Take yourself back to your college days…. the future can seem so daunting and confusing. To add to your own internal monologue, the first question anyone asks you is “What is your major?” followed quickly with “What are you going to do with that?” I made it to my junior year before I knew the answer to the second question. I was majoring in math, and the only thing I knew for certain was that I didn’t want to teach.
My life was changed by a presentation on Actuarial Science. I love my current job as an actuary and it’s mind-blowing to me that I could have missed out entirely if someone didn’t take the time out of their day to offer that presentation to my Math Club. That is why I am a CAS University Liaison. It’s a volunteer role with a minimal time commitment but with a big impact.
University Liaisons support the schools they are working with through activities like:
- Making presentations to students about the casualty actuarial profession.
- Being available via e-mail to answer questions about actuarial work, course selection, the CAS examination system, etc.
- Reviewing course descriptions and consulting on the direction of the school’s actuarial science program.
- Conducting informational interviews with students interested in the actuarial profession.
- Informing students and professors about additional resources and benefits offered through CAS Student Central and Academic Central.
Reviewing resumes and cover letters is one of my favorite ways to assist students. They find a lot of value in having an experienced eye check over their terminology and word choice. The more we can cut down on cover letters stating, “I would love to work in your Actuary department”, the better!
To facilitate the volunteer experience for University Liaisons, the University Engagement Committee has created a library of resource materials containing presentations, case studies, and handouts. This way, volunteers can focus their efforts on directly supporting their school contacts, rather than building materials for their visits.
I benefit from being a University Liaison as well. It’s a great way to network- you meet students, academics, CAS staff, and other Actuaries. I get to talk about what I do day to day to someone that actually cares and is listening. My friends outside of the Actuarial community stopped listening to my obsessive exam talk long ago, but now I have a whole new audience! I also get to know students who will later be applying for jobs within my company and (as anyone who has tried to find that perfect candidate off of a one page resume knows) the extra touch points can be crucial in determining if they will be a good fit.
If you are interested in becoming a University Liaison please contact CAS University Engagement Manager, Tamar Gertner. For more information, please review the list of schools already receiving support from a University Liaison, as well as the target list of schools that do not yet have a CAS member assigned.
