Actuary Interview Questions

1. Which actuarial field have you worked in, and which models have you used?

Why they ask: Assesses your area of expertise and fit with the required toolkit.

How to approach: Be concrete about the line (life, health, P&C) and models such as GLMs or Bühlmann.

2. Can you walk me through your claims reserving process step by step?

Why they ask: Measures the depth of your technical knowledge and ownership of the process.

How to approach: Explain methods such as chain-ladder or Bornhuetter-Ferguson and why you chose them.

3. What do you do when you notice a model's assumptions have genuinely drifted?

Why they ask: Assesses your awareness of model validation and your decision process.

How to approach: Walk through the steps of spotting the drift, documenting it and notifying management.

4. What experience do you have with IFRS 17 or Solvency II?

Why they ask: To gauge your knowledge of regulatory compliance.

How to approach: Be specific about which component you worked on (measurement, reporting, disclosure).

5. How do you develop a data-driven pricing model for a tariff?

Why they ask: Measures your technical competence in pricing actuarial work.

How to approach: Summarise the flow: data preparation → model selection → validation → implementation.

6. How do you convey technical findings to a non-technical manager?

Why they ask: Assesses your communication skills and business focus.

How to approach: Use examples of visualisation and translating into business language.

How should I prepare for an interview?

Study likely questions in advance, prepare a concrete example from your own experience for each (using STAR) and rehearse out loud.

How much should I talk in my answers?

Ideally 60–90 seconds per question. Too short seems disengaged; too long seems unfocused.

What if I get a question I do not know?

Be honest; say you do not know, but add how you would learn it or a similar experience. Making things up is the biggest mistake.