This week on Actuarial People I’m delighted to be joined by Tara Payn, Phil Sartain and Tom Creasy!

This is the recording from a very special Live episode we recorded for the Queen Mary Actuarial Society in March.

Following an insightful conversation with Ethan Haley last year, I wanted to do something to help aspiring actuaries to better understand & equip themselves for the transition from studying at university, to securing their first role and starting their actuarial career. This led to a number of ‘Early Careers Special’ episodes in recent weeks, followed by a fantastic live discussion in front of an inquisitive and engaged audience at QMUL!

• Tara is an Actuarial Consultant at Aon, and is also part of Aon’s recruitment team for early & mid-career actuarial positions.
• Phil leads Aon’s UK & EMEA Early Careers Talent Acquisition Team, and has over 20 years of recruitment & careers experience.
• Tom is a qualified GI actuary with extensive experience of interviewing and hiring actuarial graduates both in the UK and the US, and also runs his own actuarial careers website in the US.

If you are curious about becoming an actuary in the future, and would like to know more about how to make it happen, this is the episode for you!!

Huge thanks also Lloyd Richards for making everything possible!

Tara Payn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-payn-875404173/

Phil Sartain: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-sartain-3ab4813a/

Tom Creasy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-creasy-1a018140/

Tom's careers website for Us actuaries: https://www.acturhire.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Actuarial People is sponsored by my recruitment company Turner Perkins. I specialise in helping pensions actuarial professionals across all experience levels with their career moves. Please visit https://turnerperkins.com or email james.turner@turnerperkins.com to arrange a confidential conversation!

TP Website

Duaa is an Actuarial Analyst at Deloitte, specialising in General Insurance.

After learning about how she discovered the actuarial profession at the age of just 12, we discuss her journey to date, including:

• Duaa’s decision to relocate from Pakistan to the UK, straight out of university
• Having the confidence to apply for entry-level roles in the UK, despite requiring sponsorship
• The specific challenges she faced during this transition, and how she adapted to overcome them
• The differences between the actuarial exam pathway in Pakistan and the UK
• The importance of thinking carefully about the company you want to work for, and finding the best possible fit

I loved hearing about some of the differences around communication styles and workplace dynamics, which will be very useful for anyone considering starting or continuing their actuarial career in the UK.

Thanks so much for sharing your journey Duaa!!

Please connect with Duaa here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duaa-hassan/

You can also follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duaahchandio/

Mentioned in this episode:

Actuarial People is sponsored by my recruitment company Turner Perkins. I specialise in helping pensions actuarial professionals across all experience levels with their career moves. Please visit https://turnerperkins.com or email james.turner@turnerperkins.com to arrange a confidential conversation!

TP Website

James is a Principal & Senior Consulting Actuary at Gallagher, and has 35 years’ experience in the industry.

After learning about how he first discovered the actuarial profession, we discuss his experiences of beginning his career in-house with CIS, joining KPMG after 10 years, and then moving to Buck (now Gallagher) in 2015, where his roles have included leading the Manchester Team.

Some of the key talking points included:

• The actuarial profession has evolved significantly over the past 35 years, embracing technology and new methodologies.
• The transition from a relaxed work environment to a more driven one can change career perspectives.
• Work-life balance is important, but commitment to work can lead to fulfilment.
• Finding a great job is about more than just salary; workplace culture and relationships matter a lot.
• Young professionals should focus on being reliable and committed in their early years for career growth.
• The shift towards hybrid working has changed how we view work-life balance and team interactions.
• Mental health initiatives are crucial for team cohesion and individual well-being in a remote working environment.
• Networking and building strong relationships within the industry can greatly enhance career opportunities and personal satisfaction.

I also couldn’t resist asking James for his thoughts on what it means for him and his colleagues, now that Buck has become part of Gallagher.

I hope you enjoy the conversation!

Please connect with James here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-forrest-24641b37/

Mentioned in this episode:

Actuarial People is sponsored by my recruitment company Turner Perkins. I specialise in helping pensions actuarial professionals across all experience levels with their career moves. Please visit https://turnerperkins.com or email james.turner@turnerperkins.com to arrange a confidential conversation!

TP Website

Samir is a senior Risk Actuary with several years of experience in the insurance industry.

After sharing how he discovered the profession through his high school economics teacher, Samir discuses everything from working in different parts of the world (including Canada, Europe and the UK), the skills and experience he gained at an early stage which helped him to successfully transition from permanent employment into contracting, setting up his own management consultancy, and his thoughts on planning an end date for contracting and what he’d like to achieve next in his career.

Samir also reflects on personal challenges, career breaks, and the motivation behind his career choices, emphasising the need for adaptability and continuous learning in a rapidly changing environment.

I particularly enjoyed hearing about his attitude to work during his time as a contractor, the mindset required to be successful and how he continuously sought out ways to make a difference every day.

I hope you enjoy the conversation!

Please connect with Samir here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samir-chaudhry-bmath-msc-b6885614/

Mentioned in this episode:

Actuarial People is sponsored by my recruitment company Turner Perkins. I specialise in helping pensions actuarial professionals across all experience levels with their career moves. Please visit https://turnerperkins.com or email james.turner@turnerperkins.com to arrange a confidential conversation!

TP Website

Tarun is an Graduate Actuarial Consultant (Non-Life) at KPMG, and joins me for another Early Careers special!

I was really keen to find out more about the challenges of securing an entry-level actuarial role in the UK for international students, and the steps Tarun took to give himself every opportunity of being successful.

Tarun is a fantastic example of someone who recognised the need for developing new skills, networking, research, seeking feedback and having a thorough application strategy to achieve his goals.

I also loved hearing about how he passed his first actuarial exam at the age of just 18!

Please connect with Tarun here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarunagarwal29/

Thanks for sharing your journey Tarun!!

Mentioned in this episode:

Actuarial People is sponsored by my recruitment company Turner Perkins. I specialise in helping pensions actuarial professionals across all experience levels with their career moves. Please visit https://turnerperkins.com or email james.turner@turnerperkins.com to arrange a confidential conversation!

TP Website

Today, I chat with Gary Gallacher, an investment consultant who took a unique path into the actuarial world. He shares his journey from the Highlands of Scotland to Leeds, and how a chance encounter led him to discover actuarial science while studying at Heriot Watt University. Gary talks about his struggles with mental health, the impact of education on his life, and how he found his niche in investment consulting. We dive into the importance of building support networks and how personal experiences shape our professional journeys. Gary's insights on embracing opportunities and implementing new ideas provide valuable lessons for anyone starting out in the industry.

I hope you enjoy the conversation!

Please connect with Gary here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garygallacher/

Mentioned in this episode:

Actuarial People is sponsored by my recruitment company Turner Perkins. I specialise in helping pensions actuarial professionals across all experience levels with their career moves. Please visit https://turnerperkins.com or email james.turner@turnerperkins.com to arrange a confidential conversation!

TP Website

Tom is VP, Actuarial & Business Intelligence at Euclid Transactional and joins me as part of my mini-series focussed on early careers.

Tom draws on his experience of being a GI Actuary in both the UK and the US, and his extensive experience of hiring and training actuarial graduates.

During the conversation we learn how:

• Practicing interviews and getting mock interview experience can help build confidence.
• Tailoring your CV and application to each job increases your chances of standing out.
• Confidence in communication is more important than technical knowledge during assessments.
• Networking and seeking feedback from peers can greatly improve your application process.

Tom also emphasises the importance of starting your job applications early, while suggesting some alternative options if you have left it too late.

I hope you enjoy the conversation!

Please connect with Tom here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-creasy-1a018140/

Please also check out Tom's Actuarial jobs website - Actuhire - https://www.acturhire.com/ This includes a job board focussed on the US actuarial sector, plus a fantastic blog with incredibly useful articles for anyone interested in the profession.

Mentioned in this episode:

Actuarial People is sponsored by my recruitment company Turner Perkins. I specialise in helping pensions actuarial professionals across all experience levels with their career moves. Please visit https://turnerperkins.com or email james.turner@turnerperkins.com to arrange a confidential conversation!

TP Website

Shaun is a Graduate Trainee Actuary at Isio, and joins me for the next in my early careers mini-series.

In this episode Shaun shares his journey, in order to help people to understand more about the process, and the things they could be doing to increase their chances of successfully starting a career in the actuarial sector.

We discuss:

• Discovering the actuarial profession at an early stage
• Seeking out an actuarial placement for his 2-week work experience at school
• Completing a summer internship with an actuarial firm, who then sold the business!
• Co-founding the QMUL Actuarial Society
• Shaun’s experience of the application process for permanent roles – online assessments and interviews
• Being proactive in developing skills and experience in addition to his degree course

Shaun is a fantastic example of someone who went out of his way to try new things, and to actively develop skills and experience which would help him stand out. I hope you enjoy the conversation!!

Please connect with Shaun here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaun-marchant-5a770320b/

Mentioned in this episode:

Actuarial People is sponsored by my recruitment company Turner Perkins. I specialise in helping pensions actuarial professionals across all experience levels with their career moves. Please visit https://turnerperkins.com or email james.turner@turnerperkins.com to arrange a confidential conversation!

TP Website