Thoughts from someone who has been in this field for 12 years

[spade]

One solution to this would be to work for a different firm, and I've applied to 100 jobs in the last five months but got no interviews at all. The job market stinks (private sector, anyway), and the number of people taking exams continues to climb. It is really getting out of hand, and I feel sorry for people trying to get into this field now.

You say that like this field is the only one that has taken a hit from the economic downturn. I think just about any job field is tough to get into right now. That's why it's called a recession.

[NoMoreExams]

I was dumb and believed everything the recruiter told me.

So I would say your advice should be mostly "be careful to empty promises and make sure that all the goods are delivered" rather than "this profession ''''s".

I'm sure that being a college professor would be stressful and full of political non-sense. I'm considering teaching in public school, preferably junior high. I don't doubt that will be stressful as well but at least I know exactly what to expect -- the semester ends on this date, the year ends on that date, etc. What I get now is B.S. like "oh darn the system is two days behind so we'll have to work this weekend". It's like an end-of-year rush but it's 50 weeks out of the year (the boss takes off for two weeks which is nice).

Just like any profession, there are pluses and minuses to teaching high school or junior high or... Yes, some of it is financial based but there are other drawbacks. Did you ever think that there seems to be an influx of ex-teachers trying to be actuaries? Maybe the grass isn't as green...

One solution to this would be to work for a different firm, and I've applied to 100 jobs in the last five months but got no interviews at all. The job market stinks (private sector, anyway), and the number of people taking exams continues to climb. It is really getting out of hand, and I feel sorry for people trying to get into this field now.

This was already addressed but I'll add to it. Sure it ''''s now but why didn't you leave after a year or two or ... Twelve years with one company is admirable but not if you are suffering for it. Yes the field is getting more and more applicants since they are trying to make the road to ASA/FSA easier but that only means we will be more judged on our skills and not our ability to cram hundreds of hours. Since you were not given many hours to study I would think you would be happy with regards to this.

[calculusdork]

OP, you make it sound as if you were taken advantage of. You worked in the same job, unhappily, for ELEVEN YEARS??? You've got to look out for yourself better than this. I've read plenty of other posters who say they enjoy their work very much.

Life is what you make of it. Yes, this includes your career too.

[JS1]

OP, you make it sound as if you were taken advantage of. You worked in the same job, unhappily, for ELEVEN YEARS??? You've got to look out for yourself better than this. I've read plenty of other posters who say they enjoy their work very much.

Life is what you make of it. Yes, this includes your career too.

I was happy the first 8 years. Now I'm sorry I ever fell for the SOA sales pitch of an "easy", "fun", and "challenging in a fun and easy way" career.

How many people in this forum have been doing this for 10 years or more and can honestly say that it's all that it was cracked up to be? What I've read is posts from people who haven't been in it nearly as long (just like me 8 years ago), saying that it's rewarding and not overly laborious. Just wait a little longer and it will be your turn to be taken advantage of.

[NoMoreExams]

I was happy the first 8 years. Now I'm sorry I ever fell for the SOA sales pitch of an "easy", "fun", and "challenging in a fun and easy way" career.

How many people in this forum have been doing this for 10 years or more and can honestly say that it's all that it was cracked up to be? What I've read is posts from people who haven't been in it nearly as long (just like me 8 years ago), saying that it's rewarding and not overly laborious. Just wait a little longer and it will be your turn to be taken advantage of.

Maybe that's true, I hope that it's not, but I won't rule it out. I, and I'm sure many others, appreciate you giving your feedback on what the future may hold. However you seem to be concentrating on a few reasons/issues and please correct me if I'm wrong:

1) You got dealt a raw hand because of the promise of a student program that never materialized - something you probably could've fixed by leaving your employer and looking elsewhere but like you said you were happy for 8 years so that couldn't have been the issue or did something happen in the 9th year which forced this to suddenly matter more so than before?

2) You got stabbed in the back - like you said, that happens everywhere in corporate America so the solution you propose is that you probably would've been happier teaching. Fine, why didn't you switch in your 9th year? Like I mentioned earlier teaching carries with itself the pluses and minuses just like any other job. The lower pay and the (lack of) job security are just 2 of the most common ones brought to light. And as I said before, there seems to be an influx of teachers trying to become actuaries so maybe the grass isn't as green.

Personally I wanted to go back and teach myself as well once I feel like I have enough money (I know that sounds way too unrealistic but hope it will happen) however right now I enjoy my job. Inevitably I see that I will have to manage people, that seems to be the track at my company, and that kind of concerns me. As of right now I don't think I have the personality to manage people but hopefully it will develop. So far that's one of the major things that concern me about the future as an actuary and like I said I'm glad you posted with your story though I do wish you would share more details.

[Greenhand]

We always desire wealth when we do not possess it,but claim to value simple hapiness more when we have to sacrifice sth else for wealth,.Why don't we do oppositely?

[NoMoreExams]

We always desire wealth when we do not possess it,but claim to value simple hapiness more when we have to sacrifice sth else for wealth,.Why don't we do oppositely?

Because the grass is always greener on the other side? Most of us desire wealth because we believe it will make things simple and it does to some degree. However some of us look back and see what we gave up in the process, for some of us it was worth it, for others not so much. I am not sure why that aspect of human nature is confusing?

[kmcnelly]

Because the grass is always greener on the other side? Most of us desire wealth because we believe it will make things simple and it does to some degree. However some of us look back and see what we gave up in the process, for some of us it was worth it, for others not so much. I am not sure why that aspect of human nature is confusing?

Because humans are lead around the wrong way. I'm not going to preach, but be completely honest. When you follow human nature you fail. You fail to understand, you fail to succeed, you simply fail. When you follow God's nature you succeed. We think we're a lot smarter than we really are.

[NoMoreExams]

Because humans are lead around the wrong way. I'm not going to preach, but be completely honest. When you follow human nature you fail. You fail to understand, you fail to succeed, you simply fail. When you follow God's nature you succeed. We think we're a lot smarter than we really are.

That may be true but I wasn't judging human nature. I was simply pointing out that our actions are consequences of it.

[sohpmalvin]

I'm not going to preach

I would like to hear more. =)