So I got the job right out of the military, sent my resume into ads on craigslist until I got an interview. The company was from Southern California and was recruiting for their Northern Cali office. I put my name in the hat.
I was called by a nice lady who wanted to schedule me an interview with one of the managers (came to find out that there was a LOT of middle management at that company). I rocked the interview, he asked about my military experience, what kind of car did I drive, if I was willing to tint my windows.
They offered me the position a day later with the caveat that I tint my windows. The manager even offered to split the cost of the window tint with me, cool beans.
The pay was very low. But they paid federal mileage rate which was great. If I drove 100 miles that was over $50 on top of my pay. I drove down to Socal to meet the team and did a bit of training with the local Norcal guys. Then I was on my own.
We were insurance investigators which is the bread and butter of the business these days. I would get my case the evening before and have all night to plan it out. I would usually get directions to the area, review the client case notes and memorize the description and picture of the claimant. Also whatever vehicle they are driving. Put the camera on the charger, set the clock and get up reeeaaaaaally early.
Why? Because you have got to get up early to be set up on their place before they wake up for their day. So most of the time you are getting up well before dawn every day. Then you drive. Drive and drive and drive and drive some more. You quickly realize that all your cds are garbage, that the radio plays the same 12 songs on loop and that talk radio is fully of crazy people. It happens. I got into a LOT of books on tape.
So then you arrive in your tinted window, nondescript vehicle and set up on the claimant's house. Check to see if the vehicle is there and you wait. You turn off your car, put on the radio and stare at that doorway until something happens.
Every hour you take a 1-2 minute video of the door, the vehicle and this is called 'due dilligence' basically to make sure you're not sleeping or down at the local bar instead of sitting in your car listening to "The Great Gatsby" as read by Tim Robbins. Hey, what else was Tim Robbins in? Wasn't he in Jacob's Ladder that movie was awesome...
And oh shit the claimant is coming out the door! You jump up and hit record on the video camera and you watch what happens next! Does he pick up the morning paper and do back flips across the lawn in clear violation of his insurance claims?!?!
Does he run down the block at a full run wearing a day-glo spandex jogging outfit and listening to "Eye of the Tiger' by Survivor?
Or does he just hobble over to his car to drive a half mile to pick up a coffee and a donut? Where to next? Shopping? To the mall? Oh my the possibilities are endless.
Then, when you're done for the day you get to stop somewhere, review the video and write a detailed report about it all. Get home in time to get your next case and repeat.
The job sounds great but it sucks. You're sitting in a car in the heat all summer baking because you can't run your AC. You're lost in the middle of a foggy morning in Salinas and you almost run over a strawberry picker.
It's two hours into your case and you lost the claimant because you had to stop at a red light. Have fun explaining that one to the boss :)