Finally Free

"Matt Nichelson" (whoismatt) 03/29/2016 at 09:37 • Filed to: None

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If I can offer one piece of advice, never become a claims adjuster.

Today I turned in my resignation with my current employer, a national car insurance company that I started with last year. The last few months have been hell and it was time to move on. I start a new job on Thursday and hope to hear about another one today.

The thing about it, it wasn’t my boss, my coworkers, or drama that caused me to leave. The amount of work was brutal and it was keeping me from seeing my family. We were understaffed and I knew it wasn’t going to change. Something had to give. I won’t blame the people or the company, just is what it is.

I’m just glad it is finally over. Now it’s time to move on and look forward to what the future will bring!

The Dummy Gummy > Matt Nichelson 03/29/2016 at 09:41

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Glad you’re moving on to greener pasture. Our tip for you is: always wear sunscreen.

Tripper > Matt Nichelson 03/29/2016 at 09:41

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Congrats on the new gig! It feels great to move on in your career, especially when you’re leaving a job that you hated.

Matt Nichelson > The Dummy Gummy 03/29/2016 at 09:46

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Haha. Well the job I am starting Thrusday will be as an auction coordinator and it will be mainly outside, so that’s actually good advice!

Matt Nichelson > Tripper 03/29/2016 at 09:46

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Thanks. Yeah, it just wasn’t for me. The money was alright, but the stress I was under just wasn’t worth it.

mazda616 > Matt Nichelson 03/29/2016 at 10:18

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I went into training to be an adjuster for a national insurance company two years ago. The training was the most intense and ridiculous thing I’ve ever been through. Quizzes every day at 6:00 A.M., near perfect scores demanded, instructors that regularly make fun of and belittle students, three solid months away from home, etc. It was heinous. Of course, I got fired halfway through for failing to make the quiz grades they required. I got an 84.48 and they required an 85. They said if I’d gotten an 84.50, they’d have passed me.

Worst mistake of my life was taking that job. I'm glad you got out, man. Good luck on your next adventure!

Brian, The Life of > Matt Nichelson 03/29/2016 at 10:20

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Progressive? If not, which estimating software did you use?

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > Matt Nichelson 03/29/2016 at 10:29

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So many large insurers are taking the hatchet to their staff, and passing off claims/admin responsibilities to repair facilities. The employees that are left are disgruntled, overworked, and wondering if they’re getting the pink slip next week. Being a guy on the collision repair side, it’s making the industry more cumbersome than it should be.

Congrats on GTFOing, hope the new job is great!

Matt Nichelson > Brian, The Life of 03/29/2016 at 11:28

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Wow. You guessed right, so I won’t deny it. I worked in the office though, not out actually doing the estimates. I wanted to do that but I wasn’t there long enough to move into one of those positions.

Matt Nichelson > mazda616 03/29/2016 at 11:30

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Jesus. I thought my place was bad. That one sounds terrible. Our training was a bit of a joke. Two weeks online and two weeks in a classroom in another state. It taught the basics, but each state does things different so it was only so helpful.

Matt Nichelson > Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever 03/29/2016 at 11:32

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I agree. There were talks that the field people would eventually be phased out. Very few people i talked to actually enjoyed their job. It just sapped you of everything.

Brian, The Life of > Matt Nichelson 03/29/2016 at 11:34

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Thought so. I worked for collision industry information providers (Mitchell and Audatex) for about 8 years. I was the product manager over Ultramate (I’m sorry ... it was that way when I found it) and worked closely with several carrier customers. Progressive chief among them. I know how hard they work their field appraisers. Did you ever work at one of their drive-in claims centers? I heard that job is a bit more chill.

Matt Nichelson > Brian, The Life of 03/29/2016 at 11:40

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Ah ok. Yeah the MRR’s use Mitchell and we used it to set inspections up for them. I never had to use Ultramate thankfully.

Mississippi doesn’t have a service center. We don’t have enough people in our state to warrant bulding one apparently. I did hear they are pretty laid back though. I just worked in a small claims office. I handled all the inside stuff as far as the claims go.

mazda616 > Matt Nichelson 03/29/2016 at 11:45

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Yeah, the company I got hired for is known to be shitty during its training. Also, there were several ex-military guys in my class that said this training was harder on them mentally than basic training was. I suffered a lot of anxiety and depression during and after that. Two years later and it still bothers me. But, live and learn. Now I have a local job that I love with a good work-life balance. It all worked out in the end.

Matt Nichelson > mazda616 03/29/2016 at 11:57

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Damn. That sucks. No job should be that way. It had gotten that way for me as far as anxiety goes. I was in a bad way and didn't like it. Glad to hear you are somewhere better.