What interested you in our company?

[Thomas H]

What interested you in our company?

I get this question on phone interviews. I'm curious how other people answer this question at the entry level. When I first started out looking for a job I answered truthfully with something like:

I noticed that your company had an entry level job and I'm trying to break into the field. So I've been applying to every entry level job I can find.

However, I then checked some books out of the library on interviewing and I decided that honesty was probably not the best policy. So now I answer with:

I found your company to be very appealing after reading your website. The company training, the work environment and the chance to work in different product areas sounds good. However, having said that, I do realize that part of the purpose of the website is to sell the company. But it did sound appealing nonetheless.

I state the last two sentences because I don't want to sound too cheesy. The interview books though say that you shouldn't worry about that. They say that you should just make sure you stay positive and sell yourself. Should I cut out those last two sentences?

[WannaB]

I'd say to cut out the last two sentences. If it's a bigger company you can talk about the stability of the company as well.

[gouri525]

I was asked the same question by 4 different interviewers in the same company when I went for an onsite interview. My suggestion would be to prepare for this question with each company you go to. My response was:
1. I am trying to find something locally, and this company is local (in my case, the only local company that hires actuarial staff)
2. The size of the organization (<300) is what I'm looking for - I've been in larger organizations and people tend to get lost in them. I'd rather work for a smaller organization, where recognition and visisbility are higher.
3. From what I can gather from my research of this company, this company's philosophies align with mine. - elaborate approriately.

I haevn't received a job offer yet, so I dont know if my answers pleased them or not. But the location, size, stability, and work-culture, would be good to include as part of your response, IMHO.

[Ken]

It would be good to make up an answer to why you want to go into Life/Health/Pension/P&C/Reinsurance. Being local is good. Ask questions that make you sound interested, pay attention to their answers, and add a follow-up question to show you can think on the spot and you were paying attention.

[Thomas H]

It would be good to make up an answer to why you want to go into Life/Health/Pension/P&C/Reinsurance.

But as an entry level person I want to let them know that I am willing to go into any area and that I don't have a preference. I agree with what you're saying if the position is for a particular area but some of these job ads are more general since the company may work in many areas.



Ask questions that make you sound interested, pay attention to their answers, and add a follow-up question to show you can think on the spot and you were paying attention.

I try to think of questions related to what we have discussed and I also keep a list of questions by the telephone. One way I attempt to show that I'm actively listening is by paraphrasing something they just said as if I'm trying to better understand it. Also, if they are taking a second to put their thoughts together to finish a statement then I will quickly interject what I think that they were about to say.

[Ken]

Then you should know better what position you're applying for. I still think you should have an answer as to why each field interests you. Otherwise, the guy who really wants to do life and the guy who really wants to do health will fill those jobs. Not that I care what you do, I just think it would help.

If you're on a phone interview, know who you're talking to. The things you ask HR should be different than what you would ask an actuary should be different than what you would ask a student. Ask HR things about the student program. You can ask students the same along with the types of responsibility they get. You can ask an actuary how they are dealing with specific situations that impact the industry if you keep up with the news (how does a life company stay competitive, health companies have issues trying to control costs with medical inflation spiralling out of control, pensions are moving from DB to DC plans, property has hurricane catastrophe issues, and reinsurance costs are skyrocketing.)

Some people think it's rude when you finish their sentence. I wouldn't do it unless you know the person.

[gouri525]

I received an offer from the company that I interviewed with. Now, I would like to negotiate, and I'm waiting for them to send the details of the benefit package etc, so that I can figure out where they'll be able to "give". It's surprising, I must have applied to atleast 15 companies online, since passing my second exam in Sep 2006, and I never even got through the screening. And I applied to big companies in Indy and Cincinnati. When I called a couple of them, they told me that they picked fresh college grads with actuarial internships. But I ended up getting an offer from a smaller sized company, that I sent my resume to in mid-December. I'm thrilled. I have 10+ years of IT experience, and no actuarial experience at all, so I guess it is possible to enter the industry in your 30s.
Good Luck to all career changers out there. If I can do it, you can too!

[Thomas H]

I have 10+ years of IT experience, and no actuarial experience at all, so I guess it is possible to enter the industry in your 30s.
Good Luck to all career changers out there. If I can do it, you can too!

Congratulations on your offer! My problem is that I basically have no work experience outside of being a student. So I think it's more difficult for me to get hired.

[LostMyth]

Now, I would like to negotiate, and I'm waiting for them to send the details of the benefit package etc, so that I can figure out where they'll be able to "give".

I'm not sure you should negotiate at the entry-level unless you have another offer in hand. At this point, you're a relative unknown so I don't see what leverage you have in asking for more money. Nothing's preventing them from going to their number two candidate if you're being particularly difficult. I can see maybe working out something in terms of a better relocation package, but asking for something more is probably taking a big risk.

[Ken]

10 years of IT experience is better than a kid out of school.

[Cepheid]

I received an offer from the company that I interviewed with. Now, I would like to negotiate, and I'm waiting for them to send the details of the benefit package etc, so that I can figure out where they'll be able to "give". It's surprising, I must have applied to atleast 15 companies online, since passing my second exam in Sep 2006, and I never even got through the screening. And I applied to big companies in Indy and Cincinnati. When I called a couple of them, they told me that they picked fresh college grads with actuarial internships. But I ended up getting an offer from a smaller sized company, that I sent my resume to in mid-December. I'm thrilled. I have 10+ years of IT experience, and no actuarial experience at all, so I guess it is possible to enter the industry in your 30s.
Good Luck to all career changers out there. If I can do it, you can too!

As a fellow IT career changer in my 30s, this was really great to read. Congrats!

[gouri525]

I'm not sure you should negotiate at the entry-level unless you have another offer in hand. At this point, you're a relative unknown so I don't see what leverage you have in asking for more money. Nothing's preventing them from going to their number two candidate if you're being particularly difficult. I can see maybe working out something in terms of a better relocation package, but asking for something more is probably taking a big risk.


Thanks for the input. You're right, I haven't proved myself in this profession. But I have proved (from my references etc) that I am a good worker and work well in an ofice environment. And actually, I do have my current IT job. So, I can wait if I need to for the next job offer to come along. But of course, I want to enter the profession sooner rather than later! My intent is not to ask for a higher salary, but for a sign-on bonus. The salary I'm being offered is at the low end of the range for entry level actuarial students. And they did explain that their salaries are at the bottom 10th percentile per industry standards. I thought that would be a good point for me to use for negotiation. Plus, I can't really ask for relocation, they are local, and they know I'm taking a steep pay-cut with this job - because I want to, not because I have to. My intent in the counter offer is to be very polite and make suggestions, not demands. Hopefully, I'll come across as being savvy, not cocky, atleast that's my hope! Wish me luck!