17 Insurance Investigator Interview Questions and Answers

Insurance fraud is a big business. In the U.S. alone, it’s estimated that insurance fraud costs the industry billions of dollars each year. That’s why insurance companies hire insurance investigators to help them root out fraudulent claims.

If you’re considering a career as an insurance investigator, you’ll need to be prepared to answer a range of questions during your job interview. The interviewer will want to know if you have the skills and experience needed for the job, as well as whether you’re a good fit for the company.

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample insurance investigator interview questions and answers.

Are you comfortable working independently?

This question can help the interviewer determine how well you work independently and whether you need constant supervision. Your answer should show that you are self-motivated, organized and able to complete tasks on your own.

Example: “I am comfortable working independently because I have done so for most of my career. In my last position, I was responsible for all aspects of an investigation without any direct supervision. This included interviewing clients, collecting evidence and writing reports. I also worked with a team of other investigators who were responsible for different areas of the investigation. We would meet weekly to discuss our findings and ensure we were all on the same page.”

What are some of your strengths as an insurance investigator?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you would fit in with their company. They want to know what skills you have that will help you succeed in the role, so be sure to highlight any unique or valuable skills you have as an investigator.

Example: “I think one of my greatest strengths is my attention to detail. I am always looking for clues when investigating a claim, and I make sure to document everything thoroughly. Another strength of mine is my ability to remain calm under pressure. When working on a case, it can get quite stressful, but I stay focused and work through each task carefully.”

How would you go about investigating a theft claim?

This question can help the interviewer assess your investigative skills and how you apply them to a variety of situations. Use examples from previous experience to highlight your ability to gather evidence, interview witnesses and analyze data to make an informed decision about whether or not a claim is valid.

Example: “In my last role as an insurance investigator, I worked with clients who reported theft claims on their vehicles. In these cases, I would first ask for proof of ownership such as registration documents and photos of the vehicle before it was damaged. Then, I would check local police records to see if there were any reports of stolen cars in the area. If no reports existed, I would then speak with neighbors and family members to see if they had seen anything suspicious.”

What is the most challenging aspect of being an insurance investigator?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you are prepared for the challenges of the job. They want to know that you have realistic expectations and can handle the position’s unique demands. In your answer, try to be honest about what is challenging while also showing how you plan to overcome these challenges.

Example: “The most challenging aspect of being an insurance investigator is having to tell people their claims were denied. I understand that it’s part of my job, but I always make sure to treat customers with respect and compassion when delivering bad news. I find that by explaining the reasons behind the denial in a clear way, many customers understand and appreciate the information.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer.

Interviewers ask this question to see how you handle conflict. They want to know that you can remain calm and professional when dealing with challenging customers, even if they are difficult or upset. In your answer, try to show the interviewer that you have excellent customer service skills and can use them to diffuse a situation.

Example: “I once had a customer who was very upset because we denied their claim. The customer called me multiple times in one day, leaving angry messages on my voicemail. I returned all of the calls as soon as I could, but the customer continued to be upset. Eventually, I scheduled a meeting with the customer so that we could discuss the issue face-to-face.

During our meeting, I explained why we denied the claim and offered to help the customer find another insurance company that would cover their needs. The customer calmed down after hearing my explanation and agreed to look for another policy.”

If a claimant is lying about what happened, how would you determine this?

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you would handle a situation where someone is trying to defraud their insurance company. In your answer, explain that you would use your investigative skills and past experience to determine if the person was lying or not.

Example: “I have had many cases in which claimants were dishonest about what happened. I usually start by asking them questions about the incident and looking for inconsistencies in their story. If they are unable to give me specific details about the accident, it makes me think that they might be making up the story. I also look at whether there are any witnesses who can corroborate their story.”

What would you do if you discovered that a colleague was stealing money from insurance claims?

This question can help interviewers assess your integrity and honesty. They want to know that you would report any wrongdoing, even if it was by a colleague. In your answer, explain how you would handle the situation and emphasize that you would not be involved in any illegal activity.

Example: “I would immediately report my findings to my supervisor or another manager. I would also make sure to document everything I saw so there is proof of what happened. If I found out about this after leaving the company, I would inform the current management team as soon as possible.”

How well do you understand the legal aspects of insurance investigations?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your knowledge of the legal aspects of insurance investigations. They want to make sure you understand how to conduct an investigation that is legally sound and in compliance with state regulations. In your answer, try to show that you have a strong understanding of the law and can apply it to your work as an investigator.

Example: “I am very familiar with the laws regarding insurance claims. I’ve taken several courses on insurance law and regulation, so I know what information investigators need to gather when conducting an investigation. I also understand that there are certain situations where we cannot investigate a claim because of the law. For example, if someone reports their car stolen but then later admits they were driving drunk when they lost control of the vehicle, we would not be able to investigate the claim.”

Do you have any experience using investigative software?

This question can help the interviewer determine your comfort level with using software to complete tasks. If you have experience using investigative software, describe how it helped you in your previous role. If you don’t have any experience using this type of software, explain what other types of software you’ve used and how they helped you perform your job duties.

Example: “I have worked with several different types of software during my career as an insurance investigator. I find that each program has its own benefits, but I prefer working with programs that allow me to collect data from multiple sources at once. This allows me to quickly gather information about a claim and make decisions based on the facts rather than having to enter all of the same information into multiple systems.”

When investigating a car accident, what steps would you take to determine who was at fault?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your investigative skills and how you apply them in the workplace. Use examples from past experiences to highlight your critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills.

Example: “When investigating a car accident, I would first take photos of the scene and interview witnesses. If there are any surveillance cameras nearby, I would review those as well. After gathering all of the information, I would analyze it and determine who was at fault based on the evidence. In my last role, I investigated an accident where two drivers were involved. One driver claimed that the other driver ran a red light, but after reviewing the footage, I determined that the other driver had actually run through a yellow light.”

We want to improve our customer service and reduce the number of false claims. How would you encourage your colleagues to be more honest about their investigations?

This question can help the interviewer understand your leadership skills and how you would motivate others to work with you. Use examples from previous experiences where you motivated a team or helped someone achieve their goals.

Example: “I believe that honesty is one of the most important qualities in an insurance investigator. If I see my colleagues being dishonest about their investigations, I will speak up and encourage them to be more honest. In my last role, I had a colleague who was submitting false claims because he didn’t want to spend time on his investigation. When I saw this happening, I spoke with him privately and explained why it’s so important to submit accurate information. He agreed and started taking his job seriously again.”

Describe your process for documenting your findings after investigating a claim.

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your ability to work independently and document your findings. When answering, it can be helpful to provide an example of how you documented a finding in the past.

Example: “I find that taking notes throughout my investigation is most helpful when documenting my findings at the end. I use a notebook or laptop to write down any important information I discover during my interviews with clients and witnesses. This helps me remember details about the case so I can accurately record them later. After completing my investigation, I review all of my notes and create a report detailing what I found. I then send the report to my supervisor for review.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their company. Before your interview, make a list of three things that make you unique from other candidates. These could be skills or experiences that relate to the job description. Share these with your interviewer so they know what makes you an ideal candidate for the position.

Example: “I have experience working in customer service roles, which has taught me how to communicate effectively with people. I am also familiar with several different software programs that are helpful for insurance investigations. Finally, I have a bachelor’s degree in business administration, which means I understand the financial aspects of running a business.”

Which industries do you have the most experience in?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your background and experience. It’s important to highlight any unique or impressive experiences you have that relate to the job description.

Example: “I’ve worked in both public and private sectors, but I’m most experienced in insurance. In my last position, I was an investigator for a large auto insurance company where I investigated claims of fraud and helped customers with their claims. Before that, I worked as a paralegal at a law firm where I researched cases and prepared documents for trial.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of customer service for insurance investigators to focus on?

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you prioritize your work and what skills you use to provide excellent customer service. When answering, consider which aspects of the job are most important to you and explain why they’re important.

Example: “I think that the most important aspect of customer service for insurance investigators is being honest with customers. I know that it can be difficult to deliver bad news or tell a client that their claim was denied, but I always make sure to do so in person and give them all the information I have about the situation. This helps me build trust with clients and makes them more likely to refer us to others.”

How often do you recommend making claims payments?

This question can help the interviewer understand your decision-making process and how you apply it to a company’s policies. Use examples from past experiences to explain how you make decisions about when to pay claims, what factors influence your recommendations and how you communicate with clients.

Example: “I always recommend making payments as soon as possible because it helps build trust between the client and the insurance company. In my last position, I worked on a case where a client was denied payment for their claim. They were upset that we didn’t immediately approve their request, but after explaining our policy of thoroughly investigating all claims, they understood. After reviewing the details of their claim, I recommended paying them within two weeks.”

There is a new technology that could help you to complete your investigations more quickly. How would you go about introducing it to your team?

This question is a great way to assess your leadership skills and how you would approach introducing new technologies into the workplace. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention that you will first discuss the technology with your team members and then decide whether or not they are interested in learning more about it.

Example: “I think it’s important to introduce new technologies slowly so that everyone has time to learn them. I would start by having a meeting with my team where we discussed what the technology was and why it could help us do our jobs better. Then, if there were people who were interested in learning more about it, I would set up training sessions for them.”