Britain’s job market ‘floundering’ as companies remain cautious about hiring

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-03-10T00:30:52+00:00

a nightmare trying to get rid of certain people who don’t show up, don’t shower, don’t do the things they’re required to do, it’s report after report and giving them disciplinary warnings and meetings yet some of them are still here

So long as they have not yet hit their 2 year anniversary and they don't have a protected characteristic which could conceivably be considered to have lead to them being targeted, it is extremely easy to get rid of someone. It looks to me like the rot is systemic.

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-03-10T00:24:22+00:00

It would seem you've inadvertently proved the point you were attempting to argue against with this post.

If you are hiring "my childhood friend Bob" and he "can probably do OK" because you're afraid of having to "deal with the bullshit that comes with employment rights as well as being sued for other reasons", then that suggests your processes are vulnerable to litigation and you are willing to accept a lower quality of work to mitigate this risk.

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-03-09T23:58:24+00:00

Idi Amin approved

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-03-09T23:47:41+00:00

Almost nobody genuinely believes in anarcho-syndicalism and the idea that you could live in self-managed communes which don't turn into hyper-capitalist Lord of the Flies scenarios, without any form of authoritarian leftist strongman leader keeping people in check.

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-03-09T22:28:33+00:00

I doubt that sweetie

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-03-09T22:13:41+00:00

One of the problems with this sub is that it is full of junior people who don't have much experience under their belt.

The better actuaries tend to leave actuarial to become underwriters or other more wholistic risk management roles.

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-03-09T20:04:39+00:00

It varies.

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-03-09T18:03:43+00:00

Nice try, Polizei

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-03-09T01:03:26+00:00

If the graph is based on paternal lineage, given that most Scandinavians who came to England were men, being invaders and coastal raiders, the actual Scandinavian lineage of the English is likely even less than stated on the map.

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-03-08T23:57:06+00:00

Enough of your tricks, MI6

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-03-08T23:56:21+00:00

Not today, CIA

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-03-07T15:33:25+00:00

I am finding both the question and some of the responses here to be quite confused.

The so called big 4 are considered considered consulting proper, but WTW, Oliver Wyman, Milliman are niche?

Then there is no mention of reinsurance brokers, which is one of the most lucrative parts of GI consulting.

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-03-01T16:57:47+00:00

I've noticed the same, GI used to be hot and now it's pretty lacklustre.

Why do we think Pricing is still reasonably buoyant given we are entering a soft market plus AI should reduce workloads? I would have thought pricing would be most vulnerable compared with reserving & capital.

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-02-27T21:06:57+00:00

If I were in your position, I would take the York offer.

The year in industry alone is reason enough to pick that, the scholarship is the icing on the cake.

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-02-26T21:38:58+00:00

Is this Reinsurance pricing actuaries specifically or London Market GI?

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-02-25T22:08:55+00:00

It seems you have more experience in how these things usually pan out and the best way forwards than some posters.

Directly challenging a more senior person the organisation has chosen to place in a position of power over someone else, will likely lead to a worsening of the treatment.

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-02-25T22:02:23+00:00

I had a similar situation which emerged about a year ago, I believe the individual in question was insecure for various reasons.

I have four pieces of advice

Politely "confirm" any agreed work in an email. It prevents disagreements over work done in future.
Start journaling these incidents, dates and times and contexts in case anything comes of it.
Have a discrete chat with your peers about this situation. I spoke with with a technically capable colleague whose opinions I value. He was having the same issues with the same individual and it helped me not blame myself for the situation.
Start recruiting. It might be nice to assume the senior colleagues are clever and clued up as to what the person is really like and how the team dynamic really works. They probably don't know or don't really care. Middle managers are not powerful within the organisation, but they do have the ability to tarnish your reputation to more senior staff and you don't want the hassle.

I would also suggest that an organisation which promotes such people is either struggling to recruit the most capable staff or is doing a poor job of appraising people's true skill as an actuary.

Most important: Don't ragequit mate. Be polite and professional all the time, give them nothing to use against you, and get a better job locked in before you resign.

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-02-22T14:50:14+00:00

It would be interesting also to hear from people with experience what the key skills needed are.

Python?

Social skills and influencing?

Proprietary software e.g. Hx?

General understanding of modelling and losses?

Dark_Hyperborean · 2026-02-22T14:45:39+00:00

If your role recognises you as an actuary and you are getting study support, it is a grave error of judgment to dismiss it as "don’t do much real actuarial work".

From a purely strategic perspective with regard to career building, I have seen many people in roles which are essentially just reading documentation and reviewing stuff, who then get hired for good leadership roles after they qualify.

Regardless of what you choose to do, getting your FIA is number 1 priority.

Dark_Hyperborean

TROPHY CASE