I need an answer to a question (job related). Please help

[willrexchen]

I graduated in May of 2003 with a degree in Pure Mathematics... Not feeling the urge to go to grad school... I decided to pursue a dream that didn't quite work out.... So, in April of 2004, I decided to pursuit the Actuary Profession.... Okay... I went all out and decided to take Course 1 and Course 2 in one sitting... Big mistake.... I think I was far too overwhelmed (over eighteen hundred hours of studying).... Now, I have no idea if I passed or not.... I'm on the border basically for both of them....

So, I've been somewhat stuck in my mom's house for over a year and a half now... Nothing really promising down the road... Most likely.... I'll have to take Course P in May and Course FM in November of next year....

I don't have any related job experience... I don't have any internships.... I'm not certain as to what the Actuarial job market will be like in a year or so for entry level jobs... I seem to even have a hard time finding an Office Temp job....

There aren't many things that I can pursuit with a Math degree... Actuary and teaching are the only two truly feasable choices on my list... And I really can't stand high school kids.... However, I've lately considered becoming a Pricing Analyst as well... But so far, none of the job openings have come back with any good news.... Just a lot of "no replies..."

I would like to continue on this path of Actuary cause it uses my degree... The money's not the issue... It's the job.... Really... Even if this profession didn't eventually pay the hundreds of thousands of dollars, I would still pursuit it...

Will it be worth it if I can finally pass the first two exams? Will my lack of experience or my lack of an internship come back and haunt me like so many other things of my past? Is a 3.250 GPA a liability? These are some of the things about which I frankly have no idea.

The question for which I would like to have an answer is... Will I eventually get a job at the entry level after passing one or two exams and given all the above issues and problems?

My apologies to all those who find this posting a bit too morbid...

I suggest you PM a moderator and ask them to move this to Careers and Employment. I think you'll find better responses there.

[Elisha]

No, you are not so unique as you may think. Sorry to disappoint you.

Get a job. Any job. No really. This is an approximate hierarchy of jobs you should pursue if you want to be an actuary.

1. Actuarial
2. Insurance (e.g. underwriting).
3. Something that uses technical skills for a financial institution
4. Something techy
5. Anything full time and corporate.
6. Anything full time.
7. Any damn job.

Someone more experienced will probably come along shortly and contribute or correct the above. And finally, just pass exams!!![/code]

[Utanapishtim]

Originally Posted by willrexchen

The question for which I would like to have an answer is... Will I eventually get a job at the entry level after passing one or two exams and given all the above issues and problems?

A math degree is not really a problem or an advantage. A low GPA could be a problem, but otherwise it's exams that count. Still, no one can answer that question for an individual candidate, or even predict how the job market will change in the next six to fourteen months, really.

My impression right now is that most, but by no means all, candidates with at least two exams are eventually finding entry-level actuarial positions. As in any other field, things like having contacts and interviewing well, or even just fortuitously finding the right fit (thinking of a friend who hit it off with his boss in the interview because of a shared interest in rock climbing, and was offered the job that same day) are equally important.

If you feel a lack of internships is holding you back, you could always register for some more classes and then be in the position of a student again to try to get one, particularly if there's a school with an actuarial program that's convenient or interesting to you.

[sulfugr]

Originally Posted by Utanapishtim

A math degree is not really a problem or an advantage. A low GPA could be a problem, but otherwise it's exams that count. Still, no one can answer that question for an individual candidate, or even predict how the job market will change in the next six to fourteen months, really.

My impression right now is that most, but by no means all, candidates with at least two exams are eventually finding entry-level actuarial positions. As in any other field, things like having contacts and interviewing well, or even just fortuitously finding the right fit (thinking of a friend who hit it off with his boss in the interview because of a shared interest in rock climbing, and was offered the job that same day) are equally important.

If you feel a lack of internships is holding you back, you could always register for some more classes and then be in the position of a student again to try to get one, particularly if there's a school with an actuarial program that's convenient or interesting to you.

Utanapishtim : My situation is somewhat similar to that of the original poster.
I'm pursuing a strategy like that suggested by Elisha (get an insurange job first) . I'm however getting more and more negative signals about the possiblity of things working out for people like me in this canadian market.

Many postings here have suggested that even 3 exam students from actuarial programs are having a hard time finding jobs in canada so never mind those outside of the school system . I recently spoke to an insurance industry recruiter ( she was not an actuarial recruiter, just insurance) who said that , for the actuarial positions she has had to fill , it wasnt only your exams that counted but also your GPA . She said that an OK but not stellar GPA would confine me to sales roles, even if i ever managed to get an actuarial position (I guess she meant a consulting role) . I guess this because the system here is very university based *sigh* . I'm not really criticizing the university base of the canadian system . It's probably very good for the profession, just not very good for me .

Still, i have to pass 2 or 3 exams first and give it all i have and if things really can't work out i'll just have to go the states

[Utanapishtim]

Oh, yes, I assumed the question was in a USAn, or better yet a not-geographically-restricted context.
Obviously more restrictions means lower prospects and more competition. Limiting it to Canada probably means an increase of about 1 exam in the requirement, while limiting it to a given city in Canada would make a positive internship experience there quite valuable.

How's that sound, for sage advice?

Once you get in to an actuarial position, it's a whole new game, and your GPA won't have as much effect on your role as the work you do and your personal ambitions will, at least after the first year or so. It's getting in in the first place that seems to be the main hurdle, these days.

Anyway, good luck (:

[Cammy]

I am in a similar boat as willrexchin.

Working on the first exam, taking classes for VEE, and studying some more.

I just hope that my current job as a bank manager will give me some leverage when looking for first acturial position (hopefully on the east coast).

BTW - I am in the US

Good luck willrexchen

[sulfugr]

Originally Posted by Utanapishtim

.....
Once you get in to an actuarial position, it's a whole new game, and your GPA won't have as much effect on your role as the work you do and your personal ambitions will, at least after the first year or so. It's getting in in the first place that seems to be the main hurdle, these days.

Anyway, good luck (:

Thanks Utanapishtim. Hopefully it won't take too long to get the proverbial foot in the door.