Pensions actuarial intern Review

Day to day, you are assigned tasks from various people within the firm but typically it is people within your team. You often are tasked with Individual cases which are revaluing pensions to either a current date or date of retirement to calculate how much a firm should pay a client. You will also be given other work and you can request different types of work as well as exploring other departments within the firm.

I have definitely improved my communication skills as you are talking to different people everyday. I have developed my problem solving skills as it can be very easy to rely on other people to fix an issue for you, it is also satisfying to be self sufficient and find out/resolve an issue for yourself. Overall, it will develop both your soft and hard skills. You will learn something new everyday about the industry and firm as well as things which can develop your skills.

You are working on client accounts practically from the start. Primarily, week 1 you are given training and parts of week 2, bust as soon as this is completed you are put onto client work. Although, that may sound daunting the firm has a do, check review process - so although you are given responsibility there is a safety net. No one expects you to know everything and they will run through it from the start, you can ask as many questions as you like without judgement!

The training at the start is very thorough they go through what the firm does as a whole, the different roles people play in the firm and you gain understanding of how valuations happen such as lessons on mortality and the other assumptions. Once you start working on clients every job is fully explained to you and gone through. Even towards the end of the internship even if you're doing similar work if you still need explanations they are given to you.

The company is exactly how they describe and you also get a sense of it in the interview. Everyone is extremely friendly and easy to get along with you. You could ask an analyst a question or a partner and both are just as approachable. There are lots of social events and you'll find each year has a different cohort, so you become close with the other interns in your group. It's a lovely firm to work for !

I thoroughly enjoyed the internship and would happily do it again! You meet lovely people who brighten your day, you get to discover more about the industry to potentially want to work in which is really good. You get to have a feel for a 9-5 job and how that suits you. The social side is very good I had multiple at my time there as well as lunches and dinners. The lunches are particularly good to meet everyone.

Yes

The best advice I would give is give your application the best shot it may seem long to fill it out in the first place but show you have a genuine interest and if possible show your personality within the application. If you get an interview be proud of yourself and let your confidence shine through as the more comfortable you are the better they will be able to asses if you're a good fit for the firm.