Entry-level actuarial analyst resume example

By the Rezumed team · Updated November 9, 2026

An actuarial analyst resume is read for two things before anything else: which exams you have passed and whether you can work carefully with insurance data. An entry-level actuarial analyst or actuarial assistant resume should put exam progress where it is easy to find, then show data work you checked and explained.

What this resume has to prove

The Bureau of Labor Statistics profile for actuaries is the closest occupation in its handbook for entry-level actuarial analyst and assistant jobs. It says "Actuaries analyze the financial costs of risk and uncertainty." Their listed duties include "Compile and analyze statistical data and other information", "Estimate the probability and likely economic cost of an event such as death, sickness, an accident, or a natural disaster" and "Produce charts, tables, and reports that explain calculations and proposals". BLS adds that entry-level actuaries start as trainees working under mentors and may rotate through departments such as underwriting and product development.

BLS says "Actuaries need a bachelor's degree and must pass a series of exams to become certified professionals," and that "Many employers expect prospective hires to have passed at least one or two of these certification exams before graduation." It also notes that "internships may be helpful for students deciding on which actuarial track to pursue." Among the important qualities, it lists math, analytical, computer and communication skills, and says "Actuaries must be able to explain complex technical matters to those without an actuarial background." So the resume should state exam results exactly, show data you handled and checked, and prove you can explain it in plain words.

Sample resume

Education comes first, then a short exams section right under it, because exam status is often the first thing an actuarial recruiter checks. The internship follows with the most bullets, each naming the data and the check. Teaching stays because it shows you can explain math, and the project shows modeling you did yourself.

What to put in each section

Exams: exact names, results and dates

Give each exam its own line: the exam name, "passed" and the year or month you passed it. If you have a sitting booked, write "scheduled" and the month, such as "Exam FAM scheduled, February 2027". Only list a date you have actually booked. Don't round up: an exam you sat but have no result for yet should not say "passed". Recruiters check this.

Experience: name the data, the check and who used it

BLS says actuaries compile and analyze statistical data and produce charts, tables and reports. Your internship bullets should show small versions of that: which records you checked, what you compared them against, and who reviewed or used the result. Name the line of business too, such as life, health or auto, since BLS describes actuaries working in different practice areas.

Projects and coursework

Without an internship, projects carry the resume, so move them above Experience. Pick one modeling project, ideally with insurance or mortality data. List four or five courses that line up with the exams and the job, not every math class you took.

Skills to list

BLS says actuaries must know programming languages and be able to use and develop spreadsheets, databases and statistical analysis tools. Actuarial postings usually name Excel plus one or two of R, Python, SQL or VBA. Write the exact names of the ones you have used on real data. The University of Maryland career center also suggests mirroring the job description's keywords.

Tools

• Excel: lookups, data tables, pivot tables, VBA if you have written macros
• R or Python for modeling and data cleaning
• SQL, with the database you used
• Any actuarial or valuation software from an internship, by name
• PowerPoint, for presenting results

Abilities

• Probability and statistics
• Financial mathematics and present value
• Checking data before it goes into a model
• Building and explaining a GLM
• Explaining results to people outside the actuarial team

Common mistakes

• Hiding the exams. Exam status buried at the bottom of the Skills section is easy to miss. Give it its own short section near the top.
• Vague exam lines. "Studying for actuarial exams" tells the reader nothing. Name each exam, and say passed or scheduled with a date.
• Math with no explanation. BLS stresses explaining technical matters to people without an actuarial background. Add one bullet that shows you did exactly that.
• Invented impact. An intern rarely knows what a pricing change did to results. Avoid those claims and count the records, studies and checks you handled instead.

FAQ

How is this different from a data analyst resume?

Both show data cleaning, SQL and clear summaries. An actuarial resume adds an exams section, insurance data such as policies, mortality or claims, and probability work. A data analyst resume leans on dashboards and business questions. If you are applying for both, keep two versions and see the entry-level data analyst example.

Which exams should I list?

BLS describes a series of certification exams without naming them, so follow the postings. List every exam you have passed with the year, and a scheduled exam only when you have a booked date. If you have not passed one yet, list the relevant courses and say which exam you are preparing for.

Do I need an actuarial science degree?

No. BLS says actuaries typically have a degree in mathematics, actuarial science, statistics or another analytical field. If your major is math, statistics or economics, list probability, statistics and finance courses and lead with your exams. See How to write a new grad resume for the general layout.

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Sources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Actuaries
• University of Maryland Career Center: Resume how-to guide