Entry level positions for summer graduates?

[jcabc22]

Hi everybody!

So I will be graduating in the summer with a degree in applied mathematics from UC Berkeley and I am wondering if I should begin job searching now or wait till after I graduate.

Also would it be really tough for me to find a job for right after the summer since all the companies will have picked up recent grads already? I will have a 3.43/4.00 and exams P, FM, and MFE passed but no internships.

And on another note, does anyone know if there are any companies based in SF? One of my biggest fears is moving away from the bay area.

Thanks a lot!

[Dr T Non-Fan]

Originally Posted by jcabc22

1. So I will be graduating in the summer with a degree in applied mathematics from UC Berkeley and I am wondering if I should begin job searching now or wait till after I graduate.

2. Also would it be really tough for me to find a job for right after the summer since all the companies picked up recent grads already? I will have a 3.43/4.00 and exams P, FM, and MFE passed but no internships.

3. And on another note, does anyone know if there are any companies based in SF? One of my biggest fears is moving away from the bay area.

Thanks a lot!

1. You had better be pretty special to make a company wait for you for three months instead of hiring some other candidate. Not saying you aren't. Just saying you had better be.
2. Actuarial profession isn't really like that, relative to other professions like accounting or engineering. We try to pick off the "best and brightest" early, but there aren't all that many of those actually looking at the actuarial profession instead of something a little more glorifying.
3. Yes, someone knows the answer to this question. Standard answer is to search the SOA directory for Bay Area ZIP code prefixes. "94*". Then find the highest-sounding title. Then call and explain your situation.

[glassjaws]

Originally Posted by jcabc22

Hi everybody!

1. So I will be graduating in the summer with a degree in applied mathematics from UC Berkeley and I am wondering if I should begin job searching now or wait till after I graduate.

2. Also would it be really tough for me to find a job for right after the summer since all the companies will have picked up recent grads already? I will have a 3.43/4.00 and exams P, FM, and MFE passed but no internships.

3. And on another note, does anyone know if there are any companies based in SF? One of my biggest fears is moving away from the bay area.

Thanks a lot!

1. Now.

2. It may be tough now to find a position as a lot of companies (at least where I went to school) were interviewing for new positions before the new year. I think that's early too, but it takes the burden off the interviewer as there's some more free time prior to the year end crunch. That being said, there's still companies that will always interview a good candidate and find a position if that person is a good fit for the company.

3. There's got to be. I suggest looking in the SOA directory like Dr. T said, but I don't know about calling people. The times it's happened here, they didn't seem to approve of it. Maybe other people feel differently.

[gdchan]

Originally Posted by jcabc22

Hi everybody!

So I will be graduating in the summer with a degree in applied mathematics from UC Berkeley and I am wondering if I should begin job searching now or wait till after I graduate.

Also would it be really tough for me to find a job for right after the summer since all the companies will have picked up recent grads already? I will have a 3.43/4.00 and exams P, FM, and MFE passed but no internships.

And on another note, does anyone know if there are any companies based in SF? One of my biggest fears is moving away from the bay area.

Thanks a lot!

I got 2 exams myself, cold snail mailed resumes and cover letters all over the Bay Area, and then got a few e-mails/calls. In more than one instance, I was given the impression that snail-mailing caused a favorable impression. Usually, I had to wait 2 to 4 weeks to get responses, but in one unusual case got contacted in less than 24 hours after a snail mail!). Oh yeah, I started towards the end of February; I don't know about the timing now. What else? Oh yeah, be prepared for a lot of rejection. Use contacts within the company (not necessarily actuaries!) if you have them.

I should indicate I'm a career changer with 10 years of other experience.

If you're interested, you can PM me your e-mail, and I can give you my compiled list and some targets to shoot for. With your credentials you shouldn't have a problem generating interest, but hopefully you have some work experience during college or summers. Unless you have summer school, you might have to answer why you didn't take actuarial internships especially since you have 3 exams passed, indicating you probably knew you wanted to go into this field well in advance. It won't disqualify you not having internships, I'd just be ready when this question comes along so you'll have a smooth answer.

[Maine-iac]

I agree that actuarial hiring is not all that seasonal, so you should be OK no matter when you apply.

Yes, there are jobs in SF, but it's not a hot spot, and you will make your search much, much tougher if you limit yourself to that area.

However, the SOA directory will point you to firms that hire actuaries in your target area, and by all means, apply to them all. (Don't call the actuaries you find in the directory, just send your resume and cover letter.)

But I would advise that you branch out and consider other locales as well.

[Doc Holiday]

Apply early and often.