Tag Archives: Mathematics

Mia, Insurance, Pensions and Actuarial

During her final year of doing Mathematics, Mia was matched with a mentor who at the time of the partnership was a Senior Pension Consultant and Pension Scheme Actuary at JLT.  This mentor helped Mia who wanted to get into the Insurance, Pension and Actuarial sector by providing career guidance and advice.

Mia told us more about how the Career Mentor Scheme helped her develop her career path:

Apart from achieving all objectives, which were set at the beginning of their partnership, such as increasing Mia’s knowledge of effective application forms in this sector, improving her personal development skills and widening her contacts, other achieved objectives included: “Networking with other actuaries, gaining and insight into the occupation, help with CV and cover letters, understanding what skills and qualities are most important for the job”.

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What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

I really enjoyed the pre-arranged meeting with the mentor. […] I felt that it really helped me get to know Terry and gain a better relationship with me from our following email conversations.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

Being put in contact with an Actuary is probably one of the most useful opportunities I’ve received from the Career Zone. My mentor gave me ample information about the actuarial world, put me in contact with other actuaries (extremely helpful in terms of asking more questions and gaining further insight) and most importantly he gave me confidence that I am capable of succeeding in this career. He gave me reassurance that failing an exam is not uncommon and I should use this only to become more determined and try until I do succeed.

What message would you give to a student thinking of applying for the Career Mentor Scheme?

If you are unsure as to whether your career choice is the right one, get a career mentor. They can give you that insight you need and help you decide whether it’s right for you. Come prepared with questions and don’t be afraid to ask for help – that’s what they’re there for and why they have decided to mentor you!!

Peter, Science

Interested in the Science sector, Peter was at the end of his second year of doing Mathematics when he was matched with a Research Scientist at NASA.

After completing his BSc in Mathematics at Exeter, this mentor red an MSc in Computation Modelling and then a PhD Mathematics at Exeter. His previous employment includes being a Postdoctoral researcher at the Engineering department at the University, investigating the use of Open FOAM to research the optimal positioning of a wind turbine.

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Peter achieved many objectives, such as received help with his CV, getting academic support and increasing his confidence to seek graduate level employment. Here is what he shared with us at the end of the scheme;

What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Really enthusiastic and helpful emails from my mentor. He came across as a person who genuinely wanted to help.

What message would you give to a student thinking of applying for the Career Mentor Scheme?

It’s a really helpful scheme for anyone seeking career/academic guidance and support.

Sam, Banking and Financial Services

Second year Mathematics student, Sam was successfully matched with a mentor working at Lloyds Bank as a National Director of Business Development, SME Banking. After graduating from a French degree at Exeter, this mentor pursued a career in the Banking and Finance sector. His previous employment includes various different roles at Lloyds Bank.

The partnership started at the end of Sam’s second year and continued until October of his final year. Sam shared some insight from the scheme with us:

Apart from obtaining help to prepare for his next steps for graduate level employment and receiving help with application forms and cover letters, Sam also learned more about the good and bad aspects of working in the Banking and Finance sector.

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What were the highlights of the scheme for you?

Meeting with my mentor and getting to know him was a highlight, as was the opportunity to use him as a source of help in the future.

What did you find most useful from the mentoring experience?

I found the networking opportunities most useful together with getting to know an important figure within Lloyds Bank.

What message would you give to a student thinking of applying for the Career Mentor Scheme?

Getting to know someone on a professional level who wants to help you succeed gave me encouragement and confidence when applying for jobs.