers, are just starting out or have many years of experience, you may consider the other resume formats we suggest as chronological alternatives or hybrids. We do not recommend the functional resume style unless you have very specific knowledge or skills you want to highlight.
Avoid the Applicant Tracking System filter
Applicant Tracking Systems, or ATS, scan, sort and assess resumes looking for keywords and phrases the employer has pegged to the job. If you apply online, your resume will encounter an ATS.
The best way to ensure that your resume won’t get filtered out is to analyze the job listing to understand what your prospective employer wants. Carefully highlighting keywords and phrases within it that you can then use in your resume.
Use the exact language from the job description and spell out and use any acronyms just in case.
Resume summary example: career report
The summary, or profile, of your claims adjuster resume offers you the chance to distinguish yourself from other candidates by showcasing your professional personality and achievements in complete sentences.
Jump right in by describing yourself using powerful, positive language. Then spend a sentence or two highlighting your greatest achievements and competencies. Wrap up by explaining what you can do for your prospective employer. Remember to address the needs the company spelled out in the job listing.
You will find a claims adjuster resume example summary below.
Dynamic claims adjuster with drive and experience providing a superior level of customer service to clients. Bringing forth the ability to properly investigate a situation and resolve claims quickly in accordance with company and regulatory guidelines. Demonstrating consistent execution of best claim practices and a commitment to industry and company ethics.
Need more inspiration? See more of our related legal resume samples. Take a look at our lawyer or immigration lawyer resume examples or our attorney resume sample. We also offer a legal assistant resume sample or a paralegal resume example to give you more ideas.
Employment history CV sample: examine your successes
The employment history section of your claims adjuster CV is where reverse chronological order comes into play. Starting with your most recent experience, you want to present a case for your employment. The best way to accomplish that is by using each bulleted item to tout a career success.
Offer examples of a variety of the skills your prospective employer seeks and try to indicate your familiarity with insurance practices, laws and coverage grants. Use anecdotes from your career to call attention to your ability to work under time constraints, file paperwork in an orderly fashion, communicate with claimants and policy holders, and assess damages accurately.
The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Results) may help you develop this section. Use as much detail and data as you can to strengthen your candidacy.
You will find a claims adjuster employment history resume sample below.
- Identified and assessed auto damage and informed clients about necessary repairs.
- Communicated with police holders, clients, police, and necessary parties.
- Performed thorough inspection of vehicles and created appropriate estimates.
- Worked closely with body shops and automobile professionals to discuss and negotiate repair pricing and assess liability.
- Aimed to provide clients with the highest level of customer service possible.
CV skills example: claim your best
Before you get started with the writing of your CV, there’s an important first step that can make the whole process easier: the creation of a master list of your skills and accomplishments. You can cull from this all-encompassing list to create a personalized resume for each position.
Your CV skills section consists of 4-7 of the top-level attributes that mesh with the job for which you are applying. Although it may seem redundant, recruiters like this section because it allows them to decide whether to read on in a matter of seconds.
Choose both hard skills, or the knowledge and skills you have learned for the job, and soft skills, which are the people and organizational abilities you need to be a productive worker.
You will find a skills resume sample below.
- Excellent Investigation Skills
- Knowledge of Insurance Policies
- Knowledge of Laws
- Data Collection and Analysis Skills
- Computer Based Research Programs
- Excellent Customer Service Skills
Claims adjuster resume education example
Claims adjusters do not need a college education, but many have associate’s degrees. In addition, 35 states require that claims adjusters be licensed, according to IA Path. If you work in a state that requires a license, make sure you add the details to your education section.
List all your academic degrees here. Also include any classes you have taken that are related to your work. If you hold a degree higher than a bachelor’s degree, you may leave out your high school degree.
See resume example for an education section below.
- 2004-2008 Colorado College, Bachelor of Communications Colorado Springs, CO
- 2000-2004 Rockville High School, High School Diploma Rockville, MD
Resume layout and design
When you meet with claimants, you need to have a look of professionalism and competence to put them at ease. Recruiters will also judge you by first looks – and the first look they will get is the layout and design of your claims adjuster resume.
Your first task is to ensure that your resume is legible. Use standard fonts and make sure you leave enough white space. You can do this by varying your line lengths and employing bullet items to break up big blocks of text. Avoid narrowing your margins to get in those last few words. If your design is too busy, you may put off recruiters.
While you want to be remembered, you don’t want to overwhelm. Keep color to a minimum, if you use it at all. Make your contact information and section headers pop by using a bold font that compliments your text font.
A great page layout can give a hiring manager that "gut feeling" that leads them to pick your resume over another candidate with similar experience. Consider using a professionally-designed resume template to give your application a boost in appearance and functionality.
Key takeaways for a claims adjuster resume
- A great resume is the essential first step to your next position as a claims adjuster.
- An excellent profile will answer the question, “Why should I hire you.”
- Use targeted keywords and phrases to avoid the ATS filter and show hiring managers that you want the job.
- Check out our claims adjuster resume sample for more ideas on creating a great page design.
