Seeking advise on interview invitations

[ingvar]

Seeking some advise

For the past 3 years I've been working as disability claims analyst for an insurance company in downtown Hartford, CT. A year ago I decided to take actuarial exams and passed the first 2. My company offered me an actuarial student position with a salary in mid $50s (incl bonus) and all standard benefits that come with an actuarial student position (study time, seminars, paid materials, etc). 2 months month after I started as a new actuarial student I received 2 job interview invitations from other companies (I was sending out resumes after passing the 2nd exam). My dilemma is: should I interview with the other companies just after starting the new job? I'm pretty happy where I am now, have a great boss, etc. but can possibly land higher salary/better benefits or just go for the thrill of it and make valuable connections for the future in another company. Also, is a salary in mid 50s represent a good market value for my skills? I don't have much actuarial experience per se but I know tons about disability claim adjudication, reserving, etc. Thanks for your help!

[zeus1233]

Look at the DW Simpson survey for salary information for comparability. Realistically, you are an entry level hire.

Why should we be telling you if you should be interviewing for other jobs? That's your choice. It may not be a bad idea to go on an interview or two to see what's out there, but did you really need us to tell you that?

Lastly, why are you worried about making valuable connections for the future at another company--you've never been an actuary before; what sort of "valuable connections" do you think you've developed with the actuarial department at your current firm if you leave after working there for just a few weeks?

[banpeikun]

i don't have a lot of advice for the situation, but i thought the "valuable connections" referred to the connections made just by going through the interview process itself without actually taking the job.

[Alto Reed on a Tenor Sax]

I also went from a claims position to an actuarial position, within the same company. I think that, once I got in the actuarial department, my experience within one of our own claims units opened the door for me to do some projects that wouldn't have gotten to do otherwise. Since I was already kind of a claims "expert," compared to others in the department. If I had gone to another company, the benefits of this "expertise" would have been mitigated.

If you like your boss now, stay where you are at. Parlay your claims experience into some cool actuarial experience. In a year or two, reevaluate your position.

[DW Simpson]

Originally Posted by Alto Reed on a Tenor Sax

I also went from a claims position to an actuarial position, within the same company. I think that, once I got in the actuarial department, my experience within one of our own claims units opened the door for me to do some projects that wouldn't have gotten to do otherwise. Since I was already kind of a claims "expert," compared to others in the department. If I had gone to another company, the benefits of this "expertise" would have been mitigated.

If you like your boss now, stay where you are at. Parlay your claims experience into some cool actuarial experience. In a year or two, reevaluate your position.

Agreed.

[Maine-iac]

It's up to you, but I would tend to agree with Alto and DWS. Unless you are unhappy with your current company, your claims knowledge gives you a certain extra value in your current organization over the standard entry level hire that won't mean much in another organization. After a couple of years, if you feel like making a change, you'll have actuarial experience that will travel well from company to company.

[ingvar]

Thanks! Really appreciate all your responses. I've decided not to interview at this point and get some actuarial experience.