How can you tell if you are earning what you are worth?

How do you know if you are earning what you really deserve? If you do happen to know what other actuaries make, how do you evaluate your skills in comparison to theirs? How can you measure your own skills against a parallel position in another company, or in another location?  Our 2012 Actuarial Salary Survey is a good place to start.

You can also look at industry job postings to get some sense of where you fall in terms of compensation, but scanning job postings isn’t enough. They don’t tell you what other skills a company values, or what talents and traits make you more desirable to them than you may realize.

Getting a birds-eye view of the marketplace is difficult to do from your desk. Getting a true, unbiased evaluation of the special skills and talents you bring to the table is even more difficult. Seeing yourself from the hiring manger’s perspective is almost impossible.

Very often, actuaries neglect to recognize that the success of a career could actually hinge on traits and talents that are beyond what they can put on a resume. Failure to recognize and promote those traits poses the risk of being paid less. 

A focused career plan needs the perspective of an actuarial industry insider. Having an ongoing relationship with a reputable recruiter gives you the edge. Their client relationships open doors and allow them to present your expertise and your talents beyond what the hiring manger could know from a resume. Choosing the right recruiter is one of the most valuable career moves you can make.