"When I was at school, my maths teacher put a brochure on my desk and said lawyers and doctors had come out of his class, but not an actuary, he planted the seed as I had no idea whan an actuary did before then. I kept hold of that brochure and picked a degree that could lead to being an actuary.

At Legal & General you work with people at all levels, so you could be working with a senior level actuary just as easily as with another student. Everyone was a lot more approachable and friendly than I thought they would be. There's a great team spirit and always someone there to help you with what you're doing.

I work in the financial reporting area specialising in annuities. We place a value on the amount of money our company needs to keep to make sure it can pay its customers. Our models use assumptions about how many of our customers may live or die in the future and how their personal circumstances may change through things like marriage or divorce.

At first it seems quite daunting and I was worried that I might make a mistake. But then you just have to think that you're going to learn all of the things you need to know.

It's a flexible career - actuaries are in demand so you're well rewarded and there's good job security. You have to put in a lof of hard work but if you do put in the effort, it's well worth it - and you can go anywhere in the world!"