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?