In this blog, Chloe Hung, Amazon best-selling author talks about the resources around you which can help you build your actuarial network, from dressing appropriately to helping and supporting others. 

Landing your first actuarial job is very much determined by your relationships and connectedness with other people. In other words, the bigger your network, the easier will it be for you to land a full time actuarial offer upon graduation. Therefore, it’s essential you start building up your actuarial network from an early stage. Career fairs, networking events, actuarial seminars and volunteering at some of the IFoA events are all great places for you to start.

However, you must first understand what is networking all about in order to fully utilise these events and network effectively. Networking is about constructing relationships with individuals who are happy to tell others about you and what you do. It is all about what you are able to offer to support others and not about what others can do for you. Successful actuarial graduates understand that the referrals and job offer may come later but in the first instance in order to build relationships they must be seen as having something to give. Therefore, take some time to think about what do you have to offer when you are trying to network with an individual.

Most actuarial students dread networking because this is not an area of strength for them. Hence, these students tend to just rely on their friends’ and families’ network to land a job. Some students try to attend all sorts of actuarial career fairs or networking events because they want to meet as many actuarial professionals as possible and personally deliver them their CVs. These events are definitely helpful but if you don’t know how to network effectively, you are just wasting your time there.

The actuaries who are present at those events will generally meet so many students and receive so many CVs that you will be forgotten within a few minutes if you do not leave a lasting impression on them. And the main reason why many students don’t leave a lasting impression on employers is because they are always hoping to gain something for themselves from networking with these employers. If you are guilty of this, then, it’s time for you to change.

Begin networking by trying to help and support other people. Instead of aiming for that future job offer, aim to build up a relationship with the other individual. This slight change in your mindset will make you look more confident in front of the professionals. Remember, these networking events are going to be your “show time” because this is your best chance to shine.

Dress professionally and be well prepared by bringing copies of your CVs and business cards at these events. Remember to put on a happy face even though you may be having a really bad day. These events are not where you want to bring your troubles to. Employers will look forward to meeting you if you are energetic, positive and outgoing. Most importantly, prepare to listen with focus. The rule of thumb is to listen twice as much as you speak because this shows that you are concerned and interested.

Remember, these employers receive innumerable introductions from students at these events. Therefore, it’s critical you maintain their interest in you when you engage them initially in conversation. Whilst it may be crucial to show employers what you can do, it’s even more crucial you listen with focus to the other individual and genuinely engage in what they are saying to you. Interesting students who leave an impression on employers are those who are interested in others.

It is also equally important that you portray yourself honestly and are up front about any of your weaknesses. Some students may exaggerate about their own skills by being untruthful. This is a big no when it comes to networking as nobody likes being lied to. Always know what your objective is and train yourself to articulate it to future employers in a clear and confident way. Building trust is the basis to all successful networking.

Always be your genuine self at a networking event. Don’t try to be interesting in front of employers. There is a big difference between being interested and in trying to be interesting. If you are interested in learning about someone and their company entirely for the sake of learning about the other person you will leave a lasting impression as someone who really cares. At the end of the day, a lasting impression is how you’ll build that strong actuarial network.