Virtual Actuarial Summer Internship Day Review

I very much enjoyed the virtual experience. Having had my internship cancelled due to COVID-19, the virtual experience was a useful and interactive way to be able to get a better insight into the company. With a variety of talks and many possibilities to ask questions, it made the experience enjoyable and accessible. There was a lot of content presented to us, which I was grateful for given the fact that I was no longer able to do the full 8 week internship.

I definitely felt valued during the virtual experience and throughout my time in contact with BW. The BW staff on the virtual experience were very accommodating and were always happy and ready to answer any questions that we may have. Moreover, the company itself have been great and keeping in touch with me since my interview, making me feel like a valued member of the team, and have been great in updating me in regards to updates on my placement as a result of COVID-19.

I was given plenty of guidance and support during the virtual experience. Since the experience itself was only one day long, there weren't many situations in which I felt myself needing support. However, the team members at BW were always open to questions and were always happy to explain any part of the presentations they gave us of life at the company and what different jobs entailed. As part of the virtual experience, we were given a presentation on the professional actuarial exams that we will have to take should we be accepted onto the graduate scheme. I found this part very supportive, as it gave me an opportunity to ask questions about the exams to someone who has already been through the same experience.

As I mentioned previously, the virtual experience was only a day long, so there weren't many opportunities to improve skills, as such. However, I did receive lots of valuable information that will be very useful when applying for the graduate scheme and for what to expect should I be accepted. For example, current actuaries gave me advice on how best to prepare for the interview, and the best ways to navigate the professional exams beyond that. Moreover, I found out what extra-curricular life and the work-life balance is like at the company, which wouldn't have been possible had this virtual experience not been held.

On the whole, I'd say the virtual experience was very well organised. I was given notice of the day very early on, and had plenty of reminders prior to the event itself. Moreover, I received a tameable of all the events, talks and presentations for the day a week in advance. This timetable also included links to all the Fuze chats where the talks were taking place. In addition, the day was organised in way that allowed us to make the best of having small group sessions as well as larger conference calls with other people on the virtual experience. A very organised day.

Everyone at BW on the virtual experience were very welcoming and approachable, which meant that the atmosphere was a comfortable yet professional one to be in. I think us would-be interns on the virtual experience felt a bit nervous at the beginning of the day, but after the first session, I certainly felt more at ease. We began the day with a small session in which we'd tell two truths and one lie as an icebreaker. This helped make the day less daunting and made the atmosphere a more fun and welcoming one. Then, as the day progressed, everyone at the company were very friendly and supportive, adding to the positive atmosphere of the day.

The virtual experience was more a day of getting to know the people at the firm, and get a better understanding of what life is like both at the company and as an actuary. As such, it wasn't necessarily a day in which we'd receive training and development. However, everyone at the firm were very positive about the support and training that is available once on the graduate scheme. In addition, I received lots of information about how exactly BW train and help develop their team members, and reassurance that help is always offered if needed.

I would say that one of my biggest takeaways from this virtual experience was that I left with a far better understanding of what life is like at the company. BW explained what we as graduates would do in each of the departments on the company, how we will get a chance to experience all of these departments in our first year at the company. In addition, I gained a much better understanding of how positive a company it is to work for: current trainees explained how the work-life balance is excellent and how there is always something sociable outside of work going on. Couldn't rate this experience highly enough in this regard.

The values of the company were introduced to us very early on in the day, and these core principles ran throughout the day, with each member of the team reinforcing how these values create a great culture in the company. Moreover, the current trainees and staff there all confirmed that the company culture is excellent and promotes an atmosphere of cooperation rather than a hostile and competitive spirit. This virtual experience was very useful in helping me understand the culture of the company.

The content during the virtual experience was very useful as it gave me a flavour of each different career path in the company itself. Furthermore, the virtual experience and its content helped me to see what different stages I would need to go through in order to qualify as an actuary. This virtual experience definitely made me feel more equipped going forward with my job applications, as it gave me insight as to what life as a trainee consultant is like.

I was originally meant to be doing an internship with the company for which I would have been paid, but as a result of COVID-19, the internship was unfortunately cancelled. As such I didn't get paid in as a result of working there. Instead, BW paid me as good will gesture in recognition of the disappointment caused by their decision to cancel the internship. Moreover, I was reimbursed travelling expenses for the original interview I had for the internship itself.

Yes, there were plenty of opportunities for meeting other employees at the firm. In the virtual experience, we were given presentations by lots of different employees at the firm, ranging from a former senior partner to current trainees. In addition, there were opportunities to talk in small groups with employees who gave us a closer insight to the company, as well as other students who had been invited to the virtual experience. Moreover, the employees were happy to connect on LinkedIn which allows for further networking opportunities.

Again, as I mentioned previously, the employees at the firm were happy to connect on LinkedIn which allows for networking opportunities in the future. Furthermore, the virtual experience was organised such that we could talk to current trainees about working in the company in a less formal and more sociable way. They also talked to us about the numerous social event opportunities that take place in the company, should we be accepted onto the graduate scheme.

During the virtual experience, we had a small group meeting with current trainees who told us about all of the social opportunities and activities that go on at the company. These ranged from sports events to trips abroad, of which the employees spoke very highly of. The small group session allowed us to ask any questions we had regarding social activities and events that employees can get involved with outside of work. It was clear to see that there are plenty of social activities to get involved with.

I would definitely recommend this virtual experience to a friend. It gave me a better understanding of what life at the company is like both inside the workplace - with regards to career paths, exams and culture - outside the workplace - with respect to the work-life balance, and all of the social activities. In addition, all of the questions I had about life at the company and how to prepare for the final interview were answered.