Showing Off Your Skills Can Help Land a Job That Will Pay the Bills

A résumé tells the story of a job seeker that is meant to lure in potential employers. But how do future actuaries seal the deal for the jobs they want? By explaining how they have the skills needed to excel in the position.

Skills aren’t just about the requirements listed in a job listing. They are about leadership, analysis, and communication. What makes you a job candidate who can not only hit the ground running, but grow and advance within the company in the years to come? Answer the following questions on your résumé and when you interview.

How do you show leadership?

• Be proactive and anticipate what a manager needs.
• Take ownership in a part of a project.
• Be accountable for when things don’t go right.
• Show how you grew from failure.

How do you prove your analytical skills?

• Tell a story about a problem you faced in the past and how you solved it.
• Be enthusiastic about the challenges you’ve faced.
• Show curiosity and a willingness to learn, because your technical expertise will likely be outdated in a few years.
• If you don’t have the skill they’re asking about, talk about skills you do have that prove you can learn on your own.

How do you show off your communications chops?

• Understand that an interview is a conversation, not a Q&A.
• Speak knowledgably about the role for which you are interviewing.
• Talk about working with others as a team.
• Explain how you challenge someone respectfully.

These skills, taken together, show that a candidate has what it takes to be a successful actuary who can work collaboratively with a team and contribute to success in the workplace.