How to Find a Mentor 

Before you strike out and look for a mentor, make sure you are clear on why you want and need one. Many people are ready willing and able to help, but the ones who will be good mentors will want to know that you have a clear agenda or need and thatyou are ready to work on it.  

When you can clearly communicate your goals, you are ready to find the right person to help you. If your company has a mentoring program that is a great place to start. If they don’t, you can consider professionals in your industry, people you may have met through associations or networking events. Don’t rule out your neighbors or relatives if they are successfully experienced in the areas you feel you need help with.  

When you approach your choice of mentor, treat your presentation of the idea as a conversation about your challenges and your desires to excel. Presenting both will allow that person to experience your sincerity, and know that you are good a good mentoring candidate. They may even begin to offer ideas on approaching your challenges before you ask for their help.  One reason you may be refused is the mentor’s lack of time. If you can define how much time you are asking for, it might make the difference. A reputable actuarial recruiter can also offer you perspective on industry trends and your professional goals. A good recruiter is one mentoring relationship that can last for your entire career. 

Have You Considered A Mentor?  

A mentor is an experienced adviser and supporter. Wouldn’t it be great to have one for every area in our lives? In your actuarial career, when you are starting out, a mentor can help you to understand and navigate the structure of an organization, and recognize how to advance your career within that system. 
Your mentor’s experience can provide you with a perspective you simply aren’t seasoned enough to see. The benefit is that in a new position, you can get an insider’s view on how to get things done and be noticed in the process. 

Mentors can help you gain self-awareness, by asking tough questions that will challenge you and help you define a career path. Having a resource and sounding board in your corner can be valuable in resolving ethical dilemmas or in taking calculated risks. The right person will see your strengths and help you to use them to your best advantage, while helping you see and mitigate the impact of weaknesses. A strong mentor can actually help you see career opportunities you might not otherwise consider, and inspire you to reach higher than you might be comfortable doing by yourself. 
A reputable recruiter can also be a mentor in helping you stay connected with the actuarial marketplace and defining, finding and pursuing your next position.

Not seeing results from your job search? 

Albert Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” If you are getting the same feedback from every interview and not getting an offer, you need to take a hard look at your interviewing skills. Assuming that you dress appropriately, arrive on time, leave your cell phone off, have researched the company, or haven’t talked too much or too little, perhaps you’ve overlooked these other influencers:

• Are you overqualified? Or under qualified? Hiring companies can view both ends of the spectrum to be a red flag. 

• Is your availability limited? Perhaps overtime or some travel is required, which doesn’t fit your ability to commit. 

• During the interview, do you display interest in the actual work, rather than just the paycheck and benefits?
• Do you have good answers to the interviewer’s questions? Do you have some questions of your own? Nothing shows interest like asking intelligent questions. If you don’t know any, practice with your recruiter. 
• Did you get the feeling that you would fit well into the company? It isn’t always about skills, it can be about fitting into the culture. 

Preparation is key, as is follow up. Nothing says you appreciate their time like a handwritten note. 

Job Hunting When You Are Unemployed?

Job hunting is always challenging, but it can be more difficult if you’ve been out of work 

for a while. You’ve heard it said, “The best time to get a job is when you have a job.” 

That  seems  to  be  true.  Is  it  due  to  the  job  seekers  mindset  or  the  mindset  of  the marketplace?  

The good news is that in the current marketplace, the stigma of being unemployed has 

all but lost its sting. But, when you need employment, the pressure is on, so you might 

be looking at a broader spectrum of opportunities or be considering taking a step back 

in order to get back to work. That’s a good fall back strategy, but beware of applying for positions that are outside of your skill set. Before you go that route, give some thought to how that would look from the hiring managers’ point of view. If your background and the job description don’t really match, would you consider yourself a good fit for the job? 

A  reputable  recruiter  can  guide  you  and  offer  a  perspective  you  don’t  have,  while helping you to find the right opportunity for you. 

What Can You Learn When Things Don’t Go Well? 

From Patty Kent, Executive VP, Actuarial Careers, Inc. 

    You leave the interview and you know it just didn’t go well, but you really aren’t sure why. If you are not working with a recruiter, you will likely never know what went wrong. If you are, this is a golden opportunity to use the interview as a learning experience.   

    In following up with the hiring company, your recruiter will hear the feedback from the interviewer and share it with you. Negative feedback is never easy to hear, but if you remain open to suggestions and are able to hear the information and learn from it, you will know what you need to work on to do better the next time.  

   Continue the conversation on our Facebook Page or LinkedIn Company Page!

What if the Job Description Doesn’t Match Your Experience?

From Patty Kent, Executive VP, Actuarial Careers, Inc.

When you are researching Actuarial positions, you are not only examining the job titles but also the job descriptions, and what each company is specifically looking for under their job title. It’s easy when the job description fits your resume, but what if it doesn’t? Perhaps your experience is a bit shy of the requirements, but you are really interested in the position, should you apply? 

In this marketplace, you are going to be up against candidates who have the exact background and experience the company is looking for. If you choose to apply, you will need to dig into your capabilities and experience to offer some compelling reasons why you should be considered. 

Perhaps you can offer examples of how you quickly learned other new skills in the past, or include any exposure you had to the particular type of experience required. You can also consider instances where you demonstrated an ability to bring a fresh perspective and alternative approach to similar challenges. 

If you are attempting to make a large jump in title, responsibilities or pay, you will need to have convincing reasons why the company should consider you, and be able to give them evidence of what you bring to the position that the others can’t.   

Discuss this on our Facebook Page or LinkedIn Company Page!

New Grads, Here are a Few Resume Reminders

Here are a few tips from Robyn Taylor, Sr. VP, Actuarial Careers, Inc.

A two page resume is fine – three pages is too much

Skip the Objective

Have access to your academic transcript

Use bullet points

Use a standard font

Include all of your contact information

Proofread!

The very best way to find the job you want. Part Five

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Thinking of Job Hunting? Start with the Basics

from Patty Kent, Vice President Actuarial Careers, Inc.

The Basics: Position, Compensation, Location

• What position and title are you really looking for?


• What are your salary requirements?
• How long of a commute will you agree to or are you open to relocating?

• Are there locations or situations that are clear deal breakers?                                                      

Giving careful consideration to what you require to make change jobs will focus your search and save you and your recruiter time and wasted effort. While it’s good to practice your interviewing skills, there’s no sense spending your valuable time and that of the hiring companies by interviewing for positions you know you don’t want. In addition, you don’t want to hinder your chances for future opportunities at those companies.

Being clear about your professional goals and defining them in detail will help you attract and land the right position for you.

If you’d like to investigate compensation ranges in the actuarial profession, check out the results of our 2013 Salary Survey. http://www.actuarialcareers.com/salary-results-2013.php

 

 

 

 

Credentials - How Important Are They?

How valuable are credentials in your area of specialization?  Take a look at our 2013 Actuarial Salary Survey results. You can query the results in a host of ways, including by  credentials. If you are wondering if you should pursue the next level of education, this may help you decide.       http://www.actuarialcareers.com/salary-results-2013.php

 If you'd like to speak to an industry expert. We are here to help.

The very best way to find the job you want. Part Four

Know What You Want From Your Next Position
from Patty Kent, Vice President Actuarial Careers, Inc.

As a recruiter, when I ask candidates what they are looking for in their next job, candidates most often say, “I want something different,” or “something nontraditional,” or “I’m open to anything.” Broad statements like these aren’t going to help you or a recruiter with your job search. The first step in your job search should be to define what you feel is missing in your current job, and then get a clear idea of what you want in your next role.

Here are some questions to ask yourself to begin finding out.

• If you are looking for something different, do you mean you want the same type of position but with the opportunity to manage, or are you looking to make a move from insurance to consulting?

• Would you like to be part of an entrepreneurial start-up, even though it may be risky?

• If you want to do something different, like moving from a financial position to a product position, are you willing to take a step back in compensation? Or if not, can you make a compelling argument for why a company should pay you a salary equivalent to your current position if they have to also teach you new skills?

 

 

Inside Track

Interviewing Skills from Patty Kent, EVP Actuarial Careers, Inc.

If you are getting the same feedback from every interview and not getting an offer, you need to take a hard look at your interviewing skills. A reputable and experienced recruiter can help you gain perspective and offer suggestions on how to improve your chances of getting the offer you want.

Tip of the Week

 

 

 

 

 

 

You have no power until you have an offer. 

 

 

 

Consider it your job to sell yourself to the company, the goal being that you receive an offer of employment.  Even if the job is not your first choice, don’t act as if the company has to sell themselves to you.  If your first choice does not pan out, you may leave yourself without an alternative.  Once you have an offer, you can talk more freely about the benefits. 

The very best way to find the job you want. Part Three

Think long term – build a relationship

It’s a common misconception that you only need a recruiter when you are actively searching for a new job. That could be much like waiting until you are sick to find a doctor you trust. You can’t make your best decisions when you are pressed by time and circumstance. Finding the right recruiter, one who will be there to help you thoughout your career is a relationship that deserves some careful assessment. 

There are many types of recruiters, many with specific areas of expertise. Actuarial careers are specialized, so focusing on finding a recruiter that has a track record of success in placing that profession makes sense. You don’t want to invest in a relationship with a firm that is new or will be gone tomorrow.

When you’ve selected one or two to interview, approach the relationship as you would a prospective employer. Send an introductory email with a professional cover letter or make a direct phone call. If the recruiter is professional, they will respond promptly and set a time to talk with you. Share your expectations and ask questions that will satisfy your requirements for the relationship. From your conversation, you will know whether the company and the individual recruiter are a fit for you.

Remember relationships are a two-way street, and recruiter-job seeker relationships are no different. As a job seeker, your recruiter will offer you access to information and unadvertised career opportunities, in turn, the recruiter will appreciate your insight on the companies you have experience with and any potential referrals you might offer.

The very best way to find the job you want. Part Two

Know Your industry.

Even if you aren’t actively seeking another job, it’s wise to be informed about the industries that employ your profession. If you want to keep on top of latest in those industries, you need to connect to resources that provide relevant topical news. Joining industry associations is a good place to start. Another is subscribing to aggregate news services that collect and distribute news like Google Alerts, which scour traditional headlines, internet news, website content, blogs and videos that match your professional and industry interests.  Services like these allow you to specify topics to create a standing request. Relevant news is customized by delivery method and frequency right to your RSS feed or email inbox. This type of industry knowledge will help you to keep up with mainstream news in your industry.

Another, and perhaps more important type of industry news isn’t found in the day’s posts and headlines, and is often not common knowledge. It’s the kind of insider information that your Actuarial recruiter has access to. Reputable recruiters are talking with companies in your target industry all day, every day. They hear about the birth of the trends and burgeoning needs. Because they are always being asked to help staff the next big project, or fill positions for new talent needed in a company or departmental re-organization, they naturally are industry insiders. Reputable recruiters don’t actually divulge confidential information on either side of their relationships, but they know how to help you target your job search and examine options you would never recognize on your own. It’s not just about an active job search, a relationship with an Actuarial recruiter is a career focused relationship that will help you stay informed, be aligned with trends, and poised to meet the future needs in your marketplace.

The very best way to find the job you want. Part One.

Make Connections

The very best way to find the job you want is to start by making the right connections. Despite all the technological conveniences and tools that make resume distribution an art form, it still holds true that people hire people. No matter how good your resume or credentials are, you still need to strike a human connection to land that great job.

Think about it, you wouldn’t stuff your resume into a bottle and throw it into the sea in the hopes it might be fished out by the right person, would you? Sending out resumes to blind job board postings, or worse yet, working with a recruiter who spams your resume along with hundreds of others hoping to hit a jackpot placement is essentially the same thing. 

It is smart to work with a reputable recruiter because they have the connections. You benefit from the relationships they have painstakingly made with hiring managers, company executives and human resources professionals. Those relationships don’t happen overnight, they take time to develop a trust. Good recruiters are invested in their relationships and they are careful not to jeopardize them by bombarding their contacts with resumes of unqualified candidates. What that means to you is that when it’s your turn and it’s your dream job, your résumé goes directly to the right person, and it gets their attention. It’s not lost at sea in a "job response inbox" with the hundreds of other resumes that stream in daily.

There’s no substitute for the right introduction in the right place at the right time and for the right reason. When you come down to it, having a great recruiter is like having a friend in the business. What could be better than that?