Zhi Yin Too

After graduating from Kent in 2022, Zhi Yin Too began working as a Graduate Actuarial Analyst at Covéa Insurance. In this role she has gained significant knowledge and experience of the sector as she works toward her long-term goal of qualifying as an Actuary.

Tell us about your career path since graduation.

After graduating in July 2022, I started to apply for actuarial graduate roles, which led to me receiving an offer from Covéa Insurance in November 2022.

I have now been working for the company for more than a year and have gained so much knowledge and experience during this time.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

My role involves in a variety of tasks so no two days are the same, but my days will usually start with me going through my emails and grabbing a coffee.

As an example, over the past week I have mostly been working on developing a lapse analysis model for a life insurance product where I am required to work on the policy data as well as the VBA coding for the model.

Analysing the lapse experience of our products is important as it is a key assumption used in our valuation of technical provisions. I would then discuss the results with my line manager for further improvements.

Of course, there will also be weekly team meetings and 1:1 sessions with my line manager. Things can get really busy during the valuation periods where I am involved in the Solvency II process.

Can you share a professional highlight from your career so far?

The ability to take on much more responsibilities and ownership has definitely been a highlight. I successfully developed a data validation model within the first few months of joining Covéa with minimal experience and I was delighted that my model was been approved!

How did your time at Kent help you achieve your current career?

Studying at Kent has allowed me to build up my technical knowledge. The teaching quality is high and the course prepared me well to embark my career as an actuary.

I found the Actuarial Practice module particularly useful. It was slightly different to the other modules I studied and it gave me a chance to get involved in presenting interesting actuarial topics and it gave me a real insight into the actuarial profession.

The careers team in Kent was also amazing. They provide services such as CV reviews and mock interviews which were really helpful.

What advice would you give to our current/prospective students who are looking to get into the same line of work?

One piece of advice I would give is to always do your research on the company you are applying to as well as the actuarial profession in general. The journey of qualifying as an actuary is tough and requires dedication so you have to be prepared to sit the exams.

Doing some research on the insurance industry would be beneficial as well. I find reading The Actuary monthly magazines can help to boost your industry knowledge and improve commercial awareness.

It is extremely important to practice your interview skills to ensure that you’ll be confident in interviews and during the assessment process. Additionally, do look out for actuarial internship opportunities to gain exposure to the industry and to enhance your CV.

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Kent?

This is a tough one because there are just too many - I will never forget the excitement when I first arrived at campus as a fresher. Studying at Kent meant I had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people!

I also had the opportunity to be involved in Malaysian Night (MNight) as a performer and it was an unforgettable experience as well. 

Is there anything you would do differently if you could repeat your time at Kent?

I would join more societies and social events as, at the time, I was too focused on my final year studies. I would definitely take the chance to explore new interests, gain more experience, and put myself out there more!

Are you still in touch with other Kent alumni or academics?

Yes I am! I have made lifelong friends in Kent and I meet up with them regularly. We like to plan trips to different countries occasionally and I will be travelling with a few of them soon.

What are your future ambitions?

My current long-term career goal is to qualify as an actuary. I hope to further develop the breadth of my industry knowledge and to further improve my skills and capacity. I also aim to grow personally and professionally as an actuary.