How to get a job at State Farm.

Do you work at State Farm? How did you find the job? How did you get that first interview?

Any advice for someone trying to get in?

Has anybody ever gone through the hiring process to be an adjuster for State Farm? Can anyone give me an idea of what to expect?

I am a recruiter for our IT department at State Farm. The best way to get that first interview is to be referred. If you know someone that works at the location you are applying to contact them and have them put you in the Employee Referral Program. If not (or in addition to) use LinkedIn to connect with people in the position you are applying for and get to know them and what they did to get the position.

Good Luck!

BenW in Mobile, Alabama said: Has anybody ever gone through the hiring process to be an adjuster for State Farm? Can anyone give me an idea of what to expect?

BenW,
I agree with Vince Campbell's post. Knowing someone on the inside, particularly a family member, is huge at state farm. Also be open to relocating to Birmingham if you live in AL or MS. The field rep positions, which there are fewer and fewer of, generally go to internal candidates. My own advice is... don't work for them! :) But seriously, if you really want to work for state farm it helps to be connected. A lot of them have family connections because nepotism is part of their "family environment" rhetoric and culture. If you are unlucky enough to get in you'll see what I mean.

The process itself is standard stuff. At least when I worked for them there were two tests. One was a test to see if you can read and follow procedures/policy correctly. The other is a sort of personality test. Some of the questions were a little weird; I'm sure its intended to catch people lying about what kind of person they are. I actually remember the last question of that personality test, "Will you ever quit this job?" Amusing! After that a phone interview. If you go to the next level you will have two interviews with a team of managers, usually on the same day. After that you will get a verbal offer. I think there was also a drug test although I don't remember for sure. Lastly, you will finally (in my case it was literally a couple days before I started)receive official written confirmation of your new position via a welcome packet.

workingintheham in Birmingham, Alabama said: BenW,
I agree with Vince Campbell's post. Knowing someone on the inside, particularly a family member, is huge at state farm. Also be open to relocating to Birmingham if you live in AL or MS. The field rep positions, which there are fewer and fewer of, generally go to internal candidates. My own advice is... don't work for them! :) But seriously, if you really want to work for state farm it helps to be connected. A lot of them have family connections because nepotism is part of their "family environment" rhetoric and culture. If you are unlucky enough to get in you'll see what I mean.

The process itself is standard stuff. At least when I worked for them there were two tests. One was a test to see if you can read and follow procedures/policy correctly. The other is a sort of personality test. Some of the questions were a little weird; I'm sure its intended to catch people lying about what kind of person they are. I actually remember the last question of that personality test, "Will you ever quit this job?" Amusing! After that a phone interview. If you go to the next level you will have two interviews with a team of managers, usually on the same day. After that you will get a verbal offer. I think there was also a drug test although I don't remember for sure. Lastly, you will finally (in my case it was literally a couple days before I started)receive official written confirmation of your new position via a welcome packet.

Why do you think there are fewer and fewer claims reps? State Farm is the largest personal lines insurer in the country, surely they will always need claims reps.

BenW in Mobile, Alabama said: Why do you think there are fewer and fewer claims reps? State Farm is the largest personal lines insurer in the country, surely they will always need claims reps.

Good question. I don't mean that there will be fewer claim reps in general. What I mean is that there are less claim reps in field offices. The trend is toward centralization and automation to save money. So you would have a better chance getting in at an operations center and working on the phone than you would working at a field office like the one in Mobile. The field rep positions ( the few that are left) go to internal candidates.

workingintheham in Birmingham, Alabama said: Good question. I don't mean that there will be fewer claim reps in general. What I mean is that there are less claim reps in field offices. The trend is toward centralization and automation to save money. So you would have a better chance getting in at an operations center and working on the phone than you would working at a field office like the one in Mobile. The field rep positions ( the few that are left) go to internal candidates.

I believe you are 100% correct in that most field rep positions go to internal candidates. I would even venture to say that is true not only for field rep claims jobs, but also marketing reps and probably several others. How does SF get around hiring practices laws? Surely using outside applicants as token interviews just to satify BS HR rules could get them sued pretty easily. At the risk of coming off too bitter here, I really wish companies would stop this practice. If you know in advance who is going to fill a position, it is highly unethical at worst and unprofessional at best to use people and waste their time just for HR compliance purposes.

BenW in Mobile, Alabama said: I believe you are 100% correct in that most field rep positions go to internal candidates. I would even venture to say that is true not only for field rep claims jobs, but also marketing reps and probably several others. How does SF get around hiring practices laws? Surely using outside applicants as token interviews just to satify BS HR rules could get them sued pretty easily. At the risk of coming off too bitter here, I really wish companies would stop this practice. If you know in advance who is going to fill a position, it is highly unethical at worst and unprofessional at best to use people and waste their time just for HR compliance purposes.

Hey Ben. State Farm is very political. That is sort of the bottom line. I had a HORRIBLE experience there. But getting to your questions... State Farm is very arrogant when it comes to avoiding anykind of liability when it comes to labor practices. They are very connected and wealthy, and their attitude is they would rather do damage control (out of court settlements) than doing something proactive like following the law. Nepotism is huge there, and somebody is almost always either related to somebody or... frankly... having inappropriate work relationships. Even at the operations centers where there are more positions this is still true. I'll admit, I was one of the VERY FEW that got in without a connection. Then again, the down side was I had no protection once I was in. You seem like a good guy... WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE. BELIEVE ME. No paycheck is worth it. :) Peace.

Host said: Do you work at State Farm? How did you find the job? How did you get that first interview?

Any advice for someone trying to get in?

I'm sure you have either gotten the job or not gotten it by now, but I've tried to get on at State Farm for 3yrs, even after working as a temp for 6mo. Honestly, you just have to keep applying until they give you the first test to get the interview. I really believe it all depends on who you interviewer is. If they like you, you will get the job. If not, they you will get a generic letter in the mail about how they wish you luck in your job search however.....I called back to ask why I didn't get the job even after I had the skills. I was told that I was "nervous" in the interview. What?! Pure BS. If you don't get lucky, normally you have to know someone who works there to get on. A friend of a friend who works there got her husband in and he was a construction worker with no skills what-so-ever. So bottom line, big companies that pay darn good are hard to get on no matter how bad you need the job.

Is state farm a company that a claims rep can grow with. I am looking to work for an oragniaztion with good benefits, good training 401 K..

Sweets2323 in Hollywood, Florida said: Is state farm a company that a claims rep can grow with. I am looking to work for an oragniaztion with good benefits, good training 401 K..

Sweets2323,
I'll put it this way. Knowing someone greatly increases your chances of getting in; being related to someone helps even more. You will probably be relatively safe jobwise if you have a relative there (although moving up can be a little more complicated). If you don't know someone, your chances are slim. I was one of the "lucky" ones because I knew noone and got in. After a couple of years, I realized that I was actually unlucky because if you don't know someone than you could potentially be treated like a dog like I was because you have noone to protect you. I know, I'm bitter but this DID really happen and happens to many people that work for State Farm. On the other hand, many also work there for a long time and have great careers. Those people usually had connections already before they stepped through the door.
But to answer your questions: They were starting to water down some of the benefits while I was there, especially the health benefits. But the 401k is good and when I was there they had a pension plan. LOTS of time off for people that have been there for a while. The old timers are out on vacation every time your turn around! lol. The training... well, if you mean will they spend a lot of money on you? Yes, especially for claim reps. You will go to the corporate hq in Illinois and stay at a hotel; lots of free food and booze. I think we had coupons for two free drinks every night or something like that. You will learn some VERY general claims principles there. Honestly, it is more about state farm propaganda and cheerleading than learning anything. When you get back to your claim office, you study the Indiana auto policy. If you know someone already, than go for it. If not, I would look elsewhere.

I am trying to get on through a organization. I hope that helps, the lady told me that they hire from them all the time.. So hopefully that will help

The pay wasnt bad. It was like 38000

I worked for State Farm for over 20 years. Everything that people have said on here is true. If you can find a job somewhere else, you should. They do pay well but you do have to put up with politics, backstabbing, and lots of meetings just to decide when to meet again. You will end up for unhappy. They are not growing right now at all. Basically they are trying to cut back wherever it makes sense. They should have done this a long, long time ago. But it's an old company built upon being very slow to change. Again, the pay is pretty good, but it's not worth it in the long run.

I finally got called in for an assessment..
Silly question, but is a Claims rep the person that deals with the consumer when they call to place a claim. Or will i go on site to personally look at claims etc

What is the pay for claims here in Florida and are the raises good?

Why is this job not worth it in the long run?

Sweets2323 in Hollywood, Florida said: I finally got called in for an assessment..
Silly question, but is a Claims rep the person that deals with the consumer when they call to place a claim. Or will i go on site to personally look at claims etc

What is the pay for claims here in Florida and are the raises good?

Why is this job not worth it in the long run?

The person the claim is reported to is usually the state farm agent or a claims assistant. As far as going on site, it depends on the claims office but most claims are centralized at call centers now (They don't like it when you call it a call center. They like to call it an operations center. So Ridiculous). I worked for state farm in Birmingham and not Florida but I did get to meet some Florida claim reps at the headquarters in Bloomington, IL and according to them it sounded like your typical, poisonous state farm environment. I would assume the pay is decent. Across the board, raises are generally generous with state farm compared to other companies but like most things state farm, those who can play the political game come out better.

I know right now the economy is bad so it is hard to pass up a job with a good starting salary. This is a decision you have to make yourself and I would not blame you for taking it. But everything LivingAGoodLife in Madison is saying is true. To quote him, "They do pay well but you do have to put up with politics, backstabbing, and lots of meetings just to decide when to meet again. You will end up for unhappy." And he's right about them not growing. Don't get me wrong. they are huge and won't be gone tomorrow, but Progressive, Geico, and Allstate are chipping away at them all the time. Most young people choose other insurance companies that are less expensive. The bottom line: State Farm is lots of stress and mercenary, cut-throat people. The worst corporate environment I have ever experienced; they justify it with a good salary.