By Angela Zhuo, Student in the Master of Science in Actuarial Science, Columbia University School of Professional Studies
I arrived at the Columbia University School of Professional Studies Career and Networking Expo ready to go — so ready that I physically chased after a potential employer before he could make it into the building.
This is my first semester at Columbia. We were told to begin preparing for the career expo in the summer, and we were given lists of the many highly sought-after companies who would be attending. Even though I had just started classes in the Master of Science in Actuarial Science program at Columbia, application season for summer 2027 internships — the internships which can lead to 2028 jobs — began in August, before classes even began. I felt like I was being slingshot into the working world.
As an actuarial science student, I knew that the expo was probably the best opportunity to meet with dozens of firms in the insurance and reinsurance industry all interested in hiring Columbia students, all in one day. It is an opportunity I would have never had if I hadn’t enrolled in my program.
On the day of the expo, I woke up early to commute from Queens. On my way in, I coincidentally boarded the same bus as one of the employers, a speaker from Corebridge Financial, one of the largest financial services companies in the United States, which is poised to grow even larger following its pending merger with Equitable Holdings. I had researched the company in advance, and the speaker was wearing one of its purple logo shirts.
As we got off at our stop, I rushed to greet him and introduce myself. Did he shake my hand, marvel at my actuarial acumen and the coincidence that we were on the same bus, and engage in deep discussion? No. He must have sensed the crowds or thought he was running late, because he suddenly started jogging away. Did I take the cue that he was busy and let him go? No. I ran after him, of course — in my blazer, with my stuffed, heavy, commuter backpack. Sadly, he ran even faster. I caught up with him just in time to watch him enter Lerner Hall through the employers and networkers-only entrance.
I was determined not to miss other opportunities. As actuarial science students, one of the more sought-after majors by the employers, we were fortunate to be VIP guests for the expo, which allowed us entrance to the event one hour early. This meant that I was able to walk right up to and speak with the more popular companies without waiting in a line.
CNA, a property and casualty firm, was the first booth I visited. I was their first meeting, and they were mine. I was nervous and began by diving into my list of detailed questions. The recruiter gave casual answers, was very friendly and was eager to meet me. I immediately realized that I had thought that I needed to sound smart and appear prepared, but more importantly, I needed to relax and simply make a pleasant introduction.
I tried to take a more casual approach, hoping to connect personally to people when they were speaking to so many students. I learned quickly that asking about how their respective companies were using AI and how they chose to incorporate it into their work was a question that felt relevant to everyone.
Several of the discussions I had had with the firms left great impressions on me. I learned about the companies and how they were run. I learned about recent projects, and I learned from employers’ personal career trajectories.
Marcus Chan, director and actuary at Munich Re, encouraged me to keep my options open, and suggested I don't limit myself to only property and casualty firms. His advice pushed me to broaden my perspective and speak with employers at other booths, even for roles I wasn’t necessarily interested in previously because of where they were located or because they were in a completely different field.
At SageSure, I spoke with John Semanduyev, senior actuarial analyst, who shared details about a recent project. His descriptions of his work were insightful, and I was moved by how passionate he was.
I also tracked down the representative from Corebridge Financial, Joshua Gonclaves, the man in the purple shirt, early on. He encouraged me to apply for internship programs in both the Society of Actuaries (SOA) and Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) exam pathways since I am still early in my studies. I was only going to apply for the CAS pathway before that conversation.
Throughout the fair and during my water breaks, I ran into my friends and classmates. It was enjoyable to check up on each other’s progress throughout the day, like we were participating in a collective scavenger hunt. It was also unexpectedly a great opportunity to meet and network with fellow students from all the Columbia programs that attended.
I was grateful for the hour head start because two hours in, the lines of students trailing the New York Life and Aetna booths had grown so long that I had to strategically navigate and make dramatic swerves just to get to the other side.
While we were only two weeks into the semester, I was also grateful for the first lectures in my Risk Management in P&C Insurance course. The lectures had been about the foundations of the field and the types of products that are sold in the companies. Many of the internships were related to these products and having basic knowledge allowed me to ask recruiters about what they do and what excites them about their firm.
The employers were also universally generous. At SageSure, I less than elegantly spilled water all over my leg. John quickly helped me get my pile of papers and career expo merchandise sorted. He then kindly handed me one of the SageSure cups and suggested I drink from it to avoid spilling water again.
I was also extremely grateful for professor Yubo Wang, interim program director and lecturer in the discipline of Actuarial Science, who let those of us who commute toss our big backpacks into his office and run away to be first on line, and who continually shares opportunities with students.
In the weeks since the fair, I have applied to seven more internships. Many of the people who I met at the career expo accepted my LinkedIn requests or acknowledged my emails. When I attended another networking event this month, I knew what questions to ask in conversations, was more open minded about where I am going, and felt more relaxed. While I am mostly applying to jobs in New York, I decided to also apply to CNA’s program in Chicago to explore opportunities outside of New York.
The recruiter from CNA returned to Columbia weeks after the expo, and he remembered me, in part because I was the first person he spoke to that day.
Views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Columbia University School of Professional Studies or Columbia University.
About the Program
The Master of Science in Actuarial Science program at Columbia University is internationally renowned for its breakthrough curriculum and esteemed faculty. The program equips students with the tools, skills, and knowledge to excel in today’s rapidly evolving actuarial and related workplaces, with a course of study designed to anticipate and exceed industry needs. Students are prepared to assume leadership positions and meet ever-expanding opportunities. Columbia’s location in New York City, the financial and actuarial capital of the world, allows students access to the world’s foremost practitioners and leaders. Learn more about the program here.