A
Actuarial Hopeful
Member
This is my nightmare so far: I have been successful at seven out of ten first round interviews (yes that’s right, 7 out of 10!), but never made it past the final stage (assessment centre). In the feedback, I have been rejected for a variety of reasons, but for every criticism I have received relating to a specific area of my performance, I have managed to rectify that problem and received positive feedback in that same area, at a later assessment centre, perplexingly! On a couple of occasions, my performances were fine apparently, but the candidates offered roles had done actuarial internships.
I have decided that the only logical course of action in order to progress and avoid stagnating, is if I try and obtain some form of experience in a relevant area of actuarial work, and independently study for some of the actuarial exams. This should increase my chances in securing an actuarial job in the UK or US. I currently have my eye on CT1 and CT7. Hopefully, I should be exempt from CT3 and maybe more.
What form of relevant experience would people advise I obtain? Are agencies the way forward, though, they are notorious for only caring about their commission and not the actual roles they're putting candidates forward for.
I have been contemplating an Actuarial Technician role; though, I have no idea how difficult this may be to source. Alternatively, would practically any job with an insurance company be beneficial?
I have also been entertaining the notion of obtaining an actual actuarial trainee role, with one of the very small pensions consultancies. However, given that the general consensus seems to be that the long term future for pensions actuaries is rather bleak, Life and GI are my preferences. Do you think it would be more beneficial obtaining an actuarial graduate role in pensions and later on transferring to insurance, or would my idea above be the better option? I have heard changing areas when partly qualified can be rather arduous.
Once again, thanks for any contributions. I’d like to think giving up is not part of my vocabulary, so I will just keep going.
I have decided that the only logical course of action in order to progress and avoid stagnating, is if I try and obtain some form of experience in a relevant area of actuarial work, and independently study for some of the actuarial exams. This should increase my chances in securing an actuarial job in the UK or US. I currently have my eye on CT1 and CT7. Hopefully, I should be exempt from CT3 and maybe more.
What form of relevant experience would people advise I obtain? Are agencies the way forward, though, they are notorious for only caring about their commission and not the actual roles they're putting candidates forward for.
I have been contemplating an Actuarial Technician role; though, I have no idea how difficult this may be to source. Alternatively, would practically any job with an insurance company be beneficial?
I have also been entertaining the notion of obtaining an actual actuarial trainee role, with one of the very small pensions consultancies. However, given that the general consensus seems to be that the long term future for pensions actuaries is rather bleak, Life and GI are my preferences. Do you think it would be more beneficial obtaining an actuarial graduate role in pensions and later on transferring to insurance, or would my idea above be the better option? I have heard changing areas when partly qualified can be rather arduous.
Once again, thanks for any contributions. I’d like to think giving up is not part of my vocabulary, so I will just keep going.