If you’re an actuary, or aspiring to be one, you know that the field is competitive—employers aren’t just looking for exam passes and technical skills, but for well-rounded candidates who can bring fresh ideas, leadership, and real-world impact to their teams. That’s where your side projects and volunteer work come in. These experiences often reveal your passion, creativity, and ability to apply actuarial principles beyond the classroom or office. But here’s the catch: if you don’t present them effectively on your resume, they might get lost in the shuffle. Let’s talk about how to make your actuarial side projects and volunteer experiences stand out, so you get noticed for all the right reasons.

Why Side Projects and Volunteer Work Matter #

Actuarial hiring managers sift through piles of resumes, many of which list similar technical skills and exam progress. What makes you different? Side projects—whether they’re personal coding experiments, research initiatives, or pro bono consulting—show initiative and a genuine interest in the field. Volunteer work, especially when it involves teaching, mentoring, or applying actuarial skills in community settings, demonstrates communication, leadership, and a commitment to the profession’s broader mission[1]. In a recent survey, employers consistently ranked “initiative” and “communication” among the top soft skills they look for, even in highly technical roles.

Think about it: building a predictive model for a local nonprofit, mentoring students in actuarial science, or volunteering with a financial literacy program not only sharpens your skills but also gives you stories to tell in interviews. These experiences can bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical, impactful work—qualities that set you apart from candidates who only list coursework and internships.

Identifying Relevant Projects and Volunteer Roles #

Not all side projects or volunteer gigs are created equal. The key is relevance. Ask yourself: does this experience demonstrate actuarial thinking, problem-solving, or leadership? For example, developing a machine learning model to predict insurance claims is directly relevant, as is volunteering with a professional actuarial organization or offering pro bono risk assessments for a nonprofit[1]. Even teaching math or statistics in a community program shows you can communicate complex ideas—a valuable skill for actuaries who need to explain models to non-technical stakeholders.

If you’re early in your career and don’t have many formal work experiences, don’t underestimate class projects, hackathons, or student club leadership. Coordinating faculty visits for your university’s actuarial science club, for instance, demonstrates organizational skills and professional engagement[6]. The goal is to select experiences that either deepen your technical expertise or highlight transferable skills like teamwork, communication, and project management.

Structuring Your Resume for Impact #

Your resume should tell a clear, compelling story. Start with a strong summary that hints at your unique blend of technical and extracurricular experiences. Then, organize your experience section in reverse chronological order, making sure to include both paid roles and relevant projects or volunteer work[2]. For each entry, use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and, crucially, the impact you made. Quantify your achievements whenever possible—for example, “Developed a predictive model that reduced claims payout by 25%” or “Mentored 15 students, resulting in a 30% increase in club membership”[3].

If you have several projects or volunteer roles, consider giving them their own section titled “Projects” or “Volunteer Experience.” This keeps your resume organized and makes it easy for hiring managers to spot your initiative. For each entry, include the name of the project or organization, your role, the dates, and a brief description of what you did and what you accomplished. Use action verbs like “developed,” “led,” “implemented,” and “presented” to convey energy and ownership.

Writing Bullet Points That Get Noticed #

The magic is in the details. Instead of writing “Volunteered with a financial literacy program,” try “Designed and delivered workshops on personal finance basics for 50+ high school students, improving post-workshop assessment scores by 20%.” This shows not just what you did, but the difference you made. If you built a side project, describe the tools you used, the problem you solved, and the outcome. For example: “Built a Python-based model to analyze historical insurance claims data, identifying trends that informed a new pricing strategy for a student-run insurance cooperative.”

Don’t shy away from technical specifics, especially if the role you’re applying for values coding or data science skills. Mention programming languages (Python, R, SQL), software (Excel, SAS, Tableau), and any machine learning or statistical techniques you applied[4][6]. If your project involved teamwork, highlight your role and how you collaborated. These details help hiring managers picture you in action and assess your fit for their team.

Tailoring Your Resume to the Job #

One size does not fit all. Review the job description carefully and identify the skills and experiences the employer values most. If the role emphasizes data science, play up projects where you used machine learning or big data tools. If it’s a leadership position, focus on experiences where you managed teams, organized events, or mentored others. For roles in life insurance, highlight any projects or volunteer work related to risk assessment, product development, or customer education[1].

This doesn’t mean inventing experiences—it means framing what you’ve done in a way that resonates with the employer’s needs. Sometimes, a single project can be described differently depending on the job. For an analytical role, emphasize the modeling and data analysis; for a client-facing role, stress communication and presentation skills.

Including Relevant Coursework, Skills, and Certifications #

If you’re a student or recent graduate, a “Relevant Coursework” section can help fill out your resume and show your academic preparation. List classes like Advanced Calculus, Probability and Statistics, Life Contingencies, and Economic Models[6]. If you’ve passed actuarial exams, make sure to highlight your progress—this is a major differentiator in the field.

Under “Skills,” include both technical abilities (actuarial modeling, regression analysis, data visualization) and soft skills (communication, leadership, project management)[4]. If you’re proficient in programming languages or data tools, list them explicitly. Employers increasingly value candidates who can bridge the gap between actuarial science and data engineering or business intelligence[4].

Adding Personal Touches #

Your resume shouldn’t feel robotic. Include a brief “Interests” or “Hobbies” section if you have space, especially if your activities reflect qualities valued in actuaries—analytical thinking, curiosity, or community involvement. Maybe you run a math blog, compete in hackathons, or volunteer as a tutor. These details can spark conversation in interviews and help you connect with hiring managers on a personal level[5].

Real-World Examples #

Let’s look at a few concrete examples to illustrate these principles. Suppose you’re a student who led a team in a data science competition, building a model to predict insurance claim frequencies. On your resume, you might write:

Data Science Competition Team Leader
University Actuarial Club, Columbus, OH | Jan 2024 – Apr 2024

• Led a team of 4 students to develop a machine learning model predicting auto insurance claim frequency using Python and scikit-learn.
• Achieved a 15% improvement in prediction accuracy over the baseline model.
• Presented findings to a panel of industry professionals, earning second place out of 20 teams.

Or, if you volunteered with a nonprofit:

Financial Literacy Volunteer
Local Community Center, Boston, MA | Sep 2023 – Present

• Designed and taught a six-week course on budgeting and saving for high school students.
• Increased participant confidence in managing personal finances, as measured by pre- and post-course surveys.
• Collaborated with center staff to tailor content to the needs of first-generation college-bound students.

For a side project, you might include:

Insurance Pricing Model Side Project
Independent Project | Mar 2024 – Jun 2024

• Built a stochastic model in R to simulate life insurance pricing under varying economic scenarios.
• Published findings on a personal blog, receiving feedback from practicing actuaries.
• Used the project to deepen understanding of reserve calculations and regulatory capital requirements.

These examples show not just what you did, but why it matters—and how it connects to the work of a professional actuary.

Common Mistakes to Avoid #

Even with great experiences, it’s easy to undermine your resume with avoidable errors. Don’t bury your projects and volunteer work at the bottom in tiny font—give them prominence if they’re among your strongest assets. Avoid vague language; instead of “helped with data analysis,” say “analyzed 10,000 policy records to identify trends in lapse rates.” Don’t overload your resume with every activity you’ve ever done—curate carefully to highlight the most relevant and impressive.

Another common misstep is failing to tailor your resume for each application. Sending the same generic document to every employer is a missed opportunity. Take the time to adjust your project and volunteer descriptions to align with the job description, and you’ll stand out from the crowd.

Leveraging Your Online Presence #

Your resume is just one piece of the puzzle. Consider creating a LinkedIn profile or personal website where you can showcase projects in more detail, share code repositories, or blog about your actuarial interests. This not only reinforces your expertise but also gives hiring managers a fuller picture of who you are and what you can do. If you’ve published analyses, participated in open-source projects, or written articles, link to them in your resume or cover letter.

Preparing for Interviews #

Your resume is your ticket to the interview, but the conversation doesn’t end there. Be ready to talk in depth about your projects and volunteer work. Practice telling concise, engaging stories about the challenges you faced, the solutions you developed, and what you learned. Interviewers often use these experiences to assess your problem-solving process, communication skills, and cultural fit.

For example, if you built a predictive model, be prepared to discuss the data you used, the algorithms you chose, how you validated the model, and how the results could be applied in a business context. If you volunteered teaching financial literacy, think about how you adapted your teaching to different audiences and what feedback you received.

The Long-Term Value of Side Projects and Volunteer Work #

Side projects and volunteer experiences aren’t just resume padding—they’re investments in your professional growth. They help you build a portfolio of work that demonstrates your skills and interests. Over time, these experiences can open doors to networking opportunities, speaking engagements, and even job offers. Many actuaries find that their volunteer work leads to lasting professional relationships and a deeper sense of purpose in their careers.

Final Thoughts #

Showcasing your actuarial side projects and volunteer work effectively requires thought, care, and a bit of creativity. By selecting relevant experiences, describing them with clear, impactful language, and tailoring your resume to each opportunity, you can turn these activities into powerful differentiators. Remember, employers aren’t just hiring a set of skills—they’re hiring a person. Let your projects and volunteer work tell the story of who you are, what you care about, and how you’ll contribute to their team. With the right approach, you’ll not only get noticed—you’ll get hired.