What made you choose to work for Pacific Life Re (PL Re)?
I started my career at PL Re with an 8-month internship in the Europe Research & Development team. I thoroughly enjoyed my internship and so when they offered me a full-time position in 2016, it was a no-brainer! Some of the things I particularly like about PL Re are the people – from day one, I found everyone so friendly and welcoming; the flat working structure, which meant I had exposure to senior management from the very start; and also the range of opportunities and responsibility I had. I’ve been able to work on a variety of interesting projects and since returning as a permanent employee in 2016, I’ve been promoted and am now working in our global Pricing team.
What support did PL Re give you throughout your internship?
Throughout my exams, PL Re was very supportive, particularly as I was not only adapting to a new country, new city and new culture (I moved to London from Malaysia), I was also adapting to working life and trying to fit study and exams in. My manager took an active interest in my career advancement and exam progress. The company also gave me study days and financial reimbursement for my study materials and exams.
What projects are you working on in your new role?
In my new role, I’m working on developing global pricing initiatives, pricing assumptions and best practices. I also help support tender activities across all our offices. On a day-to-day basis, I’m collaborating with my Pricing colleagues in our other offices around the world, so I’ve gained experience in a wide range of markets and product lines which have aided my professional development immensely.
What advice would you give to aspiring Actuaries?
My advice to anyone would be to not be afraid of asking questions – no question is a stupid question and the more questions you ask, the more you’ll learn.
What skills do you feel are essential for being an Actuary?
I think the key skills that would really help you are: a keen eye for detail, analytical skills and the ability to rationalise data and create narratives from numbers. As with any job, communication skills and the ability to collaborate with others are also very important.
What three words would you use to describe PL Re?
Fun. Challenging. Rewarding.