How to Get Summer 2012 Internship

[Sluggy]

Hi there, I am hoping to find an internship next summer, starting in June 2012. I'm just wondering what my strategy should be going about this. I haven't passed an exam yet, but I'm going to be studying for P this fall. I am planning to have P passed before applying to internships and such.

What I need to know is, when do I need to start submitting resumes/applications for internships for summer 2012? I'm planning to consult my school's career center about it, but I want to know when I really need to have exam P done by at the latest so that I can start sending out those resumes. Anyone have any knowledge on this?

[Dr T Non-Fan]

Dibs on signature advice!

No idea on timing of companies' intership searches. Check your local actuarial club, either your city's or your campus's. When the companies come to the school at a job fair, you can ask each company individually.

[Sluggy]

Basically, if I take the exam in January and submit resumes around February, am I good to go? That's all I need to know.

[andyphillips]

Originally Posted by Sluggy

Hi there, I am hoping to find an internship next summer, starting in June 2012. I'm just wondering what my strategy should be going about this. I haven't passed an exam yet, but I'm going to be studying for P this fall. I am planning to have P passed before applying to internships and such.

What I need to know is, when do I need to start submitting resumes/applications for internships for summer 2012? I'm planning to consult my school's career center about it, but I want to know when I really need to have exam P done by at the latest so that I can start sending out those resumes. Anyone have any knowledge on this?

If you're not sitting in September (which I assume you're not), you should definitely sign up for November's sitting and pick the earliest date possible. Put that you're sitting for P/1 on your resume, so that employers know you're at least somewhat serious about being an actuary. Send out resumes beginning mid-September, that's the general start of internship recruiting. Don't worry about not having no exams, most place don't demand that you have an exam passed to be an intern (but it does make you look way better). Hopefully you get some responses.

Once you pass, change your resume from "Sitting" to "Passed" and start contacting everywhere that has your resume to let them know your pass. Give them your updated resume. Having an exam passed will seriously bump your possibilities. This should show companies that were previously on the fence about you that you have the quantitative skills necessary to be an intern, and you'll (hopefully) get more responses.

Other things you can do to boost your chances before mid-September:
- Learn Excel and VBA if you haven't yet. If you don't know what a pivot table is, don't bother putting "Excel" on your resume.
- Find some sort of employment. Because an internship is an extended interview for their actuarial student program, it's good to show that you can balance work and study.
- Research companies you want to might want to join. You look 100x better if you know things about their company, and you'd be surprised how many people don't do this.

Hope this helps!

[rob22]

September / October is typical recruiting time. Then in office interviews are generally November. Of course, it varies by firm but this is the general trend that I have seen. If you apply in Jan/Feb many companies will be done and it will be too late (although surely some will still be recruiting)

[solidshadow]

Originally Posted by Sluggy

Basically, if I take the exam in January and submit resumes around February, am I good to go? That's all I need to know.

This was the same exact situation that I was in two years ago. I passed my first exam (FM) in 2009 and started applying to internships with no luck. Most of the positions were already filled up or they stopped interviewing. My advice would be to apply now even if you haven't passed any exams yet. Write that you are sitting for P on your resume and upload an updated resume as soon as you finish celebrating your pass. From my experience it is harder to find an internship in the spring than in the fall.

If you do pass there might be an alumni career network in your school you can use to your advantage.

[DoctorNo]

Originally Posted by Sluggy

Basically, if I take the exam in January and submit resumes around February, am I good to go? That's all I need to know.

We'll have both of our Summer 2012 interns hired by December, January at the latest.

[Sluggy]

Originally Posted by DoctorNo

We'll have both of our Summer 2012 interns hired by December, January at the latest.

That sucks. Good info though.

[Masked Avenger]

Originally Posted by DoctorNo

We'll have both of our Summer 2012 interns hired by December, January at the latest.

This.

[poorasian]

Is there any source I can get information about hiring for internships online? I'm not at school for this semester cause of crappy financial reasons so I need another resource.