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?

Actuaries, ENTER TODAY TO WIN.

If you are an actuary, you can be eligible to win one of five $500 Amex Gift Cards in our 2013 Holiday Drawing. To enter, you must be an actuary and you must fill in our 2013 salary survey

 

Five lucky actuaries will win. Enter today. 

 

Complete our 2013 Salary Survey form to be entered in the drawing.

http://www.actuarialcareers.com/holiday-drawing-2013.php

 

 

TIP of the Week

 











Say Thank You.
Always follow up an interview with a prompt thank-you letter.
It’s professional and makes you memorable.

Dont' Risk a Good Connection.

Human resource managers or even hiring managers will often want to conduct a preliminary telephone interview with you before bringing you in for a face-to-face meeting. One positive aspect of having a telephone interview is that you can have your resume and reference notes right in front of you and refer to them while talking.

To prepare for the phone interview, write down the name of the interviewer and keep it in front of you. On the call, use the person’s name a few times to personalize the conversation. “Thanks for your time Mr. Jones”, is so much more personable than a simple “Thank You”. Also, it’s a good idea to have the job posting, the cover letter you sent with your resume and a list of bullet points about the position. A few notes on how you will  fit into it the position and organization are good too.

Because it is more difficult to get a sense of someone’s personality over the phone, you need to be more aware of the tone of your voice. Make sure that your energy is up and you project professional enthusiasm. It’s even a good idea to stand while talking; it keeps your diaphragm expanded making it easier for you to breathe and to project. Standing will also help you sound more confident. You can even borrow an old sales tip and position a mirror in front of you, so you can see your facial expressions while you talk; a smile can actually be heard in your voice.

We often interview our actuarial candidates over the phone, and we can provide great feedback. We will even help prepare them by having them practice with us on the phone. Some candidates like to record themselves so they can play the recording back to hear how they sound.

As for the technicalities, if possible, use a landline phone. If you are using a cell phone, be sure you have a strong and clear signal. Using a bluetooth device is great for keeping your hands free during the call, and for keeping your chin up when you talk.

 
Remember to always close the call by letting the interviewer know that you are very interested in meeting them, and that you are looking forward to moving ahead in the process. 

A Point of Reference

If you are job hunting, you have to anticipate that at some point in the process you will be asked to supply professional and even a few personal references. These references are usually contacted by a hiring manager, human resources person, or third party as part of your background check. Our recruiters may also call your references, and can help you choose which ones you want to pass on to the hiring company.

Plan to supply at least three professional references. All of them should be individuals you worked closely with, and at least one of them should be a previous manager or supervisor. Once you choose who will best represent your capabilities and character, make a list of their: full names, titles, phone numbers (work and home or cell) and e-mail addresses. Keep the list handy and bring it with you to your interviews.   

Be sure that you call the references you’ve chosen ahead of time so they know you are job hunting. That way they won’t be caught off guard when they do get a call, and they will be prepared to respond without hesitation to questions about their experiences working with you. Many candidates also ask that their references inform them when a company does contact them for a reference.  

 

 

 

Good Questions

In our other posts we’ve talked a lot about how to prepare for an interview and how to answer specific questions about yourself, your experience or interest in the position. We don’t want you to forget about the other part of the process … asking questions.

So what kind of questions should you ask of the interviewer?

Many actuarial candidates think about the most obvious questions first- salary, bonus, vacation time, benefits etc.

These are exactly the questions you should not ask. At Actuarial Careers, Inc., we tell our candidates to hold off on those questions until the offer comes in.  

If you listen carefully during the interview, it’s likely that your normal curiosity will raise lots of questions, but here are some ideas for questions that will help present you as a thoughtful and interested candidate:

 

• Is there opportunity for development/growth within the department/company?
• If applicable - ask for details about the Actuarial Student Program.
• What do you expect me to accomplish in the first 60 to 90 days?
• What are some common attributes of your top performers?
• How would you describe a typical week/day in this position?
• What do you like about working here?

Make sure to have enough questions prepared in the event that there are multiple interviewers.

If you need additional advice or ideas, we’re here, always helping our candidates land the jobs they dream of.