Selling Yourself

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(No Transcript)
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Selling Yourself

• The Resume

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Preparation

• Learn How to Put a Resume Together
• Consult with Online Writing Lab
• http//owl.english.purdue.edu/
• Read literature or consult the internet
• Get Material for Your Resume
• Keep active and involved
• Document your activities and what you learned
  from them

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Basic Guides

• Limit it to a single page
• Keep things simple and bullet pointed
• Prioritize your achievements and only select a
  few you are most proud of
• Do not lie or mislead
• Do not list references, but make them available
  upon request
• Have it proofread

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Sections

• Heading (name and contact information)
• Objective
• Qualifications
• Job History
• Achievements

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Objective

• Full-time or internship
• If Full-time, state your preference of
• Insurance company or consulting
• Property/Casualty or Life/Health

• Example
• Bad
• A job in the financial services industry
• Good
• A full-time actuarial position with a
  Property/Casualty insurance company where I can
  utilize my strong analytical skills and progress
  towards professional designation

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Qualifications

• Exams
• Classes
• GPA
• Estimated Graduation Date
• PC Skills
• Order should emphasize strengths

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Qualifications Bad Example

• Relevant Courses
• Math 210 - Theory of Interest, Math 220 -
  Calculus I, Math 230 - Calculus II, Math 242 -
  Calculus of Several Variables, Math 408 -
  Actuarial Statistics I, Math 409 - Actuarial
  Statistics II, Math 415 - Linear Algebra, Math
  469 - Methods of Applied Statistics, Math 471 -
  Actuarial Theory I, Math 472 - Actuarial Theory
  II, Math 476 - Actuarial Risk Theory, Math 477 -
  Survival Analysis, Math 478 - Actuarial Modeling,
  CS 105 - Introduction to Computing, CS 125 -
  Intro to Computer Science, Econ 102 -
  Microeconomic Principles, Econ 103 -
  Macroeconomic Principles, Econ 302 - Intermediate
  Microeconomics Theory, Econ 303 - Intermediate
  Macroeconomics Theory, Fin 221 - Corporate
  Finance, Fin 230 - Introduction to Insurance, Fin
  300 - Financial Markets, Fin 321 - Advanced
  Corporate Finance, Fin 431 - Property-Liability
  Insurance, Fin 432 - Managing Fin Risk for
  Insurers, Fin 434 - Employee Benefit Plans

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Qualifications Good Example

• Relevant Courses
• Mathematical Theory of Interest Macroeconomics
  Macroeconomics
• Multivariate Calculus Statistical Theory and
  Probability
• Linear Algebra Actuarial Modeling
• Differential Equations Introduction to
  Statistics
• Introduction to Actuarial Science Probability
  and Models
• C Programming Financial and Managerial
  Accounting
• Course number not as important as name or
  description

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Job History

• Internships
• Tutoring/Teaching
• Other
• Emphasize
• What you did
• What you learned
• Skills applied or improved

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Job History Bad Example

• Job History
• Internship with XYZ Insurance Company
• I ran some data from the mainframe and put it
  into spreadsheet that was distributed to several
  people weekly.
• Stockperson for The College Bookstore
• Stocked new inventory on shelves and reorganized
  books on shelves for customers who put them in
  the wrong place.

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Job History Good Example

• Job History
• Actuarial Internship with ABC Insurance Company
  (June 2007-August 2007)
• I learned about the Auto line of business and
  basic actuarial techniques by performing rate
  reviews for the states of Illinois and Indiana.
  In the process, I learned about the underwriting
  and market impacts of the proposed rate changes
  through meetings with the underwriters to discuss
  and refine the proposal.
• Math Tutor (September 2006-May 2007)
• Helped students in the remedial Calculus class
  that were having difficulty understanding the
  concept in the way it is traditionally taught. I
  did this by trying alternate methods to teach the
  subject until one was found that worked with the
  student.
• Manager for The College Bookstore (June
  2006-August 2007)
• My responsibilities included the training of new
  employees, developing weekly schedules for all
  employees to ensure proper coverage, and closing
  of the store three nights a week.

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Achievements

• Clubs
• Activities
• Awards
• Keep to a reasonable number

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Activities/Achievements Bad Example

• Activities/Achievements
• Member of Math Club
• Member of Actuary Club
• Member of Science Club
• Member of XYZ Fraternity
• Member of Chess Club
• Honor Roll (Fall 2006 to present)
• National Merit Scholarship Recipient

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Activities/Achievements Good Example

• Activities/Achievements
• Member of the Science Club (August 2007 to
  present)
• I redesigned the Clubs website to capture a
  calendar of events all members could reference,
  built an electronic mailing list of members, and
  created a group mailbox where members could
  submit questions/comments to the officers of the
  Club.
• Member of the Chess Club (August 2006 to present)
• I headed the New Member Committee to drive
  increased membership in the Club. We put
  together a campaign of advertising to drive
  interest in the Club, and the result was a 50
  increase in membership over the past two years.

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Selling Yourself

• Links Between Resume and Interview

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Goals of Interview

• Communicate your own needs and desires
• Establish that you are qualified for the position
• Differentiate yourself from other candidates

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How Resume Helps you with the Interview

• A well written resume gives you some control of
  the interview
• Interviewer will most likely scan your resume and
  begin the conversation there
• Resume should highlight key skills and
  experiences
• When at a loss for a talking point, look to your
  resume for guidance
• If you are not comfortable discussing something,
  DO NOT put it on your resume
• Bottom line Be able to discuss past experiences
  that convey leadership and other key skills

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Contacts

• jennifer.throm_at_cna.com
• aaron.kock_at_cna.com
• john.raatz_at_cna.com