Do you regret

[SamChevre]

Actuaries generally HAVE excellent math skills; that doesn't mean they use them that often. Even integration is relatively rare in day-to-day work. The key skill that math people (yes, I'm one) have is a strong sense of logic and an ability to think.

I'm inclined to say, though, that as an ENFP, you aren't likely to be ideal as an actuary. NF's in general have great people skills and like to work with people; actuaries' people skills are notorious by their absence. This is a field where if you say hello to someone at a convention, they may reply and they may look at you like you might be crazy. I know (at least I've heard) that some actuaries are extroverts; I've never met one who was. The actuaries of my acquaintance vary from quiet to reclusive, with excursions into the really strange.

[John F. Kerry]

Originally Posted by mathguy2222

I agree with the professor.

The math in actuarial science is relatively simple compared to other field like science, engineering.

The math in actuarial exam is not as abstract as real analysis, vector calculus, partial differential equations, abstract algebra, and geometry.
The courses above are common in math, physics, or engineering program at UNDERGRADUATE level.

Many engineers don't use that level of math. I know one or two that don't even remember that F=ma. PhD physicists and mathematicians of course know a hell of a lot more math than actuaries. But to say that an actuarial's maths skills are slighter better than average business person I think is an understatement.

[John F. Kerry]

OK, I guess I'll be the one to ask. What the hell is this ENFP stuff?

[adel]

ENFP is a personality type. I had to take a psychology class and that test was one of the first thing we did in class. It is suppose to help you figure out what career fields would be best for you. I would like to thank everyone for their input. I was very surprised to read that there were some who did have some regrets.
http://www.personalitypage.com/careers.html

[The Matrix]

He thought Actuaries were Mathematicians until he talked to a few of them. He said they were mostly business professionals with better than avg. math skills.

Comments like these are designed to inflate someone's ego/position/status at someone else's expense. One could argue that a mathematician is no more than a human being with above average math skills. If you are extraordinary, your talent will probably not be validated in most jobs in the marketplace. In other words, you don't need someone else's approval to be special. When I hear comments like these, I recognize them for what they are and move on.

Adel, I also think that the "people" power you would bring to the table would be especially useful GIVEN the status quo (i.e. people staring at your shoes when you say hello). Among trees, rocks, and a passing coyote or two, the world is filled with people. Imagine how powerful you could be as an actuary simply because you know how to deal with all those people AND math. Even though some actuaries are afraid of change, the actuarial profession NEEDs more people like you!

[aces219]

Originally Posted by SamChevre

I'm inclined to say, though, that as an ENFP, you aren't likely to be ideal as an actuary. NF's in general have great people skills and like to work with people; actuaries' people skills are notorious by their absence. This is a field where if you say hello to someone at a convention, they may reply and they may look at you like you might be crazy. I know (at least I've heard) that some actuaries are extroverts; I've never met one who was. The actuaries of my acquaintance vary from quiet to reclusive, with excursions into the really strange.

Really? I think this might be more true of older actuaries or (sorry for the stereotype) insurance actuaries. Most of the people I work with are pretty outgoing...in fact I am probably one of the more introverted people there.

[mathguy2222]

Originally Posted by adel

One of my professors tried to talk me out of considerating this career field. He thought Actuaries were Mathematicians until he talked to a few of them. He said they were mostly business professionals with better than avg. math skills.

When a professor says "mathematicians", he is most likely thinking about guys as PhD in math or physics. When he talked about "avg. math skills", he is likely comparing them with college students or graduates. To be precise, how mathematical means "how abstract?" Even PhD statisticians are not necessarily mathematicians. Do you know what I mean?

I still think the professor's comment is quite fair, because the abstractness or theoreticalness of actuarial exam are not even close to real analysis at all.

This doesn't mean that actuaries' math skills are not far beyond average business people. Most business people can't do discount without financial calculator, no matter integration. This also doesn't means actuarial exams are easy, or mathematicians can tackle actuarial exams easily. We all know how hard they are, and even PhDs in math may struggle for more than five years! (or ten years because most PhDs are not that young and their memorizing ability decrease a little. We all know how much dry stuffs in current upper level exams. )

[Scarlett]

It seems like your personality type would be ideal in a consulting environment after you have a few years experience and have made it through the exams. Any trouble may come in making it through that initial period.

I work in consulting, and a few years ago we hired a woman (at an entry-level position) who had all the people-skills to make a wonderful consultant. However, she became very frustrated by the exams and sitting behind a computer all day long crunching numbers; she wanted to be doing the schmoozing with clients right away, not 5-6 years down the road. Very smart, very capable, now pursuing a different career.

I can't speak for other actuarial environments, as this is the only one I've experienced, but if they all start out with several years behind a computer, you may want to ask whether you have the patience to stick it through this part.

[Westley]

Really good advice, Scarlett. I've seen that happen a bunch of times. People who have the analytical skills to be an actuary plus the people skills to be a consultant are rare, and of those, having the combination of patiance and intelligence to finish the exams is even moreso.

[DW Simpson]

http://www.actuary.ca/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=12497