Networking tips for junior actuarial professionals

Being an actuary is not just about using data to predict future trends and assess financial risk. You also need to be able to communicate that data in a way that makes sense to your stakeholders. That means relationships are a crucial part of your actuarial career, and it’s important to start building your network right at the start of your journey.

In our Actuary of the Future podcast series, I caught up with Bronwyn Lyons (planning actuary) and Zeeshan Mohid (actuarial analyst) from Allianz UK, Katerina Ioannidou (senior actuarial analyst) and Rachel Daly (actuarial analyst) from Argenta Syndicate Management Ltd, and Devan Vadher (senior insurance risk analyst) of Aspen Insurance Group, all of whom have found that networking is crucial to opening up new perspectives and increasing your understanding.

What were our panel’s key tips?

Put yourself out there – putting yourself forward for new projects will showcase your willingness to learn and widen your skillset, as well as giving you the chance to meet people from different teams.

Relate on things outside work – getting to know someone outside the work environment gives you an insight into who they are as a person, and therefore, how best to engage with them inside the work environment. A chat over lunch or at a social event is a great opportunity to strengthen your relationships.

Start internally – by being around more senior members of the team, you’ll learn by osmosis and have support when you need it. Growing your relationships with familiar faces will also help you build your confidence for networking outside the team and learning about other areas of the business.

Attend industry events – raising your profile in the industry is key to learning about the latest trends in the actuarial profession and building contacts who can connect you with future opportunities.

Listen to our Actuary of the Future podcast for more useful tips from our panel!

If you’re looking to take the next step on your actuarial journey, I’d love to talk to you about where you are now and where you want to go. Please get in touch with me now.