Hi Does anyone have any advice for a non-numerical graduate looking to re-qualify. As my name suggests I am currently a lawyer but looking for relevant work experience whilst taking first few exams. Any advice/comments gratefully received! Exlawyer
Hi, I've transitioned career (from IT, graduated in engineering), currently working towards qualification. I think you'll need to pass a few exams yourself, especially as your background is non-numerical. If you haven't done any exams yet, you can sit CT1 as a non-member (how I started). Happy to answer any more questions.
Thanks Tiger! How many exams did you do before you got the job you wanted. A recruiter told me yesterday there are people out there with so many exemptions I am looking to have to do up to at least CT5! That's a lot to pay for yourself!!
I had passed CT1 to CT5 when I started looking. By the time it got to 2nd interviews/job offer, I had also passed CT6&7 I don't think lack of exemptions are the problem, but rather demonstrating ability and dedication, since your background is non-numeric. My employer has hired both graduates with lots of exemptions (CT1-8 +CA1) as well as maths graduates who have only 2 exemptions.
Being in the right place at the right time is pretty important. Be proactive and show interest. I didn't have any CTs when I got my actuarial job (mid-30s). Just a strong programming and maths/physics background. Edit: obviously, graduate level positions only have graduate-level pay, which can be a painful readjustment...
Thanks Hobbs. Yes - understand the pay thing. Our of interest what steered you towards your job - was it a case of take what was offered or did you have a specific interest in an area such as pensions. I'm Midlands based so a bit more limited as to choice!
Don't overlook marketing your legal skills as well. All too often, we actuaries say "We are not lawyers, contact your lawyers". You might continue saying this if you're not a practicing lawyer (or just don't want the responsibilty) but the perspective is still valuable.
Well, you know... there are only so many accounting system back ends you can write before you start going a bit funny in the head. I live in a slightly regional area, so high-flying programming options don't really exist. One day I was out walking and happened to fall into conversation with a retired Investment Bank broker, and I realised that the job I'd been vaguely looking around for was "Actuary". So I shook some trees and changed careers. I haven't pursued any particular sort of Actuary work - I work in a consultancy, so when specialisation time comes I'll have a look at the market and either choose something I recon will be HUGE, or which will fill a hole in our current skill set. Read didster's post. Leverage your existing skills. I spend quite a bit of time fixing other people's dubious vba.
+1 to the above. Your best bet of getting a position is with an employer that sees benefit in your existing experience, that you can bring something more than a graduate who perhaps has a more focused degree or more exemptions.
