What it’s like to be an insurance intern at 4most

Our 10-week summer internship is the perfect way to kickstart your career as an actuary within a dynamic, market-leading, company.

You’ll have the opportunity to gain vital industry knowledge and technical skills through the completion of an array of workshops and a final project that’ll allow you to cement your learnings in a real and meaningful business context.

We caught up with Lauren Lin and Jovan Baic, two of our previous interns, to ask them some questions about their time with us.

Q1 – DESCRIBE YOUR 4MOST INTERNSHIP:

Lauren: In the summer of 2022, I was an actuarial intern in the insurance sector of 4most. The 10-week internship consisted of two parts: training for 4 weeks and project work for 6 weeks. The training part included sessions and assignments in insurance, R, Excel…etc. For the project work, research was conducted using skills we learned in the previous weeks. In the final week, all the interns delivered a presentation in front of company employees, including the CEO.

This internship provided me with the chance to get a taste of life as a young professional. I was able to experience working in a corporate environment, learning about how to qualify as an actuary, and gaining insight into the insurance consulting industry.

Jovan: The main focus at the beginning of the internship was to introduce the new interns to the company, the employees as well as each other through engaging meetings. Then from there, the aim shifted to having us work on some technical skills required to do day-to-day work, both as a team and independently. Gradually we moved towards our specific fields, working through assignments oriented around Actuarial work and then presented the opportunity to conduct a project.

The way the internship integrated learning, both technical and soft skills, as well as core actuarial work was great. It provided me a perfect glance into my future career while giving me the necessary understanding of what is needed of me, to ensure I achieve my career goal of becoming an actuary.

Q2 – WHAT DID YOU ENJOY ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE?

Lauren: I loved everything about it. Living in London for the very first time can be overwhelming but there was always something fun going on in the city. And above all, working in a company like 4most was a great experience because the environment is immensely vibrant and entrepreneurial. Every person I’ve met is extremely friendly and easily approachable. One of my favorite things at the office is the shuffleboard – I had such a great time competing with the other interns and employees during lunch breaks and in office socials.

Jovan: One of my favorite parts of the internship was the involvement I had with the people in the company outside of office hours. From organised socials at great venues to weekly football games, I found myself building interpersonal relationships with the people there. London has a lot to offer, and I experienced the city through these activities. It was like another element 4Most provided to not only make me feel welcome amongst them but also immerse me in the city of London.

Q3 – WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE DURING THE INTERNSHIP?

Lauren: Initially, I was not used to speaking up and asking questions; yet in a fast-paced industry like consulting, it is normal to encounter new problems, and therefore it is critical to reaching out. Throughout the internship, I was able to develop with the help and encouragement of my buddy and other employees. And as a result, by the end I eventually overcame my nervousness and became more confident in myself.

Jovan: While I was working on the exciting project, I did find myself at times wondering if what I was doing was correct. Coming from University, most of the work I conducted I had followed strict guidelines and a framework, however with the project, I was given the opportunity to explore the independence that it entails. It was new to me to choose how I wanted to proceed with the work and if there were times I felt I was moving away from the scope of the project, I had plenty of support that helped me adjust my course.

Q4 – OVERALL, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST THING YOU LEARNED FROM THE INTERNSHIP?

Lauren: Other than enhancing my knowledge about insurance consulting and finessing my coding skills, the most valuable takeaway was that I was constantly stepping out of my comfort zone and connecting with others. During the internship, I was fortunate enough to speak with many consultants in the firm, who shared their experiences and gave incredible career advice. I believe that this will be extremely valuable to be in the future.

Jovan: As a student studying actuarial science, I learned a lot about the career and the technical knowledge required to succeed in this field. I thought I knew most of what was going on before the internship but was surprised how much of what actually goes on in a firm like 4Most is not taught through my books and seminars at university. It was a great learning experience to get a proper insight into the world of actuaries. It has made me very eager and hopeful about my future career.

Q5 – YOUR TOP 3 TIPS FOR THE 2023 INSURANCE INTERNS:

Lauren:

• Attend as many socials and talk to as many people as you can. It’s always valuable to learn about the business from different perspectives and from those more experienced than you.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions! you are encouraged to ask any questions you may have. If you encounter problems, just ask because everyone is happy to help

• Have an open mind. Relax and be confident about the work you deliver. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy it

Jovan:

• Have a strong want for learning, listen carefully, and ask lots of questions.

• Take an interest in others’ work. I found some of the best conversations I had were with me just simply turning my chair to the person next to me and asking, “what are you working on?”. Everyone is keen on letting you know.

• Get involved with the people in the office. Introduce yourself to new faces and when opportunities for socials arise, take part. You will not regret it

You can find out more and apply for our internship programs by clicking on the Careers page and scrolling down to “Internships”. Here you will find out more about the program and gain access to the application.

Learn more about our internships.