Job Boards
Both the Casualty Actuarial Society and the Society of Actuaries, the sponsoring organizations of Be An Actuary, provide career centers through their individual organization websites. Through the career centers, job seekers can view actuarial job opportunities, create a personal job alert, or post their resume.
CAS Career Center:
SOA Career Center:
Other actuarial organizations with online job boards include the American Academy of Actuaries and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries.
Most employers also post their open job opportunities on general job search websites and on company career center sites.
Actuarial Recruiters
While it is not typical for candidates seeking entry-level roles or internships, more experienced actuaries may work with an actuarial recruiter to find their next role, instead of or in addition to applying directly through online job boards.
Actuarial recruiters are paid by their clients (employers of actuaries) to find qualified candidates for specific actuarial positions. Recruiters stay in regular touch with candidates to make them aware of any open actuarial positions that exist that match their skills and interests. Recruiters make the client aware of the appropriate candidates for their position, assuming that the candidate has granted permission to do so.
Recruiters provide candidates with assistance with the job search at all stages of the process. For example, should an interview situation arise, recruiters can provide the candidate with helpful interview tips and perhaps company information. In addition, recruiters can provide career-counseling advice and address any concerns candidates have, such as concerns about relocation and salary.
Using an Actuarial Recruiter
Any candidate who is interested in making a career move with the assistance of a recruiter would first begin by discussing their interests and the types of positions that might be appealing to them. The candidate and the recruiter also discuss, location, compensation level and the candidate’s expertise.
Additionally, the recruiter helps with resume review and submits the resume on behalf of the candidate to the employer. The recruiter will follow up for feedback on the candidate’s behalf and provide it (positive or negative), and then upon interest of the company arrange any interviews that would take place.
The recruiter will follow up with the candidate and the client regarding the interviews and relay information to both parties. If an offer should come at that point, the recruiter will work with the candidate to negotiate on their behalf and to provide a buffer between the client and the candidate, where issues may arise during negotiations.
Advantages of Using an Actuarial Recruiter
- Recruiters have an extensive knowledge base of the market and what is available, or, more importantly, what is potentially available.
- Since recruiters are looking at the job market everyday as well as building relationships with companies, they are very aware of the types of candidates that would be a good fit with a company, even if there is not a known position within that company.
- Recruiters have established relationships with employers and are trusted to present qualified candidates.
Disadvantages of Using an Actuarial Recruiter
- From a candidate’s standpoint, a downside to using a recruiter might be that the candidate doesn’t always feel he/she has “control” over the search process. This is why it is very important for a candidate and recruiter to develop a strong and trusting business relationship.
- Candidates have to be patient while a recruiter follows up with the company after interviews or during the job search process.