Interview prep: the questions you'll actually get

Most Actuarial candidates spend too much time worrying about obscure technical questions. The reality is that most interviews are surprisingly predictable.

Recruiters and hiring managers are usually trying to answer three questions:

• Can this person do the job?
• Will they pass exams?
• Would we enjoy working with them?

Most interview questions are simply different ways of finding that out.

"Tell me about yourself"

This is almost guaranteed to appear. Keep it concise. A good structure is:

• Your education
• Relevant experience
• Why Actuarial
• Why this role

Aim for around two minutes. Not ten.

"Why Actuarial?"

This question matters more than many candidates realise. The best answers usually combine:

• Interest in problem-solving
• Enjoyment of mathematics and data
• Business and commercial interest
• Long-term career aspirations

Avoid making it sound like you chose Actuarial science solely because you were good at maths in school. Many candidates say that. Few stand out because of it.

"Why our company?"

Do some research. Understand:

• Whether they operate in Life, General Insurance or Pensions
• Recent company developments
• Their products
• Their culture

A candidate who has clearly researched the company immediately stands out.

Expect behavioural questions

These often follow a simple pattern. Tell me about a time when you:

• Worked in a team
• Managed a difficult situation
• Met a challenging deadline
• Solved a problem
• Influenced others
• Made a mistake

Use the STAR framework: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Keep answers structured and concise.

Technical questions are usually straightforward

For graduate roles, interviewers are rarely trying to catch you out. They may ask:

• What is reserving?
• How does insurance pricing work?
• What is a mortality table?
• Explain a project you've worked on.
• Tell us about a model you've built.

If you understand your own CV, you'll already be in a strong position.

Be prepared to discuss your exams

If you've passed exams, expect questions. If you've failed exams, expect questions too. Neither is a problem.

What matters is how you talk about them. Demonstrate resilience, self-awareness and a plan for future sittings.

Ask good questions

Towards the end of the interview, you'll usually get the chance to ask questions. Use it. Good examples include:

• What makes someone successful in this role?
• What does exam support look like?
• How is the team structured?
• What are the biggest challenges facing the team?

Bad examples include questions that could have been answered by spending thirty seconds on the company website.

The thing that matters most

Candidates often assume interviews are won through perfect answers. They're usually not. The strongest candidates come across as:

• Curious
• Coachable
• Professional
• Genuinely interested

Most Actuarial teams are hiring people they'll work with every day. Technical skills can be developed. Attitude is much harder to teach.

Final thoughts

Preparation helps. But don't try to memorise answers to fifty potential questions. Understand your CV. Know why you want the role. Research the company. Prepare a few strong examples.

Interviewers are not looking for perfection. They're looking for potential — a much easier standard to meet.