The Wisconsin School of Business Risk and Insurance Career Fair was September 25, 2019. The annual fair attracts students majoring in not only actuarial science and risk management and insurance (RMI), but also majors such as finance, math, stats, and economics. This year there were representatives from more than 60 employers who were ready to talk with students about opportunities in RMI, actuarial science, and analytics.
The week before the fair I picked up the booklet listing the companies that planned to participate. The employers included an array of not-for-profit, consulting, health, P&C, life, and financial services providers, and of course Co-Curricular Learning Board (CCLB) members. The booklet listed which types of positions the employers anticipated hiring within the next 12 months, and provided a variety of information that I used in prioritizing who I would talk with. I am a student in the Actuarial Science Capstone Certificate Program, so I focused on employers with actuarial science positions. The booklet was a great companion to the company information and job postings on Handshake.
I arrived during the first half hour of the fair with some butterflies in my stomach. I knew that if I needed a confidence boost or just someone to talk with as a break, there were students at the ready who had volunteered for that. Before signing in, I took a few minutes to review the information about the first companies I planned to talk with. After signing in and receiving a map of the company booths, I paused for a moment and realized I was delighted with the supportive atmosphere provided not just by students at the registration desk, but just in general.
Entering with a few nerves lingering, I visited 2 booths, took a break, and visited 2 more. I was feeling positive about the fact that some people seemed eager to accept my resume and that I had gained insights into what their work environments were like. People had taken the time to listen intently to who I was and what I was interested in, and to make me feel that we were the only ones present in what was truly a loud and crowded space.
Next up was a shift volunteering at the registration desk, helping check in other students.
Then I returned to visiting booths until my energy was exhausted. I was encouraged to apply online by a few representatives. I learned that a job posting I had glossed over for an Analyst II position, was one I should apply to because they had decided that they would consider hiring someone as an Analyst I.
I left with several business cards in hand, some encouraging words from company representatives, and a few additional job postings to apply to.
The career fair is presented by the BBA Career Services and the Risk and Insurance Dept.
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