What Liam thinks...
Liam Carswell From Durham Studying Mathematics Position Actuarial Assistant
What was the interview process like? This consisted of an application form, telephone interview and assessment centre. It was tough but it’s a two way process – you need to see if the company is right for you. Talking to staff at the assessment centre was a great opportunity to discover more about the company. How much responsibility were you given? I was given more responsibility than I expected - the jobs given to interns are exactly the same as those given to new graduates. These included performing individual member calculations, checking data for actuarial valuations and drafting reports to trustees.
I was really surprised by how welcoming and supportive my colleagues were. Where has your experience exceeded your expectations? Aside from the responsibility and variety of work I was given, I was really surprised by how welcoming and supportive my colleagues were. I think this was the most important factor in how much I enjoyed and learnt from the experience. What has been your biggest challenge? I think the technical nature of the job
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was particularly challenging at first. The types of calculations and spreadsheets were unlike anything I had done before, but the training and support I received from my colleagues enabled me to gain confidence. What was the atmosphere like in your team? The working environment was enjoyable and very supportive - I worked in a small team of around ten people, who were willing to spend time answering my numerous questions. I was also assigned a mentor and we had regular meetings to discuss my progress. How promising are the graduate prospects? Following my internship, I was pleased to be offered a graduate job on completion of my degree. I have now been working for Barnett Waddingham for nine months and I’m still enjoying my job – getting out of bed in the morning is never too difficult!
@RateMyPlacement @BW_LLP very few people know what actuaries do - an internship is the best way to find out whether it’s the career for you! The Top Undergraduate Employers 2014 | 203