Let's say I find a job opening on a job search site and it gives a contact for sending the resume, but it's obviously an HR contact. Here's my question. If I can easily find who the Chief Actuary is at that location, should I send the resume to that actuary or to the HR contact?
Definitely to the Chief Actuary. HR is normally populated almost entirely by people who don't know that there's a difference between the actuarial exams and the LOMA exams, by people who had to be hired but needed to be in a place where they'd not do too much damage, and by idiots. Generally, the Chief Actuary will know who in HR isn't an idiot--if he likes your credentials and wants you to talk to HR, he'll ensure that it isn't a total waste of time.
However, you could send your resume to both HR and to the Chief Actuary.
Here's another agrument for sending the resume to the chief actuary: The chief actuary specifies a position with requirements A, B and C. You have A and B, but rather than C you have Q. The HR person would discard your resume. The chief actuary might say, "We weren't looking for Q, but that might be a good thing to have."
The only people who recommend sending the resume to HR, is the HR people themselves.
Chief Actuary. And avoid HR as if it were The Plague. Do HR interview only after you nearly have the job, as a courtesy.
I recommend avoiding companies that require HR involvement and pre-screening. (Except perhaps actuarial consulting companies.) It shows, to me, that the actuarial profession is not taken as seriously companywide than it should be. And for insurance companies, I think it should be taken very seriously.
Some companies have in-house actuarial recruiting specialists in the HR. This person is "on our side," but I'd still go to the Chief first.
I'm not as down on HR as the rest, but agreed it's the Chief Actuary. Nothing wrong with also sending it to HR - and telling the CA that you did. I have had good HR people to work with at a few companies I interviewed with, but it is not that common. Your story isn't really a great argument for sending the resume to the CA, unless Trev also happend to have a connection to the CA at his target company. Also, if the HR person has actuarial in his/her title (HR liaison for Actuarial Services or Actuarial Recruiter or somesuch thing), then I would be more likely to send it to the HR person (in addition to the CA)
So, send it to the Chief. After taking a cursory glance, he or she will know where to forward it to, be it HR, HR's Actuarial contact, or the rest of the department supervisors.
There is a much lower probability that the HR person will know where to forward it, if at all.
Default A dissenting opinion
I don't know. If the company has its act together, the chief actuary meets with HR on a regular basis to review staffing requirements. HR should know when actuaries are to be hired, and have criteria for which resumes should be passed to the Actuarial department.
If the company is not all that organized, I would establish a contact first, then send the resume with prior permission . It is not the Chief Actuary's function to screen resumes.
I have had positive interactions with HR at all the places I have worked and they all had a clue about how to hire actuaries and that our exams were different from LOMA exams.
Despite anecdotal evidence to the contrary, I would send my resume to HR. I think it is a bit rude to just mail your resume to the Chief unannounced.
But rules change, and I have been accused of being too persnickety and formal about things.
Was your first job got by sending email to Chief Actuary?
I sent a lot, but few replied. Would you mind sharing your template of email to Chief Actuary?
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