Professional Insurance Appraiser Resume Examples

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Introduction

Your resume provides you with, arguably, the best opportunity to sell yourself to employers. Therefore, when you’re applying for an appraiser position, it’s probably a good idea to look at some appraiser resume samples so that you can get an idea of what employers are looking for in such resumes. Appraisers generally work in the business sector, so you can expect appraiser resume samples to reflect a business-like style. Furthermore, apply the tips and information mentioned below to craft an ideal resume for this specific job position.

What to Include in an Appraiser Resume

What to include in your appraiser resume varies according to the specific type of appraiser job you’re seeking, the experience that you have in the field, any certifications and licenses you possess, and where you picture your career going in the future. For instance, a real estate appraiser resume is much different from that of an auto damage appraiser resume. Although there is no one right way to craft an appraiser resume, as you can see from the various appraiser resume samples, there are a few basic details that you should include.

Summary
Education
Work Experience
Skills

Generally, there are two types of basic resume formats: chronological and functional. The chronological format tends to be the most widely used, and as its name implies, everything within the resume, such as work history and education received, is listed in chronological order. If you obtained education, licenses, and certification specifically to be an appraiser and always held appraiser-related jobs, then chronological appraiser resume samples are likely most applicable for you. The functional resume format, on the other hand, isn’t necessarily in chronological order. Rather, it highlights abilities that you possess that make you a good candidate for the job, rather than past work experience. The functional resume format is ideal for those who are transferring careers or have gaps in their work history, so if you’ve never held an appraiser job position before and are transitioning to the field from another career field, then functional appraiser resume samples would probably be most appropriate for you.

How to Write the Appraiser Resume Summary Statement

When writing an appraiser resume summary statement, ensure that you clearly state the position you’re seeking and that you know what the position entails. You might want to consider researching the company you’re applying to and offering information on any skills you have that could help further the company’s mission statement or goals. Essentially, this section is all about what you offer employers and how you will use the skills you have to benefit their companies. While it’s important to highlight your most essential appraiser-related abilities in this section, be careful not to directly repeat what’s going to appear later on in your resume. Additionally, demonstrate that you have knowledge of the company and what its goals and missions are. The following are a couple of effective appraiser resume summary statements:

Experienced Auto Damage Appraiser adept at using industry procedures to assess vehicular damage. Determine total costs of repairs for insurance companies and private parties. Integral component in preparing, recommending, and executing insurance claims and payments.
Certified Real Estate Appraiser experienced with using extensive knowledge of state and federal real estate guidelines to develop accurate, supported, and timely appraisals. Exceptional at working in the field, communicating with clients, and organizing data. Unwaveringly adapts to and incorporates the newest technology and real estate appraisal standards.
Appraiser skilled at accurately assessing the value of real estate properties based on predefined state and federal guidelines. Exceptional clerical, research, communication, and customer service skills ideal for furthering companies’ missions. Dedicated to continuing education and staying current with the latest trends and standards in the industry.

How to Write the Appraiser Education Section

As you’ll notice, all appraiser resume samples include an education section since this section is crucial for laying the foundation of your qualification for the job. Include any formal education you received from a college or university in this section as well as the type of degree awarded and the relevant dates. If you had any breaks in college attendance, simply list the date that you received your degree since this appears much more professional than listing on and off college attendance and attempting to explain the breaks in attendance. If you received appraiser-related certification or licensing, include that in the education section as well. If you didn’t necessarily receive a formal education to become an appraiser, per se, then include the degree that you did obtain and highlight any coursework or extracurricular activities that you participated in that are relevant to the appraisal industry. Additionally, list any professional affiliations that you’re associated with in the industry, if applicable, such as the Appraisal Institute or state realtor associations.

How to Write the Appraiser Work Experience Section

List any relevant work experience in the work experience section and include highlights of the most essential duties you performed and your key accomplishments on each job. If you’re following a chronological appraiser resume format, then make sure you list all jobs held in order from the most recent position to the earliest one. If you’re seeking an appraiser position from another career field, then include job duties you performed and accomplishments in previous jobs that would prove relevant to the appraiser job position you’re seeking. Note that when including dates in your resume, it is important to be as accurate as possible. If you’re unsure of exact dates, include the months and/or years that you worked for the employer instead. Never falsify your resume, even unintentionally by writing down dates you’re unsure of.

Action Verbs to Include in Your Appraiser Work Experience Section

Using strong action verbs that pertain to the industry you’re seeking a job in can help your resume make a strong impression. Not only do action verbs make you come off as much more confident than you would appear if you spoke passively, but they also show that you know the lingo of the industry. Some examples of the types of action verbs to use in appraiser resume samples include the following:

Appraise
Analyze
Assess
Measure
Estimate
Compute
Calculate
Resolve
Simplify
Forecast
Market
Net
Allocate
Determine

How to Write the Appraiser Skills Section

Letting employers know that you possess the skill sets they’re looking for in employees is an essential part of any resume. Examples of the types of skills appraisers generally need include research, clerical, communication, and customer service skills. Therefore, if you’ve held any non-appraiser jobs in the past, then concentrate on showcasing any research, clerical, communication, and customer service skills that you used in those positions. Try to be as specific as possible when listing skills. For instance, instead of simply listing computer skills, tell what computer skills specifically you have, such as Office Suite skills or GIS mapping data skills, or Property Metrics Valuation Software. Make sure you research what skills the company is looking for in an appraiser ahead of time, and then showcase how you have those skills in the skills section of your resume.

Should I Include References in my Appraiser Resume

Whether or not to include references on your resume is a highly debated issue, and much of the answer depends upon your specific situation. Some appraiser resume samples advocate for references while others don’t. Generally, you shouldn’t include references on your appraiser resume unless the application instructions explicitly ask you to do so or the reference you’re providing is a well-known industry expert. For instance, the head of a reputed appraisal association that you’re affiliated with might be an appropriate reference to attest to your character and ethical standing. Unless references are requested in application instructions, though, it’s best to simply provide them upon request. Oftentimes, when listed as references, previous employers won’t say much beyond confirmation of the dates that you worked for them to avoid any defamation lawsuits or other legal issues. If you do decide to include references on your resume, make sure that the references don’t extend the length of the resume beyond a page, and also speak with the person you’re referencing beforehand to ensure it’s okay for you to list him or her as a reference.

Appraiser Resume Fails: Mistakes to Avoid

Although there is no set formula for crafting the perfect resume, there are definitely a few things that you should ensure you never do in order to avoid having your resume thrown out completely. Some of these mistakes to avoid include the following:

No connection to employer need. Perhaps one of the biggest resume fails is the failure to make a connection to the employer’s needs. If you simply submit a resume that talks all about you and your accomplishments as an appraiser, but doesn’t convince employers of how you could use those skills to benefit their companies, then the relevance of why they need to hire you is lost. Conducting an analysis of the company you’re applying to can help you learn its strengths and weaknesses, so you’ll know what it’s looking for in an appraiser, which will enable you to market your appraiser skills accordingly.
Taking too long. Generally, your resume should be contained within one page. Employers are busy and don’t have time to study each and every resume to determine what applicants are trying to say to them. Your resume should sell yourself to employers in under a minute by being easily skimmable and concise. If you do have years and years of experience, though, it’s acceptable for your resume to be slightly longer.
Poor readability. While it might be tempting to use big words to try to showcase your intelligence, making a resume easily readable makes it more easily skimmable and digestible. While it’s important to show that you understand industry jargon, simplify your language and don’t use acronyms.
Outdated content. Avoid using resume templates that are outdated. For instance, don’t include your fax number on resumes anymore, unless explicitly asked to do so, since fax isn’t a primary form of hiring communication anymore. Additionally, don’t include anything from high school if you’ve obtained a college degree.
Too much information. Surprisingly, you can provide too much information on your resume. For instance, employers don’t need the URLs to your Facebook, MySpace, Twitter or other social networking websites. Likewise, you don’t need to provide them with links to your personal website either unless your personal website is a professional one that highlights your accomplishments and achievements in the industry. Additionally, don’t include work experience that can’t be related to the appraiser position you’re applying for. If you have enough relevant job experience to convince employers of your appraiser skills without having to list every position you’ve ever held, then don’t list them, especially if they don’t contribute anything towards proving how you would be a good candidate for the appraiser position.
Gaudy fonts. While you want your resume to stand out amongst the rest, you want it to stand out in a positive manner rather than a negative one. Don’t use crazy fonts or extremely small or oversized fonts. For instance, don’t shrink a font in an attempt to fit more on your resume because then it becomes too difficult for employers to read. Generally, stick to a 10-12 point size in common fonts like Times New Roman or Arial.

Job Prospects in the Appraiser Industry

Employment of real estate appraisers is predicted to grow by 6 percent from 2012 to 2022, whereas employment of all other appraisers is predicted to grow by 3 percent from 2012 to 2022. Overall, the growth of employment for appraisers over the next few years is predicted to be slower than the average, and job prospects are expected to be highly competitive. However, the employment rate of appraisers can fluctuate due to economic factors. Real estate appraisal jobs are likely to be best in high population areas with active real estate markets, and they’re also likely to be best for appraisers who can easily transition among appraising different types of properties as needed. Applicant who keep in mind the competitiveness of such job positions can better craft resumes that are focused on standing out from the rest.

Insurance Appraiser Resume Examples

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