1. The Pennsylvania State University Actuarial Science Club August 2017
Interview Workshop
The Pennsylvania State University
Actuarial Science Club
August 2017

2. Agenda Career Fair Tips Interview Prep Interview Breakdown
Professionalism & General Tips

3. Career Fair Tips: 30 Second Pitch
Never ask someone what their company does – Research them before.
Bring a portfolio with multiple copies of your resume.
Ask intelligent questions and make conversation.
Be prepared. Be confident.
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4. Purpose of the Interview
Shows you are more than a piece of paper
Showcase Your Personality
Learn about the company and the position to see if it is the right fit for you
Two-Way Interview
Why should they hire you instead of the next Joe Shmoe?
Show Value to Employer
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5. Before the Interview
Do research on the companies you are interested in
Dress for Success
Interview and Career Fair – Business Professional
Suit, Tie, Polished Dress Shoes, Matching Socks
Info Sessions – Business Casual (unless specified otherwise)
Understand the difference!
Smart Casual ≠ Business Casual ≠ Business Professional
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6. What is their internship program like?
Researching a Company
What is their internship program like?
Company Information
Find aspects that make it stand out
Review the skills they are looking for
Lines of Business
Recent Initiatives
Company Mission Statement/Values
Ask good questions
Company Info Sessions
Show off knowledge about company (without going over the top)
Evaluate if the company is a good fit
Be ready to answer “Why do you want to work for us?”
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7. The Interview Traditional Usually on Campus or by Phone Behavioral
1st Round
Usually on Campus or by Phone
II.
Behavioral
III.
Case
2nd Round
Usually On-Site
IV.
Analytical
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8. Traditional Questions
Tell me about yourself.
Why do you want to be an actuary?
What makes you interested in our company?
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
What are your strengths/weaknesses?
Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
Tell me about [something on your resume].
What was your preparation strategy for the last actuarial exam you took?
What was your favorite/least favorite course that you’ve taken?
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9. Behavioral Questions Tell me about a time when you…
demonstrated leadership.
went above and beyond.
made a suggestion that was implemented.
worked on a team with someone who didn’t pull their weight.
made an unpopular decision.
made a mistake.
failed at something the first time and tried it again.
balanced multiple commitments.
solved a conflict.
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10. Case Overview
30-45 min. interview – Pace yourself, spend time asking background questions
Presented with a business problem (probably a topic you will not be familiar with)
Collaborate with interviewer (interviewer led vs. interviewee led) to arrive at a solution
Assess your thought-process (not about the “right” answer) in solving business issues
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11. You won’t know the answer – just talk through your reasoning!
Analytical Questions
You won’t know the answer – just talk through your reasoning!
They’re looking for your logic, not the final answer (but a close answer definitely helps!)
How many taxi cabs are there in NYC?
Could I fit a stack of pennies as tall as the Empire State Building in this conference room?
How many windows are there in the business building?
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12. Other Common Questions
Be prepared to talk about…
Industry Trend
Company News
Popular Topic in Company’s Field
Be prepared to explain…
A concept you learned in class to someone without actuarial knowledge
Note: This is a very common one!
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13. Professional Attitude
Portray that you are willing to learn
Respectful yet Relaxed
No matter how qualified, you are still an unproven entry-level candidate - act like it
Confident but not Arrogant
“Would I want to work with this person?”
Conversational, Personable Interview
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14. General Interview Tips
Do pause to collect your thoughts
Do give concise & detailed answers
Do ask good questions
Do practice (mock interviews)
Do not ramble
Do not complain or make excuses
Do not speak negatively
Do not fret if one or two questions don’t go well
Do’s
Don’ts
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15. Thank You Follow-Up
Send a thank-you note/ to everyone who interviewed you
Remember to get contact information
Personalize responses – Recruiters can spot canned responses
Be concise – Recruiters are busy
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16. FAQs
If I already received/accepted an interview with my dream company, should I cancel a second round interview with another company?
We asked many recruiters, and in general, they responded that you should respectfully cancel a second round interview if you’ve already accepted somewhere else, but you should still attend (and show interest in) an interview if you have not accepted elsewhere. Who knows – maybe you’ll end up loving this company after all!
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17. Recap Evaluate Fit: Are you right for them? Are they right for you?
Communication Skills/Personality/Leadership
Dedication to Actuarial Career
Extracurriculars (Transferrable skills)
Leadership Skills
“What made you want to be an actuary?”
Prior Internships
Attempted Exams
Major
Technical Skills
Time Management (Work-Exam-Life Balance)
Passed Exams
GPA
MS Excel, MS Access, VBA, coding
Responsibilities outside of classroom (work, extracurriculars)
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18. Mock Interview Each exec member is a company
Prepare your 30 sec. pitch
Answer 1 traditional, behavioral, or analytical question
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19. Questions?

20. Appendix I: References
See this site for numerous events hosted by Career Services
See our Resume page for sample resumes and templates
Last Updated on 3/18/16 by Steve Kowalski
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