Tarun is an Graduate Actuarial Consultant (Non-Life) at KPMG, and joins me for another Early Careers special!

I was really keen to find out more about the challenges of securing an entry-level actuarial role in the UK for international students, and the steps Tarun took to give himself every opportunity of being successful.

Tarun is a fantastic example of someone who recognised the need for developing new skills, networking, research, seeking feedback and having a thorough application strategy to achieve his goals.

I also loved hearing about how he passed his first actuarial exam at the age of just 18!

Please connect with Tarun here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarunagarwal29/

Thanks for sharing your journey Tarun!!

Mentioned in this episode:

Actuarial People is sponsored by my recruitment company Turner Perkins. I specialise in helping pensions actuarial professionals across all experience levels with their career moves. Please visit https://turnerperkins.com or email james.turner@turnerperkins.com to arrange a confidential conversation!

TP Website

Today, I chat with Gary Gallacher, an investment consultant who took a unique path into the actuarial world. He shares his journey from the Highlands of Scotland to Leeds, and how a chance encounter led him to discover actuarial science while studying at Heriot Watt University. Gary talks about his struggles with mental health, the impact of education on his life, and how he found his niche in investment consulting. We dive into the importance of building support networks and how personal experiences shape our professional journeys. Gary's insights on embracing opportunities and implementing new ideas provide valuable lessons for anyone starting out in the industry.

I hope you enjoy the conversation!

Please connect with Gary here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garygallacher/

Mentioned in this episode:

Actuarial People is sponsored by my recruitment company Turner Perkins. I specialise in helping pensions actuarial professionals across all experience levels with their career moves. Please visit https://turnerperkins.com or email james.turner@turnerperkins.com to arrange a confidential conversation!

TP Website

Tom is VP, Actuarial & Business Intelligence at Euclid Transactional and joins me as part of my mini-series focussed on early careers.

Tom draws on his experience of being a GI Actuary in both the UK and the US, and his extensive experience of hiring and training actuarial graduates.

During the conversation we learn how:

• Practicing interviews and getting mock interview experience can help build confidence.
• Tailoring your CV and application to each job increases your chances of standing out.
• Confidence in communication is more important than technical knowledge during assessments.
• Networking and seeking feedback from peers can greatly improve your application process.

Tom also emphasises the importance of starting your job applications early, while suggesting some alternative options if you have left it too late.

I hope you enjoy the conversation!

Please connect with Tom here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-creasy-1a018140/

Mentioned in this episode:

Actuarial People is sponsored by my recruitment company Turner Perkins. I specialise in helping pensions actuarial professionals across all experience levels with their career moves. Please visit https://turnerperkins.com or email james.turner@turnerperkins.com to arrange a confidential conversation!

TP Website