Networking (for actuaries!)

Landing an actuarial position isn't easy, especially when actuary has been a top ranked job for years. Some may argue it's more difficult than passing the exams! In my opinion, networking and reaching out to professionals is important no matter what level you are at in your career, but it's especially important when you are beginning your career. You never know - networking may lead to an interview, or even better, a job!

Follow the steps below to help build your network and get noticed in the actuarial crowd!

Step 1: Perfect your Resume

Prior to stepping up your networking game, make sure your resume is top notch! If you are looking for an entry level actuarial position, your resume should not be more than a page. There shouldn't be any typos and your resume should be consistent. For some tips on formatting and content, check out Resume Advice (for aspiring actuaries). Even if you're not actively looking for a position, it never hurts to have an updated resume ready in case someone is interested in your background!

Step 2: Update your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is perfect for showcasing your skills and experience! Use your resume to help get your LinkedIn profile started and then expand upon your experience whenever you can. Unlike your resume, you're not limited by space and you should use LinkedIn to really articulate what you've done in past roles or in college. If you were the president of a club, add it to your LinkedIn and describe your impact on that organization. Over time, your resume will change as you decide to remove older items to make space for more relevant experience. You don't need to do that for your LinkedIn - you can always keep expanding on your experience and achievements! 

If you have a few sentences summarizing your experience and what you can offer in the summary section, along with a few bullets for each position you've held, you're off to a great start. There are tons of recruiters who use LinkedIn daily to find potential candidates to interview - it starts with having an all-star LinkedIn profile!

Step 3: Network!

There are a lot of different ways to network, so I will break this section into different parts from least stressful to most stressful (in my opinion). 

Join Industry Groups

I recommend joining the Entry-Level Actuary group and other actuarial or insurance related groups on LinkedIn.  You don't have to jump in and create a discussion - start off small by contributing where possible or liking other comments. If you decide to post in these forums, keep in mind other people are viewing your posts, so make sure to keep it professional and proofread your posts prior to posting!!

Connect with Group Members

Take a look at the profiles of those who are posting in the groups mentioned above. If you see anyone who you think you can relate to or want to know more about, connect with them! If you are connecting with someone with the intent of messaging them in the future, you may want to personalize the message slightly - maybe add that you found them through their comments on a specific post and found their advice helpful. This method of networking isn't necessarily going to lead to an immediate interview, but it will definitely help build your network - the more people you are connected with in your industry, the more posts you will see in your feed, including potential positions that might open up. 

Share Articles

Once you've worked on building your network, try to share an article or insight at least once a week through LinkedIn. Sign up for alerts from Insurance Journal or other related sites so you are keeping up with industry news. Don't just share a post or article - try to add a sentence or two on why you are sharing it. What compelled you to repost? Is it something you're interested in learning more about? You never know who will see these posts - one post might catch the attention of a hiring manager looking for someone with specific interests and skillsets. Even if posting articles doesn't get you a job, it might lead to discussions with experienced professionals, helping to build meaningful connections in the industry. 

Social Media Outreach - Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Even though LinkedIn is definitely the best network for professional networking, you never know who you might find through other social media platforms. Look up common hashtags, such as #actuarialscience, #actuarialexams, and #actuarylife and see who's posting with these hashtags. If you share any interests based on their posts, send them a message to find out more about what they do and what they're interested in. It could be as easy as asking what exam they are currently studying for! 

Seek Out and Connect with Recruiters

Prior to connecting with recruiters on LinkedIn, make sure you are sharing your job interests with recruiters. This will let recruiters know you are open to positions and let them know you are interested in receiving messages regarding new job opportunities. Once you've shared your interests, begin searching for recruiters. These can be both actuarial recruiters at recruiting agencies or HR recruiters for specific companies. Usually, recruiters are happy to connect. Prior to sending a message to a HR recruiter - check to see if there are any open positions at that company.  Use that information, or information on why you may be interested in that company, to send a short, personalized message expressing interest and seeing if it would be possible to set up a time to speak about the position. Do NOT use a generic email for every recruiter. You are far more likely to get a response if the person on the other end sees that you put some thought into your message.

Cold Emailing/Messaging

If you find yourself in a position where you need to start sending out emails to professionals, make sure you are sending a personalized message rather than a generic message that could've been sent to anyone. The message doesn't need to be long - in fact some professionals probably prefer shorter emails. Find some common ground, show your interest in their work and set up a time to speak further about what they do or see if they would be interested in answering questions. It's possible the person you are reaching out to may have no control over hiring, but they could put in a good word for you if you have a good discussion. 

Prior to hitting send, review your email/message. Make sure the name is correct. A few weeks ago, I received a message through LinkedIn addressed to the wrong person. Seconds later, the same message with the name changed. That's another reason why you shouldn't use a generic copy/paste email when cold emailing!

Attend a Networking Event or Career Fair​​

If you live near a big city, see if there are any actuarial networking or career events. If you live in NYC, you may want to attend Actuarial Society of Greater New York's annual actuarial career fair. The Society of Actuaries and Casualty Actuarial Society also host networking events. Prior to attending a networking event or career fair, make sure to perfect your elevator pitch and have a few insurance related topics ready to discuss. 

Do you have any other tips for networking? If so, add a comment below!