I'm currently a data analyst at a healthcare consulting firm in Boston, and am considering a career shift to become an actuary. I was a math major in undergrad, and have worked in data analytics for the last three years. I currently work roughly ~45 hours and week, and have time to train 15-20 hours (I'm 25, no kids, etc). That's great for now, but progression at my current company - both in terms of increased compensation and position - seems pretty slow. I've spoken to a few folks who are actuaries and are encouraging a switch, but none are athletes, and I'm hoping to get feedback from people with similar interests and lifestyle to mine.
Assuming I could study for and pass the first two exams successfully, how difficult is it to get hired? What industries afford the best work/life balance? How much paid time do companies give their employees to study for subsequent exams? Beyond that, what kind of hours would I expect to work, and study on my own? Would I have to give up or drastically reduce my training volume to pass the exams and make this a career?
Actuaries are always at the top of the list of 'best' careers, but the big question is if it's an improvement over what I do now, and basically it comes down to whether or not it's worth it to essentially start over, or whether I should focus on moving up, or looking for better positions in my current industry (which seems to be going pretty strong right now). This is obviously a big decision, so I'm trying to gather as much info as possible.
Thanks!
Assuming I could study for and pass the first two exams successfully, how difficult is it to get hired? What industries afford the best work/life balance? How much paid time do companies give their employees to study for subsequent exams? Beyond that, what kind of hours would I expect to work, and study on my own? Would I have to give up or drastically reduce my training volume to pass the exams and make this a career?
Actuaries are always at the top of the list of 'best' careers, but the big question is if it's an improvement over what I do now, and basically it comes down to whether or not it's worth it to essentially start over, or whether I should focus on moving up, or looking for better positions in my current industry (which seems to be going pretty strong right now). This is obviously a big decision, so I'm trying to gather as much info as possible.
Thanks!