Mentor Instructions
Find your mentee here
1. Respond to your mentee’s request for a mock interview ASAP
2. Reserve a time and place for the mock interview
3. Tell your mentee…
4. Interview
a. Traditional Questions:
i. Tell me about yourself. Why do you want to be an actuary?
ii. Are you sitting for an exam? How do you prepare?
iii. What do you know about our company? Why do you want to work us? Did you come to our info session?
iv. What do you know about the industry?
b. Behavioral Questions:
i. What are your weaknesses and strengths? Tell me about a time you struggled to work with a group member.
c. Integrity Question
i. If an employer asked you to price an insurance policy too low, what would you do?
d. Analytical Question (what’s their thought process?)
i. How many pennies fit into the Empire State Building?
e. International Student Questions (their communication abilities are very important)
i. How long have you lived in US? Where do you see yourself in ten years? Do you need visa sponsorship?
ii. More information
f. Wrap Up
i. Do you have any questions for me?
5. Give feedback about interview.
6. MOST IMPORTANT: Advise them - ask them how they are doing in school. You can skip if they have passed an actuarial exam.
7. Please continue to meet with your mentees over a meal, at Club events, etc. Welcome your Commonwealth mentees when they arrive at the University Park campus.
1. Respond to your mentee’s request for a mock interview ASAP
- They need this for credit in RM 410 and to attend the Career Fair. If the mentee is not at UP, use SKYPE.
- Request their resume. If it needs improvement, provide suggestions. Resume guideline here
- If your mentee has an actuarial internship , they can skip the mock interview and just do #6 advising appointment with you.
- If mentee passed an actuarial exam, the advising appointment can be skipped too.
2. Reserve a time and place for the mock interview
- Get times from your mentee and reserve a room in
- Library through EMS or
- 114 Business through Career Services or Krista White or just stop by 114 Business (give name of mentor & mentee)
- Reserve a room for 30 minutes
3. Tell your mentee…
- The date & location of the mock interview
- To wear business professional
- What company you'll represent (you can choose the company where you will intern). Tell them to learn about firm & industry
- If your mentee is international, choose a company where they can work from Career Fair brochure
- The interview starts immediately upon arrival
- Resources for interview tips
4. Interview
a. Traditional Questions:
i. Tell me about yourself. Why do you want to be an actuary?
ii. Are you sitting for an exam? How do you prepare?
iii. What do you know about our company? Why do you want to work us? Did you come to our info session?
iv. What do you know about the industry?
b. Behavioral Questions:
i. What are your weaknesses and strengths? Tell me about a time you struggled to work with a group member.
c. Integrity Question
i. If an employer asked you to price an insurance policy too low, what would you do?
d. Analytical Question (what’s their thought process?)
i. How many pennies fit into the Empire State Building?
e. International Student Questions (their communication abilities are very important)
i. How long have you lived in US? Where do you see yourself in ten years? Do you need visa sponsorship?
ii. More information
f. Wrap Up
i. Do you have any questions for me?
5. Give feedback about interview.
- Appearance: Business professional attire? Good posture?
- Behavior: Firm handshake? Eye contact? Confidence? Printed resume? Friendly smile?
- Knowledge: How well did they answer your questions? Did they research the company?
- Interest: Did they ask you a good question? Did they ask for a business card? Did they thank you for the interview?
- Additional Help at Career and Corporate Connections office in 114 Business Building
6. MOST IMPORTANT: Advise them - ask them how they are doing in school. You can skip if they have passed an actuarial exam.
- Did they attend club events: Actuarial Career Fair, Info Sessions, Resume/Interview workshop, Speaker Series, Exam Review class?
- Help them get an internship.
- Show international students the list of employers who hire international students & this Club newsletter article
- Encourage them to get involved in a club, and eventually something leadership-oriented
- Tell them they need an exam for an internship, preferably two, and it now appears that 3 exams are needed for a Full-Time job
- If GPA < 3.20, no exam passed, C’s in Calculus, discuss other majors/options.
- Your mentoring is so important. Thanks for doing it! Recruiters tell us some students ask poor questions like "What does your company do?" Thus, we require all actuarial students to meet their mentor before attending the Career Fair. We also need you to advise students, because some just picked actuarial science & don't know about the exams. It's important they learn how tough actuarial science is, because it's easier to change majors now, than later.
- Fill out the survey below. It will be sent to Steve Putterman and the Club VP.
7. Please continue to meet with your mentees over a meal, at Club events, etc. Welcome your Commonwealth mentees when they arrive at the University Park campus.