What To Include On An Actuary Resume + Actuary Skills

Learn about the important requirements, skills, and keywords that should be included in an actuary resume.

Writing an actuary resume requires a laser focus on the skills, credentials, and work experience that will be most compelling to hiring managers. It’s almost a formula: education + certification + skills + experience = calls to interview, job offers, and forward progress in your career.

During the actuary job search process, you’ll likely communicate first with recruiters in the human resources department at your target organization. These recruiters will probably use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to manage your resume and cover letter. Therefore, it’s essential to make sure that your application includes the right keywords from the job listing. Look for words that describe your training, qualifications, and work experience, and then include those terms in your materials.

Below, you’ll find a sample actuary resume, tips on what to include–and what to delete–from your CV, and a list of the most important job skills to include in your resume.

Need help writing your resume? We’ve reviewed the best resume-writing services right now. When you’re happy with your resume, you can start applying for jobs on ZipRecruiter!

Actuary Resume Example

Ella Garcia

Associate Actuary

Contact

Email: ella.garcia@email.com

Phone: (917)555-1010

City: New York, NY

Summary

Certified associate actuary with eight years of experience assessing risk and managing rate files for a top-five health insurance company. I am highly adaptable, a team player, and a skilled communicator. My core strengths include financial analysis, ACA pricing, and proficiency with pricing software.

Work Experience

Associate Actuary

May 2020-Present

Major Health Insurance Corp, New York, NY

Developed and prepared Incurred But Not Reported (IBNR) models, analyzed actual vs budgeted PMPM rates by Category of Service, and performed other forecasting and financial analysis. Acted as a subject matter expert to consultants. Presented complex statistical analysis to project stakeholders.

Actuarial Assistant

May 2020-Present

Major Health Insurance Corp, New York, NY

Supported Chief Actuary in preparing pricing models and financial reports. Assisted with ROI analysis, risk reduction programs, and claim cost analysis. Attained Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA) designation April 2022.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, 2015

New York State University

Certifications

Achieved Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA) designation April 2022

Skills

• Financial analysis
• ACA pricing
• Risk management
• Math skills, e.g. calculus, statistics, probability, financial mathematics
• Problem-solving
• Software: SAS, IBM SPSS Statistics, GGY AXIS, Excel

What Is Unique About An Actuary Resume?

Because actuary jobs require certification, an effective actuary resume must highlight these credentials right up front. Consider choosing a resume format that will emphasize these qualifications, as well as your work experience, studies, and accomplishments in the field.

For many actuary job candidates, a chronological resume will be the most appropriate format. You might also choose to write your resume in combination format, which allows you to include a summary statement at the top of the page and work history in chronological order.

What Should Be Included On An Actuary Resume?

An actuary resume should include all the information necessary to demonstrate the skill set and preparation necessary for the job. Consider highlighting the following on your resume:

• Bachelor’s degree in actuarial science, business, mathematics, or a related field
• Coursework in economics, statistics, corporate finance, mathematics, computer science, or similar
• GPA, especially early in your career
• Certification from the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS)–for actuaries who work in property or casualty–or the Society of Actuaries (SOA)–for actuaries who work in finance, life insurance, retirement benefits, etc.
• Licensure, if required
• Technology skills, e.g., proficiency with statistical and financial analysis software and knowledge of programming languages like R and Python
• Language skills
• Actuarial work experience, including prior jobs, internships, and research

What Should Be Left Off An Actuary Resume?

Modern resumes don’t need to be restricted to one page. However, it’s a good idea to focus your CV on the skills and qualifications that are most desirable to hiring managers. In the actuarial field, this means highlighting your work experience, training, and certifications–and cutting anything that will distract recruiters from your relevant skills.

With this in mind, you can delete any of the following:

• Unrelated work experience: Actuary resumes should be focused on actuarial work experience. If you’re a student or early-career actuary, you can include related coursework and internships.
• Personal information: You may choose to include hobbies if they’re related to your work or demonstrate positive qualities such as leadership skills or the ability to work with others. But steer clear of references to your family life, health, or anything else that might leave employers open to accusations of discrimination.
• A headshot or fancy formatting: Actuaries work in industries that are fairly traditional. Resist the urge to use complex fonts or graphics. Hiring managers will care about your skills and qualifications. They’re not expecting you to be a graphic designer.
• An objective statement: Although you can include an objective statement in your resume, you’re probably better off using a summary or profile statement. An objective says what you’re looking for in a job, while a summary says what you have to offer. It’s also slightly longer than an objective, which gives you more opportunity to include keywords from the job description.

Important Job Skills For Actuaries

In addition to highlighting education, certification, and work experience an effective actuary resume will showcase specific job skills. These include mathematical and technical skills, which will vary somewhat depending on your field and career level. You should also list your soft skills, which show that you work well with people.

Here are a few actuary job skills that you can include on your resume:

• Risk management
• Financial analysis
• Data analysis
• Actuarial valuations
• Math skills, e.g. calculus, statistics, probability, financial mathematics
• Problem-solving
• Written and verbal communication
• Leadership
• Statistical software, e.g., SAS, IBM SPSS Statistics, Insightful S-PLUS
• Financial analysis software, e.g., GGY AXIS, Oak Mountain Software AnnuityValue, Towers Perrin MoSes
• Programming languages, e.g., C++, R, Python
• Microsoft Office (specifically, Excel and PowerPoint)

The Bottom Line

An effective resume for actuary jobs will showcase your most relevant experience and qualifications, without a lot of fluff or unrelated achievements.

Need help preparing your resume? Check out the best resume-writing services and get a free resume review today. When you’re ready to start your job search, use your new resume and start applying for jobs on ZipRecruiter!