Actuarial Career
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:52:43 PM
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Wizard or anyone,
Any advice for someone considering a career as an actuary (or other math-related careers)?
I have a math undergrad degree, but I have been working as a mid-level manager for the 10 years since I graduated. I'm about to finish my job and I'm planning on going to grad school in the fall. I'd like to end up working in a math-related career.
I'd love to hear any relevant suggestions/advice.
Thanks.
Any advice for someone considering a career as an actuary (or other math-related careers)?
I have a math undergrad degree, but I have been working as a mid-level manager for the 10 years since I graduated. I'm about to finish my job and I'm planning on going to grad school in the fall. I'd like to end up working in a math-related career.
I'd love to hear any relevant suggestions/advice.
Thanks.
The ratio of people to cake is too big.
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:19:54 AM
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I think actuarial is the way to go. You wouldn't necessarily need to go back to school either. A BA in math is all you need to cut through the exam material. Perhaps someone out there will disagree, but what you learn in graduate level mathematics is so esoteric there isn't much practical use for it. The NSA being an exception; they hire mathematicians, and they require an advanced degree.
In my actuarial days I never needed math beyond simple statistics. Computer skills were much more useful. At least when I took the exams, I thought they were more of a weed out tool than a useful learning experience.
In my actuarial days I never needed math beyond simple statistics. Computer skills were much more useful. At least when I took the exams, I thought they were more of a weed out tool than a useful learning experience.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
December 11th, 2009 at 3:14:38 PM
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dk,
Concerning going back to school -
Having spent about 3 decades modeling data, developing risk and response scores - I find that my most useful skills were my ability to understand a problem and the computer skills necessary to obtain, clean and model the data. I can count the number of times I needed to calculate power or make reference to p values on the fingers of one hand. Now having and "abd" helped and finishing my Ph.D. might have helped a bit more but mostly for getting the job rather than doing it. If getting the job is the issue and school is something you enjoy then those are factors worth considering.
I'd say get yourself a line of work that you find stimulating and rewarding. Work is where you will probably end up spending most of your day; If that's not satisfying, the odds of you being a happy camper are greatly diminished.
With best wishes,
HML
Concerning going back to school -
Having spent about 3 decades modeling data, developing risk and response scores - I find that my most useful skills were my ability to understand a problem and the computer skills necessary to obtain, clean and model the data. I can count the number of times I needed to calculate power or make reference to p values on the fingers of one hand. Now having and "abd" helped and finishing my Ph.D. might have helped a bit more but mostly for getting the job rather than doing it. If getting the job is the issue and school is something you enjoy then those are factors worth considering.
I'd say get yourself a line of work that you find stimulating and rewarding. Work is where you will probably end up spending most of your day; If that's not satisfying, the odds of you being a happy camper are greatly diminished.
With best wishes,
HML
May 1st, 2015 at 6:05:21 AM
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I'd be interested to hear a progress report.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
May 1st, 2015 at 8:10:13 AM
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When I started out there were two options (i) Actuarial and (ii) Computing. I actually took the second career. However another one, in hindsight, I should have considered was law.
I have had some computing jobs in the insurance business and in the UK (I'm sure it's the same elsewhere) you have to go through a range of exams to become qualified; at some stage you can specialise (presumably finance, life insurance etc.) As wizard has says, quite a few don't make it, and you'll know whether you're happy with some of the mathematical analysis that appears on this site (and some problems) and have the necessary ability.
I have had some computing jobs in the insurance business and in the UK (I'm sure it's the same elsewhere) you have to go through a range of exams to become qualified; at some stage you can specialise (presumably finance, life insurance etc.) As wizard has says, quite a few don't make it, and you'll know whether you're happy with some of the mathematical analysis that appears on this site (and some problems) and have the necessary ability.
