Posted on 09/30/2009 9:42:34 AM PDT by carjic
I know this site is not Dear Abby but I need to turn to the freeper family for advice. I have been laid off from Wells Fargo Auto Finance Since December 10th 2008. I was in the top 3 people in the nation so I thought I was bullet proof. However when Wells Fargo bought Wachovia I thought things would be ok until Wells Fargo decided that they liked Wachovia’s Auto unit better than their own. Instead of taking the best from both companies they just laid off all of the people in their own auto group and replaced them with Wachovia’s. I have not been able to find any bank jobs, Outside sales rep jobs and do not have a degree so I am pretty much SOL. I have applied for jobs with much less money and have not even had a human response. I don’t hear back from most applications and the few I have was just a form letter. I have tried 1099 income jobs and had no luck. I live in the Rio Grande Valley Texas. I do not speak Spanish. I paid to retrain myself by going through 4 weeks of training at my own expense with an insurance adjuster school in Irving TX. I passed at the top of my classes for property and auto. I needed some experience so I went to Denver from there and climbed roofs to do estimates from hail damage. I was away for 8 weeks now I am back at home. Without a Hurricane or other major event I am still just as unemployed as I was before. With out a 4 year degree for Staff or Hurricane experience I can get no work. I have certifications from the software company they use and several insurance companies, even Steep and Tall Rope and Harness training. I have found out that like most businesses that it’s who you know not what you know. I can have all the training, certifications and license but if someone’s brother in-law needs a job he has it. I have prayed to God for a job for 10 months now and it’s getting scary. I have a wife and 2 teenagers living at home. If anyone out there with Adjusters experience can give me any advice I would deeply appreciate it. Sorry about the vanity but I am at wits end.
You may want to check out the Washington, DC area-- for better or for worse, it's economically hopping around here. Gov't jobs, lobbiests, etc., forming the sad backbone of economic stability in the DC metro area.
I feel bad reading this thread and not saying anything, so I’m posting, even though I don’t have any insurance adjuster advice. I am sorry you are in this bad situation. Even though you are obviously proficient in this particular area, maybe you should look for a job that is outside that field. You don’t have to put it on your resume; you can still look for adjuster work.
A job link I saved that may be helpful:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2136635/posts?q=1&;page=201
I, too, am in the same shoes about a job, though my husband is employed.
I used to manage restaurants before I married. I then stayed home to raise our 3 sons. A few years back we started our own AC company, but its closed now. We started it right as the economy was tanking so there just wasn’t enough time to get it off the ground. I landed a job as an administrator for a non profit, but that was short lived in this economy as well. I got that job because it was related to the AC business, and was run by people I knew from being in business. They didn’t care about a degree, they knew I was well equipped to handle the job.
While I am self educated and proud of that fact, it doesn’t mean a hill of beans in the business world. You cannot get a face to face interview to save your life, nor have an application on paper. Everything is online and people have been reduced to chattle.
I now unload trucks and stock shelves for under 8 bucks an hour. It is a phsyically crushing job when in your middle 40’s, but it is what I can get right now. I will pray for you, but just wanted to let you know, you are not alone.....
Can you freelance? I knew an adjuster who did that.
I live in the Rio Grande Valley Texas. I do not speak Spanish.
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In a 99 percent spanish speaking first community, how do you manage?
My advice: Move. Move today.
Thats what I was hoping to do. However even with training at my own expense and being certified with 3 insurance companies, without a hurricane or other major event, no hope with no experience.
although I have 2 kids in 9th and 12 grade, I have been looking for jobs nationwide, not just the Valley. I would travel anywhere, live anywhere if given a chance. I am 55 but in good health.
http://www.indeed.com/q-Claims-Adjuster-l-Florida-jobs.html
Here is just one link for Insurance Adjuster Jobs in Florida. There was almost an entire page on the first search. This link has a lot in South Florida which I don’t recommend but there are jobs openings with your qualifications here in Florida.
Good luck.
Thanks. I have a resume at every site there is. Its been a waste of time but I still scan them daily and apply. I am on my 5th version of a resume.
USAA?
In San Antonio?
Good luck I will also include you in my prayers.
Thanks but I have been at all the same sites. If you read on they want a 4 year degree or 3 to 5 years experience. my 35 years in auto/banking is worthless.
I’m not an ins adjuster but I do have a bit of advice anyway: Go to a library or other source (or buy a 3 month subscription) and check out an investment service like Value Line. They rate companies on their business health and growth potential. You can then target the insurance companies that are likely to be either looking for people with your skills or who will be in the near term.
First, I am so sorry to hear of your bad luck. I dont know a thing about your field, but I do want to second the motion that you consider looking for a job in the DC area. AFAIK, it is the only place in the country where unemployment is going down.
With your experience, I would start with Dept of Homeland Security, specifically something at FEMA. Your experience could be valuable there.
The thought of a govt job may not be too thrilling, but you would have excellent security and the change of scenery might be less traumatic than it sounds.
Please keep us posted.
I am really sorry to hear that. Now is not the time to be looking.
I support software for bill collectors, and they are suffering.
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