restoration technician

restoration manager

crew supervisor

construction project manager

administrative assistant

SERVPRO

I went in to Servpro From El Centro/Salton Sea with great expectations, with possibilities of helping to make this independently own franchise grow. It had so much potential from the marketing side of it. Coming from a background of building relationships & working in the marketing department from my last job, I know I would fit right in. Had a bunch of interviews & job offers but went ahead & took a chance with Servpro. Made my own research & it looked like a great place to grow & make a career of it. From the day of my interview it took a long process, even though I had already said yes. Took about two weeks, then after signing the contract it took another extra week. The first two weeks it's nothing but training, hours of video watching & note taking. I am really good at learning something fast, so never went back & ask or miss understood. Just went back on my notes & there I would find the answer to anything that might come up. The 3rd week I jump onto working on the manager green program. Very easy to use with my notes that I had taken, the first day on it I had already figure every single thing about it. I had access as a manager & rep, because this franchise had no marketing manager. So I would be acting as both, creating routes & going out on the field. My boss/owner had no idea how to use the program! They had never used it in the past, only marketing reps which there had been 3 before me in a short period of time. Did not think much of it at first, but later I found out why. I had already added myself as a rep & created a route for myself, I went through every possible error that could happen like double bookings & non existing addresses. I was ready to go, my boss wanted me to do ride alongs with reps from other franchises. I was more than eager to go, so I did a ride along with this rep. I saw how she handle herself, to be honest I took no knowledge from her that I did not already had. After this I was supposed to be out on the road meeting with insurance agents & starting to build relationships. Instead my boss decided to take me into a water damage house that day, I had already been in one before & went through all that people through & the process. The crew got there & started taking out the carpet & wall panels out. He insisted I should help them, I was kind of upset that I would have to do this kind of work being that I only was getting pay salary $400 a week. Did not make a fuss about it & got my self into it. By mid day we took a lunch break I went back to the office because that's where my lunch was at. I was tired not being used to this kind of work, none the less I did my best. So I said to myself now you experienced it, my boss stop by the office & told me to go back to the house that they would need my help. Well I found out he had three houses with water damage, & he only has a crew of 5 for the entire franchise, which not shortly after I found out they are getting payed minimum wage! I told them it's not fair what you guys are getting payed. It's a hard laborious job. Not only do the act as technicians but also as movers. A two story house & take every single thing in that house out to take all the roof & drywall out! & deliver some furniture to the owners to another place, I was just amazed all that went into it. For the amount of money they are getting, they could work anywhere else & get payed the same. & by the way none but one of the crew was certified! Only one of them should be permitted to go in the homes. Well I told my boss ok I did this kind of work today but no longer will I do it, not for the amount I'm getting payed. He was upset & tried to explained to me how are you going to market it if you don't experienced it. Oh of course, but I only need to experience it once, not for the rest of my job. He was upset I would no longer do the work, & him only having a 5 man crew he knew he needed all the help he can get. Oh & by the way he was only on sites for short periods of time. So he said well that's the job tell me if this is not for you, told him straight out nope not for the amount I'm getting payed. Ok turn in your shirts & resign the next day, best thing I've ever done. I just feel bad for the crew, it's not fair how they are being treated. I will never recommend as an employer or as a service!

I decided to take a position with this company after multiple offers with other companies. It is one regret that I will have for some time. 

I was hired for a position or title that genuinely didn’t apply to my ever changing job duties, most of the time. 

Employee reviews didn’t happen as promised, promised to everyone in the company, the entire two years I was working with this company. I was promised a 90 day review with increase of salary, which never happened. The opportunity of commission was also promised upon hire, again this never happened. Years of promises and excuses as to why it hadn’t happened yet, but always reassured it would happen “soon”. 

There is absolutely no opportunity of advancement with this company in any department. In fact the census would be that this company restricts ones ability to grow or advance as not only an employee with their company but as a person. The same skill set they brought me in for was the skill set that was suppressed. 

I stayed with the company for as long as I did because I had hope. There is potential for this company to really grow and excel, but as it currently exists that won’t be possible. I watched as people were promised, hired, and then unappreciated: 

In the first months of my employment I couldn’t have told you who my actual supervisor was. The chain of command is a concept that is up in the air at all times. This caused for a lot of stress, confusion and stress. 

I was at any given moment asked to step away from my tasks and projects in order to fill in on another job duty that was not my responsibility. However, due to the high turn over, significant projects were in jeopardy at any given moment. I felt as if I was constantly just stomping out fires that I didn’t have any part of creating in order to keep my own position. 

I began at this company with them in a very bad place with regards to the construction department. Independently I was able to get the department up and out of their very serious situation. I then watched as the department failed again and it was beyond my control. 

My superiors and the couple of people with all the control in their hands are the definition of “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. We needed software, processes, procedures, incentives, systems and so much more in order to properly manage the large amount of revenue and projects. 

I went directly to my superior every time with everything of concern, bringing resolution. The complacency however superseded any chance of change. I was encouraged and pushed to “help” and to make the department better. While encouraged to do so it all felt as if it fell on deaf ears, and I will never understand why. 

I was surrounded by other employees that felt the same but the company felt to be in a state of complacency. It was a aura of “that’s just the way it is” and was so disheartening. 

I believed in this company and I trusted people I thought to be genuine. I always acted for and contributed for the betterment of the company as a whole, and in particular the construction department. It’s unfortunate for everyone involved that it never got any better. 

I wouldn’t recommend to anyone working at this company. 

Typical day at work, show up to work have our morning meeting where we find out details about the days job, what tools we need, what the procedure is. then we load up the truck with all the required material, or we hook up the trailer. As a crew leader I had to make sure all the materials were loaded, and tied down properly, I had to speak with our supervisor and get any specific instructions, and address to the job. Then doing the daily vehicle inspection, fueling up the vehicle, and driving to the job site and start the job. 

While employed here I learned all about Mold remediation, setting up containment and properly removal of contaminated material properly to minimize cross contamination. I learned how to properly clean a central heating/cooling unit, and the air ducts. part of my job was working on homes and businesses who were flooded and start the drying process. Also homes and businesses which caught on fire, cleaned the structure and items with in, I learned how to complete all those tasks. I learned how to drive a F-250 Diesel with a 40 foot goose-neck trailer and also how to back it up in small neighborhood streets, or up to a docking port. 

The management was hectic and chaotic. one day they would be happy and it affected to whole office, the next day they would be yelling and throwing things, cussing and chasing each other around the office. In my opinion I think the manager/owner of the company was racist and impeded my promotion and any other kind of movement with in the company. My immediate manager was a good guy and after my employment we remain friends. 

my co-workers were hard workers but as a crew leader I had trouble sometimes getting the back to work. they all spoke nothing but Spanish and I helped a few learn some English. for the most part I got a long with them all, the ladies in the office were pretty nice, and helpful. 

the hardest part was driving. at times I would drive three-four hours a day just to get to the job site, sometimes I would be hauling a 40-foot trailer, empty one way and full of clients furniture, and house hold items. I'd have to work just as much as the other guys tearing down walls, loading/un loading furniture, or loading trash, then have to drive back another 3-4 hours. the hardest days were driving to a home loading all their house hold items driving back and unloading. sometime leaving after 8pm. 

the most enjoyable part was when my crew would work efficiently and get the job done a head of schedule. I would then give them a little extra break and/or a longer lunch. my co-workes made my employment fun for the most past. They all liked me and would do what I told them to do when it came to working with little to no questions. At times the older guys who have been there longer than would give me advice on how to do something but they would always do what I told them to do in the end, whether I took their advice or not.

A typical morning consisted of arriving at work at 7:30 AM and clocking in. Our first order of business was to participate in a work-in-progress meeting conducted by the production manager. The owners, production team, office staff and marketing team were all present for this daily meeting. It was important for me to pay attention to what kind of issues our client's were dealing with, where they lived and especially to try and notice as many patterns as I could. All of this information aided me in my route and personal marketing plan for that day and week. After the meeting I sat at my desk and created my route. My goal was to meet with at least 12 business managers, owners, insurance brokers and real estate brokers every day to market our services. If a COF (Center of Influence) was unavailable on my route that day I would leave my business card as well as a pen or a magnet at their office. I would also find out when the best time to meet/call them would be and contact them at that time. At the end of the day I would create a detailed report of each stop I made that day and submit it to my boss. Other tasks included going to After Hours events for the chamber of commerce of each county/city we were members of. I also managed the company's social media accounts. While meeting with random people each day and being able to connect with them as well as win them over as friends and potential clients was nothing new to me due to my experience in the service industry for multiple years, the exposure I received in the professional world was invaluable. I learned how to politely and affectively win a piece of someone's (typically a COF) day to market the company I worked for. I hardly remember ever receiving any negative feedback and usually ended each meeting with a new healthy relationship. My manager was also the owner of the company. She was incredible. I admired her work ethic and how she handled everyone. She was very encouraging and typically in a great mood. She was also very smart and knowledgeable which was great to be under for my first job out of college. My co-workers were also incredible. The Senior Marketing Representative trained me and we had a great relationship on the job. He had quite a few years of sales experience so his shared wisdom was invaluable to me. He was a great guy to be trained by. I was rarely around the production team except for in the morning meetings. They were great, hard-working people. I was humbled by their work ethics. The hardest part of the job would be getting past the office and to the COF. Some office managers and secretaries viewed me as a salesman and some had strict orders not to allow salesmen to the COF. I had quite a few strategies to get by that typically worked and the rest was usually simple. The most enjoyable part of my job would be traveling through the mountains on my daily routes.

Servpro  was a great job to have had, it gives you an opportunity to see alot of unique situations that really grasp your attention on how life is. When someones personal belongings and home or business becomes jeopardized by disaster situations there is great panic, servpro offers relief for that along with great crew members especially at Servpro of Albemarle CO.  

What I learned that added to my character and personal and work skills here is , an opportunity and or gateway into the service world, servpro is a great place to work for anyone wanting to get into the service field and learning how to present themselves to the general public on a general day to day basis. I also had the opportunity to learn the scientific side to how the elements of Smoke and soot, Water, Mold, and dangerous contaminants destroy and continue to destroy. It is absolutely an art on how the men and women in the cleaning & restoration feild become so creative in remediating and mitigating these situations. 

Management is also great here however if management is under staffed it can be hectic, we as a crew do our best to help out management when we can. They are very loving but yet firm, and always are there to help with ideas and solutions.

My co-workers are amazing, they are respectful and we work as a team, it absolutely pains me to look for another job. I really admire each and every individual i work along side of. The senior members of the crew are patient and very informative in training and that is something that is hard to find anymore. 

The hardest part of my job, is the challenge to complete the tasks ahead of me, with such large quantity of important work we have to stay on our toes. Insurance companies can be almost impossible to communicate and work with and at times creates extreme stress on the crew and management, especially involving payment, we work very hard to help the victim/customer/client/friend in their time of need. 

The most enjoyable part of this job is when the job is finished and seeing their life put back together.  When we arrive to a flooded house or a burnt up building and then begin our clean-up process, and then we return when all the work is done and bring back their contents or to come back to see how they are doing. It is absolute gratifying to know that you had a hand in helping them back on their feet.

This is a franchise based company so your experience can vary from office to office, but the group that owns and manages the Naples Office are exceptional at how they treat their personnel. It is a very tight knit community, and anyone with industry experience will know how demanding a technician, project manager, estimator, or boots on the ground position can be. Your success is predicated by those around you and the position is what you make of it.  Having experience in IICRC, Xactimate, Symbility, and general office programs is recommended but they offer training and hands on training should you be new.  You are provided a lot of freedoms as far as where you can work from, job site visits, scheduling, and can easily adapt your schedule and routine as you see fit. However, you stand a greater chance of success if you dedicate your time and make yourself available during normal business hours. Due to the nature of the work we do you will receive calls, texts, emails, etc. after hours but it's emergency services. It is to be expected and the pros far outweigh the cons.  They do promote a work life balance and there will be times where you have to meet strict deadlines, work after hours, and/or weekends but they incentivize going above and beyond. Your efforts will not go unnoticed and there is room for growth and a commission depending on position.  Naples, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, etc. are all gorgeous areas to work in, obviously near water and tropical climates, which means there is never a shortage of work.  It's a dynamic environment to learn the ins and outs of permitting, HOA requirements, code, variances between carriers, working with established independent adjusters, and having the luxury of skilled carpenters/subcontractors at your disposal.   There is job security and the ability to learn and interact with different departments such as mitigation, mold/asbestos, repairs, sales/business development, administration, job file coordinator, and gain industry experience across multiple facets in a short time frame. 

A typical day at work included a morning meeting, work orders, and loading vehicles for all specific jobs.
     All the jobs varied from carpet cleanings, water damages, fire damages, soot cleanings, mold remediation to even forensic/bio hazard clean ups. Most of the work consisted of trying to save as much structure as possible so that the insurance company would also save as much money as possible. As well as the homeowner/property owner or tenant. 

    The business of restoration is a very difficult one. There are many moving parts and many parties involved. Alot of restoration work is regional and varies throughout the country.  In the Northeast there are many water damages based on the weather which can occur in any of the 4 seasons. The winter time usually brings ice dams, basement flooding from ground water and soot clean ups from fire accidents. Frozen pipes are also usually a big one in the winter. A poorly vented attic can cause alot of mold problems as well as a poorly executed water damange clean up. Often times things are disposed of or thrown away and may or may not be covered by insurance.

   The hardest part of the job was being the middle man. The most enjoyable part was the satisfaction of completing a job and helping the customer, my boss and the insurance provider if there was one involved. Many times jobs were self pay in which the customer or there family member paid out of pocket for services provided by the company.

   This job often, but not always, led to permits being pulled by either the state or local town offices. 

Many times people who worked this type of work were temporary employees and if it was a good fit they would stay on permanently.

  Classes were offered to full time employees, as well as benefits and discounts depending on the current market and line of work involved.

  Many times the independent franchises are family run or operated and can seek help from others in the immediate area or region if large scale disasters occur.

  No many who owns a branch they must answer to the corporate for they are the ones who own the brand name and are the "Parent".

  Lastly, safety is number one in this line of work as there are many training courses provided and safety equipment provided by the employer. For example, respirators, masks, PPE suits and gloves.

While they seem to put on a good show to get you in the door, their follow through is "lacking."

Do not get me wrong, The Company has the right idea, but the tucked away areas such as the call center and HR are left to the devices of the people who over see those areas. Those are the areas (HR and the Call Center) that I am talking about.

Let me explain the title of my review. If you do not follow THEIR rule (not what the actual Labor Law dictates) then you WILL be let go. For example; I went out of town on my regular days off and happened to be four hours away from the center. I was called to come in and when I told them it would take four hours for me to get there but I would come ( I was told never mind), later I was reprimanded verbally for not being a "team player" and being there when the company needed me. really ( As before, I did tell her that I would drive back.) Oh and there was a separate occasion when we were in Storm event and I was asked to stay late. I said there would be no problem with that at all but I needed to know approximately how long so that I may let my family know when to expect me. I STRESS that I did not want an exact time just approximate and I was not demanding anything (I asked very nicely). No time was ever given and after sitting for 7hrs and not getting a break, I asked if I could have one and was told I could not. I reminded the Supervisor how long it had been and she stated that they were ALLOWED to bend the labor rule in times of storm events. (I was later verbally reprimanded for asking about the approximate time we might be going home was as well as asking for a break.) The governing of the Call Center and Human Resources is so far removed from the company core values as a whole that it is not funny. Numbers are faked, butts are kissed, backs are scratched and pockets are padded.
So in the end if you would like to create your own prison, have someone trying to force feed you absolute wrong information, have someone try to brainwash you into a CULT like environment or have someone strip you of your basic labor board rights given to you by LAW then this is the place for you. I ONLY PLACED 1 STAR IN EACH RANK BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT LET YOU PUT ZERO!

One thing that I can say about this company is you guys have a long ways to go. Don't get me wrong the work wasn't that bad all the time, but the work was tiring, the manager or qa was always calling your phone. If you couldn't sell a job they would get mad or say you should of call management like how can you make a customer change their mind, if the people don't want you to destroy their house they don't simple as that keep it moving. You can't stop by the store unless you were getting gas if you stopped your phone was blowing up, which I thought was strange how are you going to function throughout the day with no food on your brain. You will always get called out even if your in the middle of doing something like myself I have no one available to watch my son on Friday Saturday and have to take him back Sunday if it wasn't for my girlfriend I would be screwed because it would be no one to watch my son. I would barely see my son on the weekends because I was aways getting called in for work. I let them know about the situation and they didn't care or say you can have off on the weekends but nope so be aware of this company they make it sound good before you're hired but its not like that. I wouldn't recommend anyone taking this job unless you like long hours and management always complaining my thing is your not going to succeed unless you know how to talk to people and you know who you are you always fussing. I got fired because of a customer complained about smoke coming out of my vehicle which that day I wasn't even smoking it was the passenger so immediately the next morning they rush me in for test didn't give me a notice or anything, so I take the test and fail n I'm like wtf you know. But the company doesn't drug test so you good. But they might start when I worked there everybody smoke accept for like two three technicians I've seen people quit ike crazy because of the job. Good luck Servpro you guys would be better if you guys switched the on call schedule.

​Pros:
​Rapid learning curve due to high demand and small staffing.
​Opportunities for extensive travel, including locations like Whidbey Island and Anacortes, which could be a pro for those who enjoy travel.
​Hands-on experience with specialized tools and equipment.
​Potential for promotion or raises within the first year, which was a positive at one point.
​Cons:
​Highly Unprofessional and Toxic Work Environment: The company culture lacked professional boundaries, leading to constant disrespect and a lack of accountability. I observed favoritism and witnessed a variety of unprofessional behaviors from coworkers and leads.
​Poor Communication and Micromanagement: Despite a strong desire to innovate and improve processes, suggestions were often ignored, leading to a culture of micromanagement. Decisions were made based on emotion rather than logic or clear policy.
​Inconsistent and Demanding Hours: The job demands varied wildly, from short periods of equipment cleaning to extremely long, overnight hours at commercial sites. This created a vicious cycle with little to no time for personal life or recovery.
​Lack of Professionalism and Accountability from Management: I was involved in a minor vehicle incident and was never given a professional, civil explanation of what happened. Instead, decisions were made behind closed doors, leading to a loss of driving privileges without any formal discussion.
​My Advice:
I would caution anyone considering a job in this industry to be prepared for a highly demanding, unpredictable schedule and a potentially toxic work environment. It requires a great deal of personal sacrifice and resilience. Be aware that the workplace culture may prioritize favoritism over professionalism. This is a tough industry that requires you to live and breathe your work, often at the expense of your personal well-being.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Restoration technician 1567 salaries reported	$19.16 per hour
Restoration manager 430 salaries reported	$21.80 per hour
Crew supervisor 429 salaries reported	$22.43 per hour
Construction project manager 158 salaries reported	$78,674 per year
Administrative assistant 208 salaries reported	$19.85 per hour

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