Want to pursue an actuarial internship but not sure what to expect? Learn more about what an actuarial intern does at Towers Watson here…
Why did you choose the actuarial profession?
Mathematics has always been my passion and studying it at university encouraged me to find a profession in which I could utilise the skills I have learnt, and apply them to real life situations. At Imperial College I particularly enjoyed the Probability and Statistics modules and becoming an actuary seemed to be the natural career choice.
I applied to Towers Watson for the internship, as it would enable me to decide whether this was the right career path.
The internship
I was involved with client work from the first day. The tasks ranged from drafting client communications like updating reports, to more involved tasks such as performing pension calculations. We were also provided with specialist training sessions, introducing us to new terminology and software that we would be working with over the following six weeks.
Interns are each allocated a buddy, who helps both with the work and settling into the office environment. What makes Towers Watson a great place to work is that every member of the company is friendly and happy to talk to you. There are also numerous opportunities to get to know your colleagues through the regular social activities that are organised.
What have you learned?
Before starting the internship I had no idea what an actuary did and what their day-to-day tasks involved. I now know how dynamic their working life is and I have decided that I would like to become an actuary, as it provides the challenge and diversity I would like to have in a career.
As well as understanding how the pensions industry works, I have also learnt a whole host of new skills such as time management, organisational skills, and confidence in speaking.
Tips for applicants
The final stage of the application process is the assessment centre, which is also an opportunity to discover whether Towers Watson is the right company for you. Everyone is very friendly and keen to answer questions. So make sure you research the company and prepare a range of questions that you could ask during the assessment centre. Finally, just relax and be yourself on the day!
