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  #1  
Old 05-09-2011, 01:43 PM
Parlay Slow Parlay Slow is offline
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Default Any advice for a poker pro wanting to become an actuary?

I am a 27 year old poker professional that wants to begin a career as an actuary. I graduated with a 3.7 GPA from Georgia Tech with a degree in industrial engineering in 2005. I had a consulting job for 18 months. I quit in order to play poker full time, and that has been my only source of income for the past five years.

With the recent government crackdown of online poker and overall deterioration of the poker economy, along with a desire for a more stable long term career, I have decided to pursue the goal of becoming an actuary. I have basically stopped playing poker at this point. I am scheduled to take exam 1 in July. I have been studying diligently for exam 1, and I hope to pass a second exam in October.

I was hoping some of you could give me some advice specific to my situation. Things like how many exams I should pass before I start looking, ways to increase my chances of landing a job given my unusual background, etc.
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Old 05-09-2011, 01:45 PM
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Dr. John Zoidberg Dr. John Zoidberg is offline
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Not particularly sure why someone like you would want to join the crown prince of risk-averse occupations.
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Old 05-09-2011, 01:52 PM
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shouldn't you go into investment
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Old 05-09-2011, 02:11 PM
tommie frazier tommie frazier is offline
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pass some exams. be able to speak about your experiences and how they will help you. discuss how you tracked your online play using something analytical and some spreadsheets.

between the prior 18 months work and some exams and the poker stuff sustaining you, some employers will be interested to see you. some won't.

one thing you'll need to impress upon interviewers is why leaving is permanent. that is, when they figure out the online poker thing, why does this emplyer think you won't go right back? passing as many exams as possible in short order is the best commitment you could show, for better or worse.
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Old 05-09-2011, 02:13 PM
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I was wondering how long it would take before seeing these threads. To people saying this is not going to be a fit, remember there's a few actuaries playing pretty high level poker, so it's not unheard of.

However, rule of thumb in this profession is more exams = more interviews, at least 2 nowadays, but more is always better.
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Old 05-09-2011, 02:25 PM
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Try to obtain an internship.
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Old 05-09-2011, 02:40 PM
tenthring tenthring is offline
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If you pass enough exams you will be fine.
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Old 05-09-2011, 06:23 PM
THE F DO THE F DO is offline
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if you had success with deuces cracked or card runners or any site like that, i suggest using the infinite actuary for exams. its a similar concept and it's really helped me a bunch.
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Old 05-09-2011, 07:13 PM
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Any job you take will be extremely boring compared to your current/past work
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Old 05-09-2011, 08:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. John Zoidberg View Post
Not particularly sure why someone like you would want to join the crown prince of risk-averse occupations.
Probably because of successful ambassadors like you
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