Summer Student Experience. âThere is more structure when it comes to working life, there is no longer the freedom to s
Summer Student Experience “There is more structure when it comes to working life, there is no longer the freedom to sleep in until 2pm or go several days at a time without doing any work, as some students may choose to do.” As an actuarial intern at Xafinity, I was made to feel a part of the team from my first day. I was given similar training and responsibilities to that of a graduate at the company, which gave me confidence that Xafinity trusted and believed in my ability. My work included various calculations on behalf of clients, such as individual transfer values, trivial commutations, roll forwards and switches, as well as producing draft factor reports and annual updates. Further to my experience within the actuarial department, I was also exposed to the investment division - drafting various investment reports on behalf of them. The lifestyle of a student is very different to that of an actuarial intern, or of any professional for that matter. The most obvious difference is the extra disposable income at your expense that no longer needs to be spent on the weekly student food shop, but instead on other things such as treating yourself. There is more structure when it comes to working life, there is no longer the freedom to sleep in until 2pm or go several days at a time without doing any work, as some students may choose to do. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. I found that having more structure during my time at Xafinity allowed me to focus my efforts into producing higher quality work on a regular basis, rather than just peaking during exam times. Another lifestyle change is that you begin to value your free time more than you may have used to. This allows you to look forward to things you may have previously taken for granted, which can be quite rewarding after a challenging week at work. Overall I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Xafinity and would highly recommend both the internship scheme, and the lifestyle that it brings with it, to any other student interested in a career as an actuary.
