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.

TIP of the Week

Let Them Know You Are Interested

Before you leave the interview, express you interest in the position. Make sure they know how enthusiastic you are about working with them in the future.

Don't Risk It - Why accurate information is important.

With today’s increased emphasis on security and identity verification, employment background checks are a common pre-hiring practice. Prospective employers often require candidates to undergo background checks as a standard policy. Employers use checks as one way to mitigate the costly risk of a bad hiring decision. Current estimates suggest that the incidences of erroneous or inaccurate applicant information are near 40 percent.

Of course, errors may not be intentional. Sometimes updating or revising your resume can lead to inaccuracies, so check carefully. Make sure your recruiter has an accurate copy of your resume, and bring the same one with you to the interview. If you are asked to fill out the company’s employment application, you will find it a handy reference for helping you to keep titles and dates of employment consistent with your resume. 

As part of checking your background, the hiring company will confirm the information you supplied on your resume and your application, such as: places of employment, specific dates of employment, compensation, education and professional affiliations. If you are not sure of a date or your compensation at a previous position, note it on the application. List all of your employment, even if you were only with a company for a short time. 

Your written permission is required for the company to conduct the employment background screening. In addition, companies also can require you to undergo a drug screening. A company can and will rescind an offer based on discrepancies on your application or the results of drug test. If the employer decides not to employ you on the basis of the background report, they are required to provide you with a copy of the report.

 

Why do you want to work here?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you haven’t done your homework, this interview question may be difficult to answer. When you work with Actuarial Careers, your recruiter will give you background on the hiring company, and offer insight into its culture; but there’s no substitute for conducting your own research. You aren’t just researching an interview question. What you discover will help you ascertain if the company is right for you, too.  

You may already know about the company’s products, services or reputation, but it goes without saying that you still need to look at the company’s website. Referencing it in any way during the interview is always a plus. In preparing for this question, it’s good to look for areas on the site that might highlight employee programs, perks, activities or positive employee comments you can point out in your answer. Check the News section for press releases that highlight any involvement in philanthropic organizations or humanitarian causes that you can mention, especially if you feel some connection to them.   

Look at the company’s LinkedIn page and read the profiles of company employees. Perhaps you are connected to some past or current employees. Review employee profiles, to see if you share something in common with them…i.e. similar backgrounds, accomplishments, colleges, etc. You can mention them and offer that those commonalities seem to indicate that the company would be a good fit for you as well.  

Last, but not least, think about what prompted you to allow your recruiter to submit your resume for the job. Something about the position seemed like a solid match. Usually, the reasons that ran through your mind before you chose to apply are the answers the interviewer is looking for. Finally, you can end with a summary of how you feel you can be of benefit to the company.

We are grateful.

On this, the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks against the United States, the entire staff of Actuarial Careers, Inc.®, would like to once again express our profound sympathies and condolences to the families of those who lost their lives as a result of the events of that day.

We also wish to recognize and thank all of the brave fire and rescue personnel who risked their lives to help others. Finally, we are honored to acknowledge our awareness and gratitude for the numbers of private citizens in our country and all over the world who answered the call for donations and support.

We are proud to be part of a country that rises in the face of adversity and responds with the pride unity that is so uniquely American.