Too many exams?

[TimDH]

This may be a stupid question. If so, feel free to give a stupid answer.;)

Is it possible to have too many exams completed when applying for an entry-level job? When I see the listings for an entry-level analyst with "1 to 2" exams, what would happen if someone who had 3 or 4 exams completed applied? I would think the company would think "the more the better", but then I figured that they would have to pay you more money because their salary scale dictates such. Could having 3 or 4 exams actually be a drawback?

[Irish Blues]

From most accounts I've heard, *absolutely do not* pass more than the first 4 exams. If you've got 4 exams because you were at a school that had an actuarial program and the coursework supported the material on those exams, that's one thing - if it's, "Well I was bored and decided 'hey, why not start taking exams?' so I passed the first 4 on my own", then it could be a problem.

Passing the first 2-3 by yourself under whatever circumstances is fine. Passing the 4th could be dicey but not a huge problem. If you pass more than 4 before getting your first job, don't expect to be paid for more than 4 until you've got the experience to back it up.

[iho]

As far as getting a job, is the advantage of having 3 exams over having 2 exams worth the extra 375+cost of studying materials for taking exam M?

I'm not concerned about the extra material I'd have to learn, I just don't want to end up paying over 500 bucks for something that wouldn't make me more employable.

[Irish Blues]

If you've passed the first 7 CAS exams, the expectation is that you also have some experience calculating LDF's, have worked with the B-F method, maybe have seen Berq-Sherm applied once, will understand basic ratemaking, have some understanding of the impact of certain changes in rates on the company's bottom line, understand the impact of credibility in ratemaking, ....

If you don't understand all of that, then passing the first 7 CAS exams has taught you ... nothing. You've not been able to apply what you know to the exams, and vice versa. There are also additional responsibilities that come along with being at least an ASA/ACAS and additional expectations - if you haven't got practical experience to back up what you've passed on an exam, then passing the exam really hasn't done you much good.

I go back to the example of someone who passes the bar exam and is licensed to practice law in a state, but has never been involved in a case even in a simulation - does passing the bar means that someone is a good attorney? If you were injured in an accident and wanted to file a lawsuit, would you go to Joe Schmoe who passed the bar exam last week and hasn't been to school in 7 years but just quit his night shift job at the Tasty Freeze where he worked the fry machine and occasionally worked the drive thru, or would you go to John Justice who passed his bar exam last week but just graduated from Big Law School where as part of his schooling he served 2 internships with major law firms and was part of his school's 2-time national champion debate team?

John Justice has exam progress that reasonably matches up with his experience. Joe Schmoe doesn't.

That's how having too many exams and not enough experience can hurt you.


-----

Someone else will have to address the rest of your comments about the difficulties of not being hired easily ... unless no one else does by the time I get back in a week and a half.

[Trojan_Horse]

Yes but Joe Schmoe, Tasty Freeze cashier, with 3 exams doesn't necessarily have an advantage over Joe Schmoe, Tasty Freeze cashier, with 6 exams, and may even be at a disadvantage. Employers are hesitant to hire people with more than 3 exams and no experience. The math is a little fuzzy, but I'll try: Given No Experience, 0 < 3 > 6 (the number represent exams passed).
:)

[TimDH]

As the original poster, maybe I should clarify my original question. (Side note: I've already talked myself into taking P and FM this fall, and then M--or whatever it will be called after the new changes--right before I graduate in spring)

I'm trying to compensate for a lackluster overall GPA. I was a '''''up when I first started college many moons ago. My grades the past several semesters have been A's and B's, and the GPA in my major (mathematics) is over 3.0. My overall GPA, however, is being dragged down by C's and D's in coursework prior to my becoming a math major. My final overall GPA will likely be around 2.75. I think that having 3 exams under my belt instead of 2 will improve my chances of landing an entry-level position.

Or am I kidding myself here?

[Skowron]

John Justice has exam progress that reasonably matches up with his experience. Joe Schmoe doesn't.

I'd hire the Justice guy on name alone. Unless, of course, I wasn't really injured in the accident, in which case I'd avoid him.

[YKT]

This is a strawman argument. You are comparing no experience vs experience, not exams vs no exams.




If the companies wish to pay you as someone who has
passed only 2 exams, even though you've passed 4,
there is no reason or excuse at all for them not to do so.



I want to skip all the attorney stuff...........but in my opinion, too many exams pass without getting a job is not a good idea. In my experience, most people will look for a job right after they pass the first exam (or internship if you are still in college). They just keep sending a lot of resume out, keep interviewing with different companies, and keep studying for the next exam. By this way, you can improve your interview skill (which is the most important thing) and pass more exams. After a year or two or maybe less, you will pass 2-3 exams and also have a very strong interview skill, usually you won't have any problem to find a job.

Some interviewer might ask you like "did you apply any actuarial positions within these 2 years?" or "how many interview did you have or what company have you interviewed with lately?" (Some companys asked me these kind of questions before) They asked you these questions not because they are nosy, it is because they want to know why you didn't get that job or why you couldn't get those jobs in this period.

If you passed too many exams like 4-6 or more without any working experience, interviewers will have doubt that why this candidate can't find any job with that many exams passed. It is because most of people who passed 4-6 exams have at least 1-3 yrs experience, so that means you are "outside the circle", which is not a good thing.

Well, no company will hire people just depends on their education, or how many exams you passed. It also involves a lot of things.

just my opinion, if anyone has different point of view, welcome to share :)

[Waz]

In other threads the general consensus seems to be:
- If you're still in school then passing up to 4 exams is O.K.
- Done with school and just starting exam process, then no more than 2 exams.


Here are some ideas on looking for a job and interviewing. Most colleges have a career developement center; if you're still in school start getting familiar with what they offer. They usually have help for writing your resume. Most will do practice interviews with you and even video tape it so you can see yourself (a very sobering experience). Some bigger universities may even have networking to help you. Understand though, you have to take the initiative, they will not do the work for you.

If you have a low overall GPA, become a spin doctor. For example, if your grades got better the closer you got to graduation; then stress how much you've grown and matured. In all honesty, a lot of people don't have great grades their first year of college. Just be able to show that you did figure it out and got better.