The University of Kent
Careers and Employability Service
Actuarial and Maths Careers Presentation
You can download a copy of this presentation at
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm
Skills gained on a Maths/Actuarial
Degree
Maths/Actuarial graduates are
attractive to many employers
because of their:
 Ability to analyse information
in a logical way
 Investigative and problem
solving skills.
 Numeracy
 IT skills
 Especially finance &
computing
Destinations of Kent Maths Graduates
What can I do with a Maths degree
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/maths.htm
Destinations of Kent Actuarial Graduates
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/actuarial.htm
MATHS/ACTUARIAL JOB AREAS
 Actuarial Work:
insurance firms (Friends
Provident) and
Consultancies (Mercer)
 Statistical Work: GSS
 Pensions Analyst: Deloitte,
Nat West Bank
 Defence: GCHQ, DSTL
 Operational Research:
GORS
 Accountancy: KPMG/PWC
 Computing: Logica,
FDM
 Banking: Lloyds TSB
 Teaching: PGCE
 Tax: Coutts Bank
 Risk Management
Actuary
Relatively small profession – far less jobs than accountancy
Consulting actuary
• More people skills needed
• Towers Perrin, Mercers
• Early closing dates
Insurance company actuary
• Slightly less competition
• AXA, Sun Life
What can I do with an Actuarial Science degree?
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/actuarial.htm
Inside Careers Actuarial Careers Guide
www.insidecareers.co.uk
Accountancy
 Biggest recruiter of graduates in the UK.
PWC and KPMG recruit 1,000 graduates
each
 3 years training whilst working – paid a
salary
 Audit, tax and consultancy
 Some similarities with actuarial work
 Focus on good A Level grades.
 Main area is Chartered Accountancy
(ACA), but also Certified, Management
and Public Sector Accountancy
• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/accountancy.htm
Banking
Retail Banking
• Similar to shop work! Selling loans and managing accounts
Investment Banking
• Much more competitive.
• Get internships in your second year and apply early in your final
year
• High A Level grades normally needed.
Statistician
Analyses and interprets data. Collects information, analyses it
using statistical methods and computer programs such as SPSS.
Interprets data for clients and users. Writes reports.
EMPLOYERS: The largest employer is the Government
Statistical Service GSS which employs 700 staff in more than 30
departments.
Medical Statistics is also another large area with some major
hospitals having statistical units.
Biometrists work as statisticians in the pharmaceutical industry, as
researchers in medical schools and hospitals and in agricultural
institutes.
SATISFACTIONS: intellectual stimulation of work.
NEGATIVES: spend most of time in the office.
DEGREE: Normally mathematics, statistics, economics or other
statistics-related degrees. Graduates in other subjects can do an
MSc in statistics.
“SCIENTIFIC” MATHEMATICS
•
Scientific Officer - Qinetiq (2),Research Project Ass't - Pfizer
•
Defence industry and other science and engineering companies: mathematical modeling
and designing algorithms. The work is often research orientated and can be intellectually
stimulating
GCHQ www.gchq.gov.uk national intelligence and security
•
HM Government Communications Centre www.hmgcc.gov.uk
•
QinetiQ (an agency of the Ministry of Defence)
•
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (dstl) (explosives/weapons technology)
www.dstl.gov.uk/careers/index.php
•
Defence Engineering and Science Group (DESG www.desg.mod.uk
•
BAe Systems global aerospace and defence
•
AWE www.awe.co.uk (Atomic Weapons Establishment)
•
Roke Manor Research communications research lab. of Siemens specialising in AEA
Technology www.aeat.co.uk does contract research
•
The Met Office
Teaching
• £20,000 bursary with 1st or 2:1
Three ways in:
• PGCE
• Schools Direct
• Teach First
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/siteach.htm
CHOOSING A CAREER
Prospects Planner: powerful career choice program
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/PPlanner
Choosing a career web pages
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Choosing/ChoosingCareer.htm
Information on many different careers
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin.htm
 Actuarial CV
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/actuary-cv.htm
 Maths CV
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/mathematics-cv.htm
• Finance and teaching practice interviews
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/mockivs.htm
Careers Talks and Employer
Presentations
www.kent.ac.uk/ces/events/index.html
VACANCY AND WORK EXPERIENCE DATABASE
www.kent.ac.uk/ces/vacancies.html
Apply for jobs in the first term – vacancy emails
every Monday
Graduate Employer Directories are available in
Careers Service
Careers Employability Award on Moodle
• Half the unemployment rate for students completing the award
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm
• DP2650
•
Email bw@kent.ac.uk if you have problems enrolling
www.kent.ac.uk/careers Telephone: 01227 823299 Email: careerhelp@kent.ac.uk
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9 to 5 including vacations
Drop-in times (no appointment needed: 15 minutes): 10.30 to 12.30 and 2 to 4 pm
Help given for up to 3 years after graduation
Weekly careers emails every Monday afternoon
The University of Kent
Careers and Employability Service
You can download a copy of this presentation
at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm
WEB PAGES
 Applications and Interviews (includes assessment
centres and psychometric tests etc.)
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm
 Example CVs & Covering Letters
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm
 Practice Interviews
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/mockivs.htm
 Interview videos www.kent.ac.uk/careers/IntVid.htm
Careers Network
 Helps current Kent students gain an
insight into careers through contact with
alumni - graduates of the University.
 Information interviews, advice by
letter/phone/email, work-shadowing.
 Visit the Careers Centre and ask to use
the Careers Network at reception.
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/careersnetwork.htm
Careers Fair
12 - 3 pm. Tues Nov 5th Sports Centre
Meet employers from all sectors offering graduate
jobs, placements and summer internships. Find
out about the opportunities they offer and get firsthand advice and information. Everybody
welcome, whatever your year or subject of study.
PWC, Morgan Stanley, Teach First, AXA, Barclays
etc. www.kent.ac.uk/ces/careersfair