Hey Mike, your answer was dead on also, others hv told me to get training from  progressive,  and i hv also been told to go work at the body shops for free---clean up,answer phones,do paperwork---in exchange for free training. I do plan on  doing this,  anything that can help me gain knowledge. Yes, i do know the vehicle components pretty well.  The things about Progressive...1) I'm 45, will they hire me, or do they just want college grads.  2) if I hire on with them and someone offer me a chance to deploy to an auto cat drive-in, I'm going to want to jump at that opportunity! even though I may not hv completed my training with Progressive. So, if we do not get a really big storm this season and noone takes a chance on me, then i will pursue Progressive. I guess a perfect scenario wld be to hire on with Progressive and they pay me CAT pay doing a big storm, (instead of the $35,000 entry level pay) and i would not hv to leave in search of a higher salary.  Does anyone know if Progressive pay their adjusters more during a major catastrophe??   Mike, I appreciate all your help!!!  I want to know the good and bad of this field. I'm just not looking to get into this for the money, i like helping people, i hv a lot of customer svc experience and i believe in finding solutions to customers problems and getting the job done right. I believe this field will give me the job freedom i'm seeking.

You will most likely need a degree to get on with most carriers. Auto on CAT is not  'big money' and you will not do well unless you are very good and extremely fast. Have you seen the fee schedule for auto? You will be paying your expenses on the road too. If it is a flood you will have to drive to the location of the vehicle to inspect it.

Wow, Becky, I don't mean to sound critical, but if I were in the hiring department at Progressive, or any other carrier for that matter, and I saw a statement like that, I'd be hard pressed to hire that person.  This is precisely the reason that most carriers are reluctant to hire CAT adjusters, because of the fact that they are quite likely to jump ship at the first catastrophe, yet get frustrated with the carriers during the lean times because they aren't hiring them, regardless of their experience.  

If you're  a new adjuster and seeking training its a good idea to develop some loyalty and dedicate yourself to learning the trade rather than have your eyes dazzled by the rumors of the quick buck.  Its just not true, the quick buck is getting more and more elusive and there is NO easy work involved. 

If you get hired, I'd tell you to dance with the one that brought ya!  Good luck to you!