Making the Most of Your First Year on the Job

Check out the following recommendations from Dale Porfilio, FCAS, to make the most of your first year of work!

1. Learn personal organization skills.
   As your career advances, you will be asked to perform more work in less time. Begin to learn time management, organize your desk and your calendar, and become efficient at improving processes. If you can learn to be organized efficiently before your work forces you to be, it will lead to more successful transitions and promotions.



2. Learn good studying and learning habits.
   You will never have more time or fewer distractions to study than you do now. Since studying for actuarial exams is very different from studying in college, invest some time learning how YOU learn best. For example, try different hours in the day, different note-taking methods, and test how you best recall information. Learning how you learn will help you on exams, on the job, and in your personal life.



3. Focus on genuine interactions.
   Strive to make constructive, genuine contributions on your team. Do not be concerned with the perceived importance of your work assignments. How you work is far more important than what you work on. Long after a project is complete, people will forget what the project was, but they will remember how they interacted with you on the project.



4. Keep abreast of issues.
   It is essential for an actuary to be fluent in industry issues. While these topics may seem unimportant now, you should become familiar with the issues so you are prepared when they do have an impact on your work.



5. Most importantly, find a mentor.
   Mentors are essential at all stages of your career. Your mentor is someone whom you respect and who respects you; who can model good work behaviors and ethical standards; who can serve as your advocate and hold you accountable. While your supervisor is responsible for training you to do your job, your mentor will help you excel at your job.