Jobs worth

London has been the insurance centre of the world ever since merchants and shipping agents met and traded in Edward Lloyd's coffee house in the 17th century. Loss adjusting, which is a crucial part of the insurance business, started some 150 years ago. Insurance companies at the time figured that they will sell more policies and policyholders will get a fair assessment of their losses if their claims were considered, and losses agreed, by impartial investigators.

Will the money stretch to a mortgage? Salaries vary according to the size of the company, your experience, qualifications and specialisation. Starting salaries are in the region of £15,000-£20,000 a year. Those with around five years' experience could earn at least £30,000 and more senior loss adjusters could pull in around £50,000.

I suppose college education is mandatory? A relevant degree may be useful but is not essential, loss adjusting is a second career for many people. Those with qualifications in areas such as accountancy, architecture, building, engineering, insurance, law and surveying must work for an independent loss adjuster for a minimum of two years before sitting the examinations. Those with surveying experience tend to specialise in assessing property damage claims. New entrants without professional qualifications are advised to approach a firm of loss adjusters and study for the associateship exams of the Society of Claims Technicians (SCT). The promotion is usually dependent on passing the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA) examinations and becoming fully qualified.

Who will give me a job? Loss adjusters work for specialist loss adjusting firms, which are limited companies or partner ships. These are the only employers since loss adjusters are required to be both independent and impartial. Contact the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters who will have a list of its members. Then you can get in touch with individual businesses to check out any openings. Ashworth Mairs Group and the Graham High Group post job opportunities on ashmg.co.uk/recruitment.shtml. and highgroup.co.uk/recruitment.asp

Is there a downside? Loss adjusters spend up to 80-90% of their time visiting distraught claimants at their homes or businesses. They have to visit sites such as train crashes, or oil rigs, building sites and factories immediately after a disaster - this can be dirty, dangerous and sometimes distressing. The job is not for the squeamish.

Where can I find out more? The Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA), Penninsular House, 36 Monument Street, London EC3R 8LJ, cila.co.uk

The Society of Claims Technicians (SCT), is also at Peninsular House, 36 Monument Street, London EC3R 8LJ, soct.co.uk/sct.html

The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), is at Customer Service Centre, 42-48 High Road, South Woodford, London E18 2JP, www.cii.co.uk/