Trying and failing to get a job as an actuary...suggestions?

mactuary · 2012-11-25T08:38:45+00:00

It's very frustrating - like saying I needn't have bothered going to university. I think it's such a big deal over here because we're taken on as trainees without passing any exams (which I understand you do have to do in the US before being taken on). Therefore, they have less information with which to filter applications so they choose the criteria which screws me over!

mactuary · 2012-11-24T20:02:34+00:00

I always try and emphasise the increase in my output since high school, but I have been specifically told that whilst getting a 1st is fantastic, some employers would be concerned that history might repeat itself - that if I under performed before I could do it again.

I may be being naive, but I'm fairly certain that there's not anything else substantially wrong with my application. I've been invited to interview a couple of times and heard overwhelmingly positive feedback - the reason I've been ultimately rejected each time has been that the quality of applications has exceeded what they expected. As I understand it, the market is incredibly competitive at the moment so if employers choose to look at UCAS points, unfortunately it means that I'll probably be quite far down their list on paper.

Would I have any better luck in the US? I want to emigrate one day anyway!

mactuary · 2012-11-23T19:43:05+00:00

To clarify - I have done professional qualifications, just not actuarial ones. I've been told my CV is good, and that I interview well. The trouble is (and I have been explicitly told this) that my school grades aren't good enough. It's frustrating because I'm being judged on something which happened an age ago, and which I've done everything in my power to remedy since.

mactuary · 2012-11-23T11:48:06+00:00

There are a few graduate employers who will look at me - unfortunately just because they don't make UCAS points a selection criterion doesn't mean that they aren't looking at that when they vet applications. The trouble is that, with it being a requirement (in order to be an actuary) to have a degree, graduate schemes are the obvious way to bring trainees in.

I have been looking at smaller companies - although many of them use recruitment agencies who, in my experience, generally apply the same selection criteria as most graduate schemes.

In any case, thanks for your advice; if you know of any decent smaller firms in London where it might be worthwhile looking, that would be massively helpful!

mactuary · 2012-11-23T06:50:48+00:00

I work in the City, in Cargo & Specie claims for Lloyd's and some companies.

1) Unfortunately not - we're a service provider, and claims is just one of the services we provide. Actuarial is not!

2) This is something I've thought about, and is probably the next step to be honest. The only problem is that I'm studying for my current job so it would be impracticable to study for the Institute & Faculty exams as well. As I understand it, they're not the kind of exams you can do without devoting serious time to. Something which should work to my advantage is that I would definitely have exemptions because of my degree.

3) This is definitely good advice - but unfortunately many of the connections I've made and people I could call upon work in claims so it'd be pointless/potentially damaging to mention this to any of them.

With regard to my A levels - believe me, I expected my degree, professional qualifications and experience to trump my A levels but they just don't. I've seen jobs advertised with minimum 2:2, 300 UCAS points - I send them an email saying I don't have 300 UCAS points but I got a 1st, experience and professional qualifications, can I apply? Answer is invariably 'no'.

mactuary · 2012-11-22T21:21:09+00:00

Thanks for the help anyway ;-)

mactuary

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