Student looking for advice

[HopelessFor2011]

Hi guys,

I'm currently a full-time university student and have a job as a math tutor at a private school. However I've realized employers probably don't really care at all about this since it's not actuarial experience. Should I quit and look for an office job instead or can something come out of this on my resume? How helpful is an non-actuarial office job on a resume? I failed to secure an actuarial internship for the next summer so I've a lot of time now.

Regards,

[zengarden]

I don't think it's too late to get an internship for the summer. I just had one internship interview this past month and I have another scheduled in February. A lot of companies actually don't begin recruiting until after New Year's.

If you really can't find many actuarial openings, definitely try cold-emailing the SOA directory or look for internships at other reputable companies. I know accenture, axa equitable (hires actuarial interns) and deloitte are still hiring. I'm sure there are more...

[HopelessFor2011]

How long should I wait before emailing the same person on the Directory? A bunch of them never replied back. I feel giving them another email will just make it worse or something.

[zengarden]

Idk I guess I was lucky to get one good response through the directory... but my plan was (and is...if none of my interviews turn into offers) to e-mail them again when I pass FM (crosses fingers) and update them.

[tommie frazier]

an office job in a financial/analytical role would be a plus. an office job at your uncle bill's car rental agency, not as much.

so look for an experience that leans towards white collar office life.

[HopelessFor2011]

I'm currently looking at administrative assistant positions where I can use Excel. Is learning Excel at these non-actuarial positions going to be as effective as learning them in an internship, in the eyes of an employer?

[Lemmie Check]

Should I quit and look for an office job instead

Why quit? Keep at it and look for something better at the same time.

[annuitize]

I'm currently a full-time university student and have a job as a math tutor at a private school. However I've realized employers probably don't really care at all about this since it's not actuarial experience.

I was a math tutor too in university, and I had the same bitter feelings you do about the gig. I always tried to convince myself that tutoring was a valuable experience based on the logic that you're effectively communicating technical subjects to a non-technical audience; that's one of the buzz phrases you see a lot in this profession. However, just like you said, the employers don't really care, and would count working in the mail room as more relevant experience.

Think about it like this: If you're tutoring basic calc I/II regularly, then you're regularly doing intergrals and derivatives; the heart of a lot of preliminaries. Most people I met throughout college forgot how to do basic calculus when it got to be junior and senior year and they were a couple years removed from the content. It hurt them on classes where that stuff was a pre-req, and it definitely hurt them of P, MLC and if they ever got to C. You're getting paid to keep your skillset fresh. That was my reason for being a tutor; of course I never said this in an interview when questioned, it's way too selfish. I would throw around the phrase, "I enjoy helping other people."

I guess the next question is how long should you tutor before it no longer adds value to yourself and your resume; yourself being just as important as resume? I don't know the answer to that, but I stuck around 6-16 per week for 6 semesters and part of 1 summer, which imo, was way too long.

[Loki Kami]

I interviewed for my first summer internship the February prior. There's a chance you can still get one as well if you have an exam passed.

Working at an office job may get your resume next fall to be sorted into the interview pile, but it's still up to you to sell yourself once you get there. You could work at a florist shop and still get an interviews if you have a few exams passed with a well-written cover letter.

[HopelessFor2011]

Is there anything specific I'm looking for in an office job? I'm currently trying to find one that allows me to really learn Excel.

I'm doing maybe 5-6 hours of tutoring a week, but it really gets in the way of my schedule sometimes which is my main reason of disliking it.

[MasterChief]

I think you should do anything that allows you to develop relevant skills would be useful. If you cant find an office job, taking up a research job or project with one of your professors, in an area like statistics or maybe economics can be helpful and could be an experience worth talking about.

[HopelessFor2011]

So in the end talking about it in an intelligent way in the interview is what it all boils down to?

[MasterChief]

So in the end talking about it in an intelligent way in the interview is what it all boils down to?

To a certain extent, while it is ideal to have good work experience that will impress your employers on your resume. Sometimes it is not possible so the next best thing would be to have some sort of experience in which hopefully you learn something, so you have something to talk about during an interview, or you have some marketable skills to offer.

[navymath]

I think you should do anything that allows you to develop relevant skills would be useful. If you cant find an office job, taking up a research job or project with one of your professors, in an area like statistics or maybe economics can be helpful and could be an experience worth talking about.

:iatp:
I would also add a research job/project that uses SAS, SQL, etc.
Also as others have pointed out, it's not too late hunting for internships.
If all else fails, take another exam and pick up a book on VBA/SAS/SQL and try to get certified (SAS base programmer is an option)