PhillyP
July 9th 2005, 10:55 AM
Thought I'd share a little personal experience.
Over the last spring I spent a lot of time trying to find a job as entry-level actuary. I had no exams passed so I was turned down again and again. It got to the point where I was ready to give up on the whole thing and just get a basic finance position. I then stumbled across a position as a quantitative analyst for a life insurance company. I discovered that my duties would be to assist in the pricing of products and that I would be working alongside actuary's. I interviewed and got the job. (They liked that I attempted Course 1/P exam and that I was sitting for it again). It's great because I am basically doing actuarial work despite having no exams passed (well i just passed P, but none when they hired me). The job has an optional student program you can join which offers study time and refunds on study material, courses, and exam fees (just like most entry-level actuary positions).
The point I'm tryin to make is that if you look harder you can find great jobs that will foster your career as an actuary without actually requiring you to have passed exams. If you can't get a job as an "entry-level actuary" try looking for a job at an insurance company as a "quantitative anaylst" or "quantitative specialist" for example, I am sure there are also other positions closely related that will offer a good transition to becoming a true actuary.
Over the last spring I spent a lot of time trying to find a job as entry-level actuary. I had no exams passed so I was turned down again and again. It got to the point where I was ready to give up on the whole thing and just get a basic finance position. I then stumbled across a position as a quantitative analyst for a life insurance company. I discovered that my duties would be to assist in the pricing of products and that I would be working alongside actuary's. I interviewed and got the job. (They liked that I attempted Course 1/P exam and that I was sitting for it again). It's great because I am basically doing actuarial work despite having no exams passed (well i just passed P, but none when they hired me). The job has an optional student program you can join which offers study time and refunds on study material, courses, and exam fees (just like most entry-level actuary positions).
The point I'm tryin to make is that if you look harder you can find great jobs that will foster your career as an actuary without actually requiring you to have passed exams. If you can't get a job as an "entry-level actuary" try looking for a job at an insurance company as a "quantitative anaylst" or "quantitative specialist" for example, I am sure there are also other positions closely related that will offer a good transition to becoming a true actuary.