Interview Questions

[Anonymous]

Hi,
Could someone tell me what to expect in a interview for an entry level actuarial position? This is going to be my first interview so I just wanted to get an idea about the kind of questions being asked.
Thanks

[DW Simpson]

http://www.utexas.edu/depts/acs/stuannounce/club/interview/interview2.html

[Extreme Extremist]

http://www.beanactuary.org/newsroom/futureactuary/2001sept/fa_sep401.htm

[Double High C]

Sample Questions:

1. What is your least favorite subject in school? Why?

2. What type of job would you prefer not to do? Would you be happy in a job where a large portion of your day is spent solving technical / computer-related problems? (Correct Answer: Over the short term, you are willing to do it, and if it is challenging, it might be fun, but this is not the career path that most interests you.)

3. Might dolphins be smarter than people? Discuss.

[Magilla]

FYI - there are numerous web sites out there that focus on interviewing skills and, for example, the types of questions that you can expect to be asked in an interview.

I would do a search under "interviewing skills" or something related.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the input,also when should one discuss visa issues?Right in the begining or only at the end?
Thanks

[Minerva]

If the people interviewing you are effective, experienced, skilled interviewers, you can expect questions like:

Give me an example of a time when you had too much to do and how you handled it.

Give me an example of a time when you had little to do and what you did.

Tell me about the most complex mathematical / actuarial / research project you did. What were the objectives? How did you go about it? What were the results?

What accomplishment in your life are you most proud of? Why? What obstacles did you have to overcome and how did you do it?

What has accounted for your current success / progress ?

What event / result in your life are you the least proud of? Why? What would you do differently now?

Prepare answers in terms of behaviors and results, not feelings and intentions.

Practice answering concisely and cogently.

When possible, use school or work examples to these questions, although it is not inappropriate (especially for a person new to the workforce) to use personal examples for several items. Better to use an example from your personal life (e.g., a time when you were busy) than not to have an example at all.

In case your interviewers are inexperienced, unskilled or overly arrogant, you might also want to practice deflecting inappropriate questions (e.g., how do you feel about working for a man/woman; what does your wife/husband/SO think about this location; will your family responsibilities get in the way of working long hours).

Good luck.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

Visa issues can be discussed after you're offered the job.
If they want you bad enough, they'll make the arrangements. Don't give them an out right off the bat.

[Anonymous]

On 2001-12-19 12:34, Dr T Non-Fan wrote:
Visa issues can be discussed after you're offered the job.
If they want you bad enough, they'll make the arrangements. Don't give them an out right off the bat.


I don't agree completely. You should find out before interviewing what the company policy is on non-residents. Some companies(like mine) will absolutely not hire non-residents regardless of how good you are. You will waste your time and their time. Now, if a company has a history of sponsoring a good candidate for a visa, then interview there and discuss visa issues after the job offer.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

WHAT?! Disagree with ME!?

Eh, I agree with you. I'd check before the interview, though. Call first. And don't check HR. There's probably a standard policy that might not apply for a more skilled position. Call the Chief Actuary.

[Anonymous]

On 2001-12-19 13:03, Dr T Non-Fan wrote:
WHAT?! Disagree with ME!?



Once in a while, someone has to bring you down from cloud 9!

But most of the time, I worship the keyboard you type on!

[Anonymous]

Scoreboard in his mind:

DTNF right: 740
DTNF wrong: 1

signed: DTNFNF. :lip:

[Anonymous]

Could anyone give me some names of companies sponsering entry level actuarial candidates?
Thanks........

[Jen]

I just want to test if the bright red lips would show up in the reply. And it did! Quite interesting to me cause I am not good at this kind of cute stuff.


On 2001-12-19 15:55, Anonymous wrote:
Scoreboard in his mind:

DTNF right: 740
DTNF wrong: 1

signed: DTNFNF. :lip:


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Jen on 2001-12-19 17:24 ]</font>

[Dr T Non-Fan]

(speechless)

[Dr T Non-Fan]

RE: companies hiring entry-level actuaries

The only source I know is the one on the SOA web site, and it doesn't seem to have them all. (My guess is that lots of companies don't want to be bothered with over 1000 applications each year.) Check the career section.

If location is a factor, I suggest the directory on the SOA web site. Type in city, and find the companies with lots of lettered actuaries.

[Patience]

On 2001-12-19 17:59, Dr T Non-Fan wrote:
(speechless)


Jen do it again, please do it again

[Anonymous]

Just to clarify. I am the Anonymous who disagreed with DTNF and brought him down from cloud 9. The Anonymous who made the lip mark(Jen) is different.

[Axsuetarian]

Why not just register then, and you can take credit (or not have to deny credit).

Besides, nothing is REALLY anonymous anymore, is it?!

[Anonymous]

Good point Axe! But then I will be tempted to post in the other sections and might become addicted to this forum.

For now, I'll just sign my post as DTNF-Fan!