Help me understand job postings...

[dagojr]

First, my situation in a paragraph. I've passed P/1 and F/2. I'm waiting for my C/4 results before I begin sending out my application. Since the job market is tough right now, and I'm not the typical fresh-out-of-college entry-level candidate, I believe I need more than just two exams to be competitive, especially since I will also likely need to relocate.

But some of the job listings are both confusing and discouraging. I'll provide a couple of links as an example.

http://jobs.actuary.com/c/job.cfm?site_id=1634&jb=7156576

http://jobs.actuary.com/c/job.cfm?site_id=1634&jb=7173573

Let me start with the first link. I know actuarial exams are hard, but I don't understand how typical competitive candidates can have 3 years of actuarial experience, and yet have only passed 1 exam.

I'm similarly confused about the second link. I'm not really sure how most competitive candidates could have 4+ years experience, and yet have only passed 2 exams.

I hope you can see where I'm confused. To get a job, I feel like I need to pass 3 or possibly 4 exams. Yet many of the job openings I'm coming across want a few years of actuarial experience (I have none), but often only require 1 or 2 exams. Can somebody help make sense of this for me? I sure hope I'm not going about finding an actuarial job the wrong way...

[NoMoreExams]

These are MINIMUM requirements i.e. if you don't have that, don't bother applying. That being said, it could be aimed at people who worked in the actuarial field but stopped taking exams or never really started by going for non-exam track.

5 years ago it was a different field. Now exams are easier, at least some, and are offered more frequently hence the requirement of having more passed. That and let's not forget the economy differential.

[Irish Blues]

Every job you don't apply for is one you're definitely not going to get. That doesn't mean apply for every opening regardless of exams/experience requested; if you're entry-level with 2 exams, you don't want to be applying for a position asking for an ACAS/FCAS ... just like if you're an ACAS, you don't want to apply for a position asking for 2 exams and 2 years of experience.

My current job was looking for 1-4 exams and a couple years experience; I had more exams and more experience than they were looking for - but, my work background got me a phone interview. From there, I talked my way into a face-to-face interview and landed the job. Depending on how firm an employer is on its stated requirements, you may or may not be able to get a shot at that position anyway ... so it doesn't necessarily hurt to try - but be realistic in the process.