Quitting time

[sweetiepie]

I spent the last three years doing everything I could to jump-start my professional career—I passed the prelims, learned the software, and applied to every shop in the goddamn country—all pretty much for nothing. I can't live this way anymore.

It's taken too much out of me. I’m 28 and I don’t have a real job. I don’t have enough money for a nice car or a decent living space. And I haven’t had enough time for friends or family or for the pursuit of any substantial personal endeavors. Also I’m sick of knowing that I am always just one interview away from beginning a new life, in a new city, leaving behind all of my local investments and obligations.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m generally in favor of the reckless and eternal pursuit of dreams, but I don’t think anyone here would call what they do a dream. So if nothing else, I have to give up before I lose sight of a dream should be. Fair thee well, actuaries.

[Hydraulic Skull]

Okay bye have fun!

[MountainGirl]

so what's next then?

[bdschobel]

Pursuing an actuarial career as you did was hardly reckless. Your timing was unfortunate, obviously. If you can hold out, things will inevitably get better eventually.

Bruce

[sideout1212]

Originally Posted by sweetiepie

I spent the last three years doing everything I could to jump-start my professional career—I passed the prelims, learned the software, and applied to every shop in the goddamn country—all pretty much for nothing. I can't live this way anymore.

It's taken too much out of me. I’m 28 and I don’t have a real job. I don’t have enough money for a nice car or a decent living space. And I haven’t had enough time for friends or family or for the pursuit of any substantial personal endeavors. Also I’m sick of knowing that I am always just one interview away from beginning a new life, in a new city, leaving behind all of my local investments and obligations.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m generally in favor of the reckless and eternal pursuit of dreams, but I don’t think anyone here would call what they do a dream. So if nothing else, I have to give up before I lose sight of a dream should be. Fair thee well, actuaries.

I would have given up quite quicker than you, but it is really a matter of bad luck in timing and not much else. Maybe just take a break for a little and see if the market turns around. You can keep looking without putting as much effort into it. Maybe stop taking exams for a little and broaden your job search to include other things you might like to do, but there is no reason to start excluding actuarial jobs is there?

[limabeanactuary]

Hey, I didn't have a "real job" til I was 29.

Best wishes.

[KingWithoutACrown]

I can think of a couple places that are always looking... How many resumes did you send out? I remember working with people who didn't pass any exams when they were hired, and then never did after... I always wondered about those people

[tommie frazier]

agree with bruce and lima. timing stinks, unfortunately.

i also didn't have a real job til 29. believe it or not, you can start that late and be fine.

best of luck. dare we ask what plan B is, or what the other options you passed on in favor of this were?

[RealFolkBlues]

Sweetiepie,

I definitely feel you on this. That being said, if it's what you really want, you won't drop it forever. It may be prudent for you to do so temporarily.

When I got out of college, I had to live in my car. That has since changed, but now I work three jobs to keep afloat (going on four now that exams are over.) I'm slowly but surely making my way through the process - the exams, the computer skills, interviewing. It's hard, I know, and it can be frustrating to have an opportunity and lose it because of a mistake, a slight difference in opinion, or a mismatch. It may take more time, but if you stick with it, things are assured to improve, albeit perhaps slowly.

You have options, though it may not seem like it. Maybe you should take some time and work elsewhere. Make some money. Enjoy some time to yourself every here and then. It took me a year to be able to afford to go to the local pub again, but that first night out was a well-earned relief. Continue to show your excellent work ethic through another line of work. Just because it isn't directly in the field doesn't mean that employers don't wonder about how hard or smart a worker you are.

Maybe you could go back to school. Hedge a bet on an improved job market over time. An advanced degree in something like statistics can also make you more marketable in professions besides actuarial science (if you're doin' it for the pay.)

At the end of the day, actuarial science doesn't define who you are in every way, and we all have to learn how to deal with regret in order to succeed.

2 cents.

It is just a job working for someone else anyways. Good luck!