Actuarial Analyst Review

I found the 12 month placement to be very enjoyable. I was given plenty of opportunities to get involved in the company right from the start and I had plenty of support throughout the year. I worked in a very welcoming team and always felt comfortable in the work place.

I always felt very valued by my colleagues. I was given the same level of work and training that a graduate would have received in the same role. I was trusted with important work for big clients and being given the extra responsibility was very valuable in my overall development.

I was given lots of support throughout the year. I had a coach who I could always talk to if I had any problems/issues during work I also had a buddy who I could go to for help with any specific work that I was doing. I was also guided by my managers and other seniors in the office as to how to complete work - particularly at the start of the placement.

At the start of the placement I did not have much work to do, however used that time to do lots of training. However by January, I was very busy on a daily basis and would always be given enough work to fill the day. I could also ask many people in the office for extra work when I needed it.

I was given a lot of responsibility during the placement, especially as time went on. Once I was comfortable with the standard of work and the general procedure, I was trusted with completing most of the work that came in to the office. My work however would always be checked before sending it to a client; to align with company policy.

The skills that I have developed has been very helpful in my degree studies and in also in general. My communication skills massively improved over the 12 months as I gained confidence in my abilities. Due to the high levels of work completed in the placement, I have also improved my time management skills which is undoubtedly helping me in my university course.

The office was very friendly and there were a lot of young people to keep it lively. There was sometimes a very busy and stressed environment especially during the busy seasons, however the office always remained very sociable throughout. The office was also very comfortable as a place to work.

The placement was very well organised. There was a 3 week training course at the start where I could meet other interns and graduates. All accommodation was provided and this helped everything to run very smoothly. I was also offered a lot of support throughout which was extremely useful and very well organised by the firm.

The company invested a lot of money in our training at the start of the placement. We were given an expense allowance for accommodation (when we had training courses away from home) as well as an allowance for dinners each night. This continued throughout the year where the company were willing to spend to ensure that its employees always felt comfortable and well provided for on training courses or workplace social events.

Future employment prospects are very appealing within this company. There is a very good progression in the firm and support provided to help you to achieve this. Following my placement I have been able to secure a permanent job with the firm after completing my degree, which I look forward to.

There were many young people in the office within which we would organise lots of social events outside work as well as team lunches during the week. Outside we were able to set up a football, rugby and rounders team as well as attend weekly pub quizzes. Occasionally big work events for the whole office were organised which improved sociability within the office.

The area I worked in was Belfast and the cost of living and socialising was reasonably low. However this was reflected in the low salary. The finances did not pose a problem for me during the year as the rental prices were very low and allowed extra money for expenditures elsewhere.

There was a reasonably big nightlife within Belfast city which kept us entertained throughout the 12 months placement. With a large group of friends in the office this also meant that we very often had a social event after work, and the livelihood of the city made this very possible.

There were plenty of opportunities outside work. We had an office football team, a rugby team, and a rounders team. We sought out other activities in the city as well such as quiz nights, pool clubs etc.. This kept us busy outside work as well as strengthening relationships with colleagues.