Each month Zoe Bolton, founder of Bolton Associates will be talking to a GI actuary, who has moved away from the traditional actuarial career. We will gain a brief insight into their career trajectory, plus their advices and visions for the future of the actuarial profession. This month she talks to Tom Howell, Commercial Analyst, onefinestay
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What is your current role, and how did you end up in it?
I work as a Commercial Analyst for onefinestay, a luxury property rental company. The role is quite varied and encompasses pricing, commercial strategy, web analytics and digital marketing. I wanted to sample life outside the actuarial world - in a different industry and at a small company. I applied directly for the role after hearing about the vacancy.
What is the defining moment of your career to date?
Making my first application for a job outside of my graduate scheme employer. It felt like an act of betrayal at the time (and I completely failed the interview) but it made me realise there's a whole world of opportunities out there.
In your opinion, what prepared you best to take on your current role?
The analytical rigour that is instilled by training as an actuary (or 'indoctrination' as I now call it). It becomes second nature to structure problems and pieces of work, however big or small, the 'actuarial way'. Luckily this also happens to be sensible and pragmatic! I've also been surprised by how many actuarial concepts apply directly to my current role; from how best to structure data for analysis to assessing the statistical significance of a website test to building cashflow models.
What is the biggest challenge you face in your role at present?
The steep learning curve. My company is largely an ecommerce business which means there are many new concepts, jargon, bits of knowledge and skills which are critical to get to grips with. As I've switched into it quite late, I’m several experience-years behind people of a similar age which has meant I’ve often felt pressure to learn quickly.
When did you first join the Institute & Faculty of Actuaries, and what advice would you give to those students looking to emulate your career path?
I joined the IFoA in 2011. Career-wise, I would say always think ahead and try to make decisions before they get made for you. Talk to as many people as possible. If you think you might want to move into something different - find someone that does that job and talk to them in depth about their career and their goals. Take a few risks.
If you had your time again, what would you do, career-wise?
I would follow the advice I've just given more closely! In another world, with slightly better sporting genes, I’d be playing cricket for Derbyshire & England as a batting leg-spin all-rounder.
Please share a piece of trivia about you with our readers!
What's the only number you can spell in alphabetical order? The answer is......... *spoiler alert*.......... Forty
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