[LET'S BE HONEST] How many exams do I have had before a legitimate job!?

[edwsurewin]

LET'S BE HONEST, how many exams do I have had before a legitimate job in such a economy? What other credentials are important?!

[theironhorse]

You would be surprised. 1 or 2. You can get interviews even if you havent passed one. Of course...passing 1 or 2 DRASTICALLY improves your chances. Like I said in a post before, a couple of consulting firms and other actuarial firms came to my college, and I asked this manager a question about how can people from my school compete with people from actuarial powerhouses aka Wisconsin aka Illinois etc. And he told me that he has seen people come to him wanting jobs who ALREADY HAD THEIR ASA when they graduated from college, and he DIDNT HIRE THEM. He said why would he hire someone that is going to be doing an entry level job but be forced to pay them more money? Actuarial jobs are most concerned with you passing exams. If you start failing exams they get angry and eventually you get fired, according to him. Even though I thought this guy was super harsh, he gave me great advice and sometimes harsh advice is the best advice in a bad economy. Actuarial exams are hard, tons of people fail thats the way it goes. So, yeah getting an ENTRY level job...1 or 2 exams.

[kdish87]

2
I have 1, and I am not hearing back from anyone

[theironhorse]

There are more factors that go into getting an actuarial job than just exams. Connections and internships help. The people who are in the actuarial concentration at my school get interviews and only have 1 exam passed. Give it time man, and don't give up.

[Atai]

I have 2, and I am not hearing back from anyone.

2
I have 1, and I am not hearing back from anyone

[victoriaviolette]

don't know what I can do

seriously the job market is THAT bad? any entry-level got a nice job?

[theironhorse]

Don't be so worried about the job market....

I say that for two reasons...if you keep passing exams.. someone will hire you...
Less than 10% of people who pass exam p go on to be an FSA. Actuary exams are not going to get any easier. Every company that has come to my college has told us they want people their hire to pass exams. Thats why they give you bonuses and time off to study. If you start failing an exam 3 times in a row....you probably will get laid off.

Secondly, the course work for a degree in actuarial science gives you many options for career choices. Ive taken almost as much business and finance as mathematics. I know people who have not gotten past all the exams and work in some other area of finance or business.

If you really are worried, try getting a double major, so that if the actuary business is not for you, then you just jump right on to something that works.

Thats the way I see it.

[victoriaviolette]

Don't be so worried about the job market....

I say that for two reasons...if you keep passing exams.. someone will hire you...
Less than 10% of people who pass exam p go on to be an FSA. Actuary exams are not going to get any easier. Every company that has come to my college has told us they want people their hire to pass exams. Thats why they give you bonuses and time off to study. If you start failing an exam 3 times in a row....you probably will get laid off.

Secondly, the course work for a degree in actuarial science gives you many options for career choices. Ive taken almost as much business and finance as mathematics. I know people who have not gotten past all the exams and work in some other area of finance or business.

If you really are worried, try getting a double major, so that if the actuary business is not for you, then you just jump right on to something that works.

Thats the way I see it.

thanks! it's really nice of you.
i didn't know so many people give up. i don't really like anything else besides charity, and I'm not supposed to get money out of it....so I'll just go on and on until 400K salary!!
maybe there is a chance any way. I do like to study and I love math. I'm sure will be in the 10% that go on util I am FSA!
i hope there will be a thread of people who sign up and are very sure to go on utill the very end!

[Irish Blues]

I have 2, and I am not hearing back from anyone.

If that's the case, I'd get your resume checked over by the career center at a local junior college - and after that, I'd make sure your interview skills are up to snuff for when you get called.