Career Change - Engineering to Actuary?
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.
Thanks again.
GO FOR IT !!
Quote: UWPeteOI 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.
Appreciate the help; I'm sure I'll be back for more in the future.
Quote: WizardYou'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: WizardofEnglandI 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: UWPeteOTo 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.
Quote: UWPeteOTo 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.
Nobody ever feels called for actuarial work either. It is just a good job choice for those good at applied math. Crunching statistics is not exactly glamorous work either. It also doesn't help that 9 out of 10 Americans don't know what an actuary is.
Quote: WizardNobody ever feels called for actuarial work either. It is just a good job choice for those good at applied math. Crunching statistics is not exactly glamorous work either. It also doesn't help that 9 out of 10 Americans don't know what an actuary is.
If you don't mind, a question on that. When you were an actuary how did you do most of the calculations? Was there a "glorified excel" you used or did you need to know a fair amount of programming to do calculations?
Based on forecasting I have had to do in the past (not nearly that level, but bosses are the same in many places) after the initial formula is made people want to play "what if" for all kinds of things.
Not contemplating a career change, just curious.
Doing Engineering is the best career option as further you have many jobs in hand.
But if thinking for career change to actuarial job then need to work hard.
To know more visit
Quote: AZDuffmanIf you don't mind, a question on that. When you were an actuary how did you do most of the calculations? Was there a "glorified excel" you used or did you need to know a fair amount of programming to do calculations?
Based on forecasting I have had to do in the past (not nearly that level, but bosses are the same in many places) after the initial formula is made people want to play "what if" for all kinds of things.
Not contemplating a career change, just curious.
Sorry for the tardy reply. Actuaries run the gamut of heavy programming to doing everything with paper and pencil. Personally, I relied heavily on programming and spreadsheets.
Quote: WizardSorry for the tardy reply. Actuaries run the gamut of heavy programming to doing everything with paper and pencil. Personally, I relied heavily on programming and spreadsheets.
Better late than never. Thanks, I have some kind of weird desire to know little details.
Quote: GWAEearlier in the thread you said 9 out of 10 don't know what an actuary is. I would put that more like 9.6 out of 10 don't know what it is. I read what it is and still don't have a clue.
They tell you that you are eventually going to die. :-)
Quote: GWAEearlier in the thread you said 9 out of 10 don't know what an actuary is. I would put that more like 9.6 out of 10 don't know what it is. I read what it is and still don't have a clue.
They're the odds makers for bookies insurance salesmen.
My calc professor in college used to tout the fact (from some survey, I assume) that actuary was the #1 least stressful job in the country. Not sure if he was just passing along info or recruiting!
Quote: GWAEearlier in the thread you said 9 out of 10 don't know what an actuary is. I would put that more like 9.6 out of 10 don't know what it is. I read what it is and still don't have a clue.
Basically, an actuary is somebody who counts dead people.
