Career Change - Engineering to Actuary?

Wizard (or any current/former actuaries),

I'm looking for your thoughts on the feasibility of making a change from civil engineering (BS, 2.5 years experience) to actuarial sciences. What's the best route to take if I end up going for it? Would diligent study and review be enough to pass the first exam and get my foot in the door somewhere? While my degree and experience aren't perfectly tailor-made for the field, I feel that the strong math and problem-solving emphasis, as well as my fondness of statistics should make for a good starting point.

Any advice on where to go from here and what to expect along the way would be thoroughly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

I have concerns you're too far along the civil engineering road to turn around. A good first step would be to study for, and take, the first exam. Here is an article with advice on passing the exams.

I appreciate the quick response and information. I am surprised to hear that 2 and a half years out of college is nearing the "too late" time frame (and hoping that you misread it to be 25 years), but I'll look into the information provided and go from there.

Thanks again.

my fondness of statistics should make for a good starting point.

GO FOR IT !!

Quote: UWPeteO

I appreciate the quick response and information. I am surprised to hear that 2 and a half years out of college is nearing the "too late" time frame (and hoping that you misread it to be 25 years), but I'll look into the information provided and go from there.

Thanks again.

You're welcome. I meant that you shouldn't turn back from civil engineering after investing so much time into it.

Definitely a good point. However I've begun to think it isn't something I'd like to spend my next 30+ years (or even the next 5) doing, and actuarial science is a career choice that has always been in the back of my mind. I imagine that I'll have a pretty good feel for whether or not I should be going this route as soon as I delve into a huge pile of review materials...

Appreciate the help; I'm sure I'll be back for more in the future.

I am a civil engineer, why would you want to change? Where are you based?

Quote: Wizard

You're welcome. I meant that you shouldn't turn back from civil engineering after investing so much time into it.

As an engineering major who's doing something else (and never really wanted to go into engineering in the first place) I don't think it's that great a risk. The careers aren't too dissimilar, especially if your engineering experience is math/analysis based. Also, engineering employment can be very cyclical, and subject to long-term structural industry changes (think automotive engineers at GM). Actuary jobs seem far more stable, as people are always dying, getting into accidents, etc.

Quote: WizardofEngland

I am a civil engineer, why would you want to change? Where are you based?

To put it simply I'd say it's a lack of passion for the field (and industry). I wouldn't go as far to say as I hate (or even really dislike) the work, but this is definitely not how I envisioned spending my life. And since I can keep my job while I pursue the change it seems like a safe bet to give it a shot.

I'm in the midwest.

Quote: UWPeteO

To put it simply I'd say it's a lack of passion for the field (and industry). I wouldn't go as far to say as I hate (or even really dislike) the work, but this is definitely not how I envisioned spending my life. And since I can keep my job while I pursue the change it seems like a safe bet to give it a shot.

I'm in the midwest.

Yeah maybe. I have been a civil engineer for 10 years now, I have worked on some of the biggest value projects in the UK. I love the job, its well paid and comes natural to me. I love the fact that I can be inside or outside as I choose and no day is the same EVER. The only downside is the recession and the gaps between contracts. But I say stick with it a little longer, you might just start to change your mind after you get more experience.