Preparing a 30-60-90 day plan for your first actuarial interview is a smart way to demonstrate your organizational skills, forward-thinking mindset, and eagerness to contribute to the company. This plan is essentially a roadmap that outlines what you aim to achieve in your first three months on the job. It shows interviewers that you’re ready to hit the ground running and have a clear vision of how to integrate yourself into the team and grow in your role.
To start, think of the 30-60-90 day plan as three distinct phases, each with its own focus and goals. The first 30 days are about learning and observing, the next 30 days focus on applying what you’ve learned, and the final 30 days concentrate on contributing independently and adding value. This approach gives interviewers confidence that you understand the progression from a beginner to a productive team member.
For the first 30 days, your goal is to absorb as much information as possible. This means familiarizing yourself with the company’s actuarial tools, software, and processes. For example, if the company uses Prophet or Moses software, as many actuarial teams do, you want to become comfortable navigating these platforms. This is also the time to learn about the company’s key products, whether it’s life insurance, pensions, or general insurance. A practical tip is to set a goal to meet with key team members, mentors, and other departments to understand how your work will fit into the bigger picture. You might say, “In my first month, I plan to complete the internal training modules on the company’s actuarial models and schedule one-on-one meetings with senior actuaries to understand current projects and challenges.” This signals that you value both technical learning and relationship-building.
Moving into the 60-day mark, you shift from learning to doing. By now, you should be ready to take on smaller projects or parts of larger assignments. For instance, you might be asked to assist in calculating reserves, analyzing trends, or running sensitivity tests on discount rates for long-duration liabilities. Make sure your plan includes measurable objectives such as “Complete at least two analyses under supervision and prepare preliminary reports for review.” This demonstrates initiative and your growing confidence. It’s also the time to start developing your communication skills by presenting your findings clearly to the team or even regulatory bodies, which is a critical part of an actuary’s job. You can prepare by practicing how to explain complex technical concepts in simple terms—a skill often tested in interviews.
In the final 90 days, your focus should be on demonstrating independence and delivering tangible value. This could mean leading a small project, proposing improvements in existing models, or identifying risk factors that others might have missed. For example, you could write in your plan, “By the end of three months, I aim to independently complete a loss reserving analysis and present actionable recommendations to my manager.” This phase shows your ability to take ownership and think critically about how your work impacts the company’s bottom line. It’s also a great opportunity to ask for feedback regularly and adjust your approach, signaling your commitment to continuous improvement.
Throughout your plan, it’s important to weave in your understanding of the actuarial profession’s demands. Interviewers appreciate when candidates show they know the importance of passing actuarial exams alongside on-the-job learning. You might include a personal development goal such as, “Allocate time each week to study for upcoming actuarial exams and apply exam concepts to real-world scenarios in my work.” This highlights your long-term commitment and discipline.
When crafting your plan, keep it realistic and flexible. No company expects you to have all the answers on day one. Instead, they want to see that you have a thoughtful approach to learning, contributing, and growing. Use clear, concise language and avoid jargon that might confuse interviewers who may not be actuaries themselves.
It also helps to tailor your plan to the specific company and role. Research their recent projects, industry focus, and challenges. For instance, if you know the firm is expanding its health insurance portfolio, mention how you plan to familiarize yourself with healthcare actuarial models and regulations. This shows you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in their work.
A practical example could look like this:
First 30 days: Complete onboarding and training, understand company actuarial software (Prophet), meet with team members, review ongoing projects.
Next 30 days: Assist in data analysis for insurance claims, prepare preliminary reports, start contributing to risk assessment discussions.
Final 30 days: Lead a small project on reserve calculations, present findings to management, identify opportunities for process improvement, continue actuarial exam preparation.
Including such specifics makes your plan actionable and memorable.
One final tip: practice discussing your 30-60-90 day plan out loud before the interview. Interviewers often ask, “What would your first three months look like if you got this job?” Being able to speak confidently and naturally about your plan shows preparedness and enthusiasm. It’s not just about the plan itself but how you communicate it.
In terms of why this matters, companies investing in actuarial talent want someone who is not only technically capable but also proactive and self-driven. A well-crafted 30-60-90 day plan is a concrete way to prove these qualities and differentiate yourself from other candidates who may only focus on exam scores or technical skills.
Remember, the actuarial field combines deep technical knowledge with business insight and communication. Your 30-60-90 day plan should reflect that balance by mixing learning objectives, hands-on tasks, and personal development goals. This comprehensive approach will resonate well with interviewers and increase your chances of landing that first actuarial role.