Emailing people on SOA Directory for Jobs

[plim5]

Originally Posted by JohnLocke

This is how I got my current job and most of my interviews.

I am very confused. I have always heard that emailing people in the soa directory is not bad from this forum.. This is the first time I read that it is annoying. I read that emailing everybody in the company is okay as long as you email the company in one email so that one person won't be a victim of receiving several forwarded emails. How am I suppose to send a personalized email that won't be ignored if I have no actuarial work experience and I don't know anybody in the company? The only thing I can do is research the company on their website.

[geta6]

Originally Posted by JMO

OK, I understand how networking helps a person find the next job. But how can you network your way to a first job??

get to know people in your community. it works, .

[Mr F]

Of course it will be annoying to people that constantly get these emails. If you're going to carpet-bomb you should accept this. You're not expecting every single person you send your email to hire you. There are others who are willing and able to help. Just understand this and do everything you can to annoy the fewest people.

I've sent out emails to people in the SOA directory. I understand that I may annoy some and I'm sorry to those people. The emails might annoy me someday as well. I do make cover-letters company specific and address individuals personally and separately to hopefully avoid some annoyance. I've came across several people who were very helpful and got some interviews. Some are interviews that I probably wouldn't have gotten otherwise. It's worked so far and I advocate others to do the same.

[Y2A]

I happen to think that being unemployed for more than half a year despite having put in the effort to pass actuarial exams is pretty annoying.

[studentnel]

Originally Posted by Y2A

I happen to think that being unemployed for more than half a year despite having put in the effort to pass actuarial exams is pretty annoying.

^Agree!

[dabears32]

Originally Posted by Y2A

I happen to think that being unemployed for more than half a year despite having put in the effort to pass actuarial exams is pretty annoying.

Touche, Im not there yet but Im going to graduate with 2 or 3 exams and no job. I just want all of my studying for exams to pay off.

[ElDucky]

Surely you can google stalk the people on the list and learn everything you need to write a great letter, or scare the hell out of the recipient.

[neofan]

Originally Posted by plim5

I am very confused. I have always heard that emailing people in the soa directory is not bad from this forum..

It's not bad if only a few do it, but now hundreds, if not thousands are doing it. To make matters worse, some candidates have no clue about the companies and/or the persons the letters are adddressing to, like what Mary has said.

[heyhey]

Originally Posted by Y2A

I happen to think that being unemployed for more than half a year despite having put in the effort to pass actuarial exams is pretty annoying.

Yes but that is something that is your own business. Why make it someone else's problem? I get it that whatever helps helps, but I was just never comfortable with the idea of troubling others, especially people who have no connection with you whatsoever. It's not like it's impossible to find a job without doing this..

[Darkness Falls]

Originally Posted by ElDucky

Surely you can google stalk the people on the list and learn everything you need to write a great letter, or scare the hell out of the recipient.

lol, Create a Facebook account with a hot girl as the profile pick and friend as many actuaries as you can. Sure to find lots of juicy stuff if you search hard enough.