This begins our two part series on
Contents
Actuarial Resumes
. We’ll cover general resume advice and the nuances that apply to actuarial resumes in particular. We’ll be providing a step-by-step guide coming soon.
Actuarial Resumes vs Normal Resumes
The main difference in an actuarial resume vs a normal resume is the prominence of actuarial exams. In the actuarial career field, there is a large importance given to the passing of actuarial exams, and we’ve covered how to pass actuarial exams in a separate section.
Your actuarial exams passed should be in a prominent (easily seen) section of your resume. Generally this means near the top, in bold if need be. State which exams you’ve passed, remembering to cater the naming to the job you’re applying for. Suppose you’ve passed the preliminary exams. If you are applying for a life position, I would state it as SOA Exams Passed: P, FM, MLC, MFE, and C If you are applying for a P&C insurance position, I would state it as CAS Exams Passed: 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Other than the actuarial exams, your actuarial resume can follow the same template and format as a financial resume. I recommend financial resumes because actuarial is similar to finance and also because the financial industry are wildly competitive and therefore their resumes are more appropriate and presentable than resumes from industries such as fast food.
Why your campus career counselor is NOT the best source for Actuarial Resumes
This could take up a full section on its own, which it may have someday. But to summarize, your campus career counselor is one of the worst sources for career advice because they are not in the position you want to be in.
Actuarial Resume Name and File Type
Some firms specify the name and formatting of your resume. Naturally you should always follow the rules and guidelines set out by the actuarial firm you’re applying to. If it’s not stated, I recommend submitting your resume in PDF format and named as “FirstName LastName – Resume.pdf”
I recommend PDF because it looks cleaner and the person reviewing your resume won’t be exposed to all the complex formatting in your resume. It shows only the final result and not the intermediate steps that led to your final product. The formatting is also fixed so it’ll print exactly the way you see it.
Using “FirstName LastName – Resume.pdf” is very self-descriptive, and allows your interviewer to easily search for your name in a directory full of resumes.
Sections on Actuarial Resume (under construction)
Education
This section should contain information on your education history.
Professional Experience
This is the most important part of your resume. It should detail your past achievements in a professional setting, preferably in a professional work environment (internship, full time employment, etc.),
Misc
This is the misc. section of your resume, and should NOT be called “Misc.”. Instead you can call it “Skills and Interests” or whatever is appropriate.
This post is still under construction and updates will be made on an ongoing basis. Check back regularly.
