Most job seekers say that the interview question, Where
do you see yourself in five years, is one of the most anticipated and anxiety
provoking questions. Perhaps it is just because they don’t really have a clearly
defined career path. For an actuary, not having a career plan carries a risk
all its own. Regardless of whether you are job hunting or not, if you don’t
have a career plan, now is the best time to start.
The reason planning is so important is that a plan will help
you define the skills and experience you need to acquire, so you are poised to
qualify for the position you desire. To devise a strategy, you have to get
familiar with the possibilities. It is a good idea to get some industry
perspective and the assistance of a professional whose job it is to keep up
with actuarial marketplace trends. The choices you make today, by being aware
of growth opportunities within your current position, can help shape your success
tomorrow and five years down the road.
In addition to acquiring specific experience, if you don’t
know where you want to go, how will you know when you arrive? That may sound
silly, but taking time to visualize how you would like your life and career to
look five years from now is proof that your job title isn’t as important as the
opportunity. There are any number of companies and positions that will have the
potential to get you to your life’s dream and your dream job. Being open,
connected and aware of the possibilities will help you evaluate when it’s time
to move on, and recognize a variety of opportunities to do so.
A long-term actuarial career plan takes industry insight. If
you engage the resources of trusted industry professionals, they can help you set
your course and adjust for the ever-changing conditions, influences and trends,
so that you can arrive at the destination of your dreams.
