When it comes to crafting an actuarial science resume, one size definitely does not fit all. Your resume should evolve as you progress through your SOA exams and internship experiences, showcasing your growth, skills, and commitment to the field. Tailoring your resume according to your actuarial exam progress and internship milestones not only highlights your qualifications but also signals to hiring managers that you’re a serious candidate who understands the career path. Let’s walk through how to do this effectively, with practical examples and actionable tips that will make your resume stand out.
Start by recognizing that actuarial employers place huge emphasis on your exam progress. The Society of Actuaries (SOA) exams are milestones that show your technical capability and dedication. Early in your career, even passing or sitting for preliminary exams can make a big difference. For example, if you’ve passed Exam P (Probability) and FM (Financial Mathematics), you should clearly list these under a dedicated “Exams” or “Professional Development” section. Include any exams you’ve passed, currently studying for, or have scheduled. This transparency demonstrates forward momentum and seriousness about becoming fully credentialed[3][4][7].
If you’re just starting and haven’t passed any exams yet, don’t stress. Instead, emphasize any scheduled exam dates to show your commitment. For instance:
- SOA Exam P (Probability) – Passed, April 2025
- SOA Exam FM (Financial Mathematics) – Scheduled, November 2025
This kind of detail tells employers you’re actively working toward qualifications even if results are pending[3][4].
As you advance and accumulate more passed exams, list them prominently and consider grouping them in tiers to show clear progress:
- Passed Exams: P, FM, IFM
- Exams in Progress: LTAM (Long-Term Actuarial Mathematics)
- Upcoming Exams: STAM (Short-Term Actuarial Mathematics), MAS-I (Modern Actuarial Statistics I)
This structure helps recruiters quickly gauge where you are on the actuarial journey[3][6].
Next, your internships are the second pillar of your resume. They’re the practical proof of how you apply your knowledge and grow professionally. When you start your first actuarial internship, highlight specific projects and responsibilities that align with actuarial skills. Use quantifiable achievements to show impact. For example:
- Assisted in developing a mortality model, improving accuracy by 5% over previous year’s estimates
- Automated monthly reporting processes using VBA, reducing time spent by 15 hours per month
- Collaborated with a team of analysts to evaluate insurance risk portfolios valued over $100M
These examples provide concrete evidence of value and show you can translate theory into real-world results[2][8].
If you’re early in your career and only have a summer internship or part-time role, be sure to include all relevant experience—even if it’s not directly actuarial but involves skills like data analysis, programming, or finance. For instance, tutoring math or working with Excel in a finance setting demonstrates transferable skills such as problem-solving and attention to detail, which employers highly value[2][4].
As you complete multiple internships, tailor your resume by highlighting progressively challenging roles or new skills you’ve acquired. Instead of repeating similar bullet points, focus on different aspects like leadership (e.g., leading a small project), technical skills (e.g., learning Python or R), or communication (e.g., presenting findings to senior staff). This shows growth and versatility[2][5].
Now, let’s discuss how to weave your exam progress and internship milestones together in the resume structure. Typically, you want your professional summary or objective at the top to reflect both:
- Mention your current exam status and what you’re targeting next
- Highlight your most recent internship and key achievements
- Convey your enthusiasm for actuarial science and your career goals
For example:
Aspiring actuary with successful completion of SOA Exams P and FM, currently preparing for IFM. Completed a summer internship at XYZ Insurance, where I contributed to risk modeling and data automation projects. Eager to leverage analytical skills and exam progress to support innovative insurance solutions.
This summary sets the tone for the rest of your resume and immediately positions you as a motivated, exam-passing candidate with relevant experience[1][5][6].
In the education section, include your degree, GPA (if above 3.0), and relevant coursework that complements your actuarial ambitions. Highlight courses like Probability, Statistics, Finance, or Programming. Employers look for this to confirm your foundational knowledge, especially if you’re early in your career or if your internship experience is limited[3][4].
The technical skills section is where you can further tailor your resume. Actuarial employers increasingly look for candidates proficient in programming languages such as R, Python, SQL, and VBA, alongside actuarial software tools. As you progress through internships, you’ll likely pick up new software or data skills—make sure to update this section accordingly. For example:
- Programming: Python (intermediate), R (beginner), SQL (basic)
- Software: Excel (advanced, including VBA macros), SAS, Tableau
- Other: Microsoft Office, actuarial modeling software (e.g., Prophet, MoSes)
This shows you are continuously building your technical toolkit, matching what employers seek[2][4][8].
One practical tip: tailor keywords on your resume to the specific job description. Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan for relevant skills and exam statuses. If a job posting emphasizes experience with SQL and passing Exam FM, make sure those appear clearly and prominently on your resume. Using action verbs like “analyzed,” “modeled,” “developed,” and “automated” paired with quantifiable results will boost your chances of passing ATS filters and grabbing recruiters’ attention[1][8].
As your resume grows with more exams and internships, avoid clutter by focusing on the most relevant and recent experiences. For example, if you have three actuarial internships, highlight the latest one in detail and summarize earlier ones briefly unless they showcase unique skills or achievements. This keeps your resume concise and impactful[5][6].
Finally, don’t forget the personal touch. Adding a brief line about your passion for actuarial science, your long-term career goals, or how you approach problem-solving can make your resume more memorable. For example:
Passionate about leveraging data and analytics to solve complex insurance challenges, I strive to combine technical expertise with clear communication to deliver actionable insights.
This kind of statement adds warmth and personality, making your resume feel less like a list and more like a story of your professional journey[5].
To recap, tailoring your actuarial resume based on your SOA exam progress and internship milestones involves:
- Clearly listing passed, pending, and scheduled exams to showcase your commitment
- Highlighting internships with specific, quantifiable achievements demonstrating actuarial skills
- Showcasing relevant coursework, GPA, and technical skills aligned with job requirements
- Using strong action verbs and keywords targeted to each job description
- Keeping your resume concise by focusing on the most recent and relevant experiences
- Adding a personal, enthusiastic summary to engage recruiters
By approaching your resume as a dynamic document that grows alongside your career, you position yourself as a competitive candidate ready to take the next step in actuarial science. Remember, your resume is your story—make it clear, compelling, and tailored to where you are on your path.