How difficult is being an actuary?
Asked by IceQueen
I am in my last year of a maths degree. I am thinking of becoming an actuary. How difficult is it? What kind of people do actuarial companies look for? I've heard it is very hard work, can you still have a decent social life?

Best Answer:
Work as an actuary myself. Exams are very tough, much harder than degree exams. Job is less difficult than the exams. Most of your job would be sitting in front of a computer doing maths, boring to most people but if you like maths then you can enjoy it, I like my job. No problem being an actuary and having a good social life, though depends on firm. Some actuaries work crazy hours, though most have decent balance. Studying takes up a fair amout of non-work time, but still plenty of time to enjoy yourself. Need to have very good maths skills and now firms (well consultancy firms anyway) want people with good communication/social skills. Go for it, it's a handy enough job if you're good at maths and it's well paid
My job
Answered by Ronan D

yea sory
Answered by starzzz

It's rought work. I used to work in actuary and underwriting at an insurance company (not as an actuary). I worked late probably 10 -12 hrs a day most days... and they would still be slaving when I left and there before me when I came in. They seemed really haggard.. but WELL PAID
Answered by Cribber

Most actuaries I have known have tended to be very boring people. The training goes on for years. On the other hand, as a Mathematician and Computer Scientist, I had a long career in the Financial Services industry and spent part of it training actuaries.
Answered by old know all

It has to be one of the easiest jobs in the world. You extrapolate with a bit of fancy algebra which no-one understands to make predictions so far ahead in the future that by the time anyone finds out what a load of rubbish they are you are long gone! Meanwhile you are paid loads of money.
Answered by DIXIE