Campus Club ambassador Luke Buell shares tips for preparing for actuarial interviews, including highlighting your experiences, researching companies, and using the STAR method to deliver strong answers.
Knowing how to crush an interview is valuable in any career, especially in the field of actuarial science. I am a sophomore at Robert Morris University and have already done my fair share of interviews. This fall, I interviewed with UPMC and will be joining them as an intern over the summer. Through my various interviews, I learned a lot about the best ways to prepare.
Most candidates have the important actuarial items like related coursework, good grades, and exams. However, to put yourself ahead, it’s important to speak about your other values as well. For example, prepare to talk about leadership positions, extracurriculars, and volunteering. All of these can give interviewers special insight into who you are and whether you would be a good fit for their team.
Another important part of interview preparation is researching the company and understanding the job description. It’s helpful to know some facts about them, what business they do, and any recent news. This can demonstrate your knowledge and help you develop questions that show interviewers you are interested in the company.
Finally, dress professionally, review your resume, and practice. Knowing your resume like the back of your hand and practicing common interview questions ensures you aren’t caught off guard and can answer any questions they may have.
Using your resume to recall instances where you overcame a challenge, worked on a team, or demonstrated leadership can be a quick way to deliver insightful answers to many typical questions. Additionally, developing these answers using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) creates concise responses that give your interviewer exactly what they are looking for.
Interviewing can be a daunting process, but if you prepare appropriately, nothing can stop you from presenting your best self and landing the opportunity you’ve worked incredibly hard for.
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Luke Buell is a sophomore at Robert Morris University studying actuarial science. So far in his academic career, he has passed both Exam P and Exam FM. He plans to take Exam SRM during his junior year and Exam FAM during his senior year. In addition, he will be joining UPMC as an intern this summer.
Beyond academics, Luke is actively involved in the university’s actuarial science club, where he serves as both a mentor and a leader. He also volunteers in his community, including helping prepare taxes for individuals in need.
Outside of school and volunteering, Luke is an avid movie enthusiast and enjoys playing video games such as Sekiro and Elden Ring.