Getting that first appraisal job.

As an appraisal instructor, I have the very great privilege of working with the next generation of appraisal professionals.  While many come to the licensing courses with a job in hand, many do not. Getting that supervisor lined up can often be the most difficult part of becoming an appraiser.  I am often asked by students how to go about it.

The direct answer is networking.

Most employed appraisers I know got their first gig because they already knew somebody in the industry.  They had that connection already.  If you do not, here is what it is going to take: persistence.

Jump on-line, grab the phone book (do they still publish those things?) and call every appraiser in your area.  Make them aware you are interested.  You are going to be told "We're not hiring right now" a lot. Don't let that bother you.  Keep their contact info and call them back in a month.  Call them back the month after that.  Ask to take them out to lunch so as to get their opinions about how to break into the industry and what it takes to be a successful appraiser.  Make sure that when they are ready to hire a new appraiser, you are the one they are thinking of.  Training a new appraiser takes a lot of time and effort. Supervisors want to know the person they hire are very interested.

Contact the assessor's offices around your area.  They often are willing to hire newly or soon to be licensed appraisers.  Contact your local chapter of the Appraisal Institute or other appraisal industry organization.  They love having interested guests at their luncheons.  You could not ask for a better networking opportunity.