Finding and picking a supervisor can be a challenge for trainee appraisers. When you’re breaking into the appraisal profession and figuring out what path you’re going to take, it’s important to advocate for yourself. Be proactive during the interview process by doing your homework and asking good questions to ensure you pick the right supervisor. Here are seven interview questions to help you choose a supervisory appraiser and set yourself up for a successful training experience.
FREE Webinar: Join us on Wed., March 8th (11am-12pm ET) for a free Pro-Series Webinar, “Tips and Strategies for Trainee Appraisers.” Register now.
What to ask a potential supervisory appraiser
1. What’s your motivation for hiring a trainee?
A good supervisory appraiser will have a passion for learning, teaching, and collaborating. Is their motivation to develop the next generation of appraisers? Are they looking to sustain their business? Grow their business?
2. How will I fit into the organization as a trainee?
Ask what roles and responsibilities you will be taking on. Be sure to gain a clear understanding of what role you’ll play within the organization and what the expectations are starting out. Also ask about job growth potential. How might your role change over time as you gain more experience? Will you be given the chance to take on more responsibilities?
3. How is the trainee program structured? What will the training entail?
Every supervisor is different. Keep in mind that not every supervisor has put together an extensive training program, so this might be something you have to take some initiative on as well. Remember: Be your own advocate. If you want to make sure that you get through your experience hours and your training program as quickly as possible to meet your state’s requirements, take it upon yourself to put together a plan that works.
During the interview, ask questions to gain an understanding of what program the supervisor has envisioned for you. Additionally, do your own research to see what type of program you need. Then, if there’s a gap between the two, you can discuss it with the supervisor and come up with a better plan.
4. Have you ever trained someone before? Will you have other trainees at the same time?
These are important questions when it comes to choosing a supervisory appraiser. If you’ll be sharing volume with other trainees, that could potentially delay your ability to get your experience hours within the recommended time frame. If the supervisory appraiser has trained someone in the past, then you can benefit from that experience, since they’ve likely gone through some of the common hardships and figured out a good approach to training new appraisers.
5. What’s your process?
Ask about their process and what their typical day looks like. When they describe the process they go through when appraising a property, do they seem organized and efficient? Do they take the time to do a thorough job and develop an honest, reliable opinion of value? These are some of the key characteristics of a successful appraiser.
6. What tools, technology, and systems do you use?
Find out if they’ve modernized their appraisal process. If you have an older supervisor who’s still doing everything manually, you may need to take the initiative to learn more current technologies. Consider going to conferences or doing research to learn about the different appraisal technology vendors and tools available. Ask the supervisory appraiser if they’d be open to learning about the different options available and working together with you to develop a more modern process.
7. How can I best contribute to the company’s success as a trainee?
It’s a lot of responsibility for a supervisor to bring on a trainee. They have to not only sustain their business, but also make sure they have enough work for you as a trainee appraiser. Gain an understanding of how you can best contribute to that process to ensure that they’re benefiting from the trainee-supervisor relationship as well. For example, you might have technology or marketing skills that you can bring to the table to help make their workflow more efficient or bring in new business.
FREE Webinar: Learn tips and tricks to be an effective trainee in our free Pro-Series webinar, “Tips and Strategies for Trainee Appraisers,” on Wed., March 8th from 11am-12pm ET. Register now.
What if you don’t have options to choose from?
In an ideal world, you’ll have multiple options to pick from when it’s time to choose a supervisory appraiser. However, that may not be realistic in today’s market. Your options might be quite limited right now. You may only be able to find one supervisor who’s willing to take you on as a trainee. If that’s the case, don’t be choosy. Seize that opportunity and make the best of it. Again, be your own advocate. Understand what they’ll be able to provide you, and then take the initiative to supplement your training where necessary.
Want to hear a more in-depth discussion on how to find and choose a supervisory appraiser? Watch the recorded webinar, “Finding a Supervisor in Today’s Market,” featuring expert speakers Heather Sullivan, Greg Stephens, and Chris Wolfenbarger—exclusively available to McKissock Unlimited Learning Members and Licensing Subscribers.
