How to Improve Your Actuary Resume
The average Actuary resume scores just 56% on ATS. The pass threshold is typically 75%. That gap is almost entirely caused by fixable, structural mistakes — not lack of experience. This guide shows you exactly what they are and how to fix each one.
Average score
56%
You need to close a 19-point gap
The 6 mistakes below are responsible for most of this gap in Actuary resumes. Fixing them is straightforward — no extra experience needed.
Target score
75%+
6 Most Common Actuary Resume Mistakes
Each mistake below is drawn from analysis of thousands of Actuary resumes. For each, you'll see what the mistake looks like and exactly how to fix it.
Exam progress not listed — "Passed 5 SOA exams" or "ACAS" is the single highest-weight actuarial ATS keyword
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like SOA and CAS appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
"Insurance analytics" without actuarial technique — reserving, pricing, and experience studies are separate ATS buckets
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like CAS and actuarial exams appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
No programming language — SAS, R, Python, or SQL are now baseline requirements; Excel alone is insufficient
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like actuarial exams and FSA appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
Missing line of business — life, health, P&C, pension, reinsurance are separately filtered specialisations
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like FSA and FCAS appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
Regulatory context absent — state filings, NAIC requirements, and Solvency II (international) are employer-specific filters
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like FCAS and ASA appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
No predictive modelling — GLMs, machine learning, and predictive analytics keywords are increasingly required
How to Fix It
- ✓Audit your resume against the specific job description for this role. Ensure keywords like ASA and ACAS appear in your bullets naturally.
- ✓Rewrite any bullet that doesn't include a measurable outcome. Add numbers, percentages, timelines, or revenue/cost impact whenever possible.
- ✓Use standard section headings (Work Experience, Education, Skills) instead of creative alternatives — ATS parsers rely on exact heading recognition.
Step-by-Step Actuary Resume Improvement Checklist
Work through these steps in order. Each step typically adds 3–8 points to your ATS score.
Check your current ATS score
Upload your resume to GetShortlisted and run a baseline score check against a target job description.
Fix formatting issues
Remove tables, text boxes, headers/footers, and graphics. Save as a clean .docx or .pdf without embedded objects.
Standardise section headings
Rename non-standard headings: e.g., "Where I've Worked" → "Work Experience", "What I Know" → "Skills".
Tailor keywords to the JD
Mirror the job description's exact wording. Add missing high-priority keywords (SOA, CAS, actuarial exams) into your bullets.
Rewrite weak bullet points
Add action verbs, specific outcomes, and numbers. Use the examples on our Resume Examples page as reference.
Optimise your professional summary
Include your job title, years of experience, 2 core keywords, and one quantified achievement in the first 3 lines.
Re-run your ATS score check
Verify your score has crossed the pass threshold. Repeat targeted keyword additions until you hit your target.
How ATS Evaluates Actuary Resumes
Actuarial ATS filtering is exam-credential-centric. The number of exams passed (SOA or CAS track) is the primary filter — "ASA," "ACAS," "FSA," "FCAS" are high-weight binary keywords. Line-of-business experience (life, P&C, health, pension) determines role fit. Programming skills (SAS, R, Python, SQL) are now weighted as heavily as traditional actuarial techniques. Large insurers (MetLife, Prudential, AIG) use Workday and Taleo; consulting firms use Greenhouse or Lever. Regulatory experience (state filings, NAIC, Solvency II) is an additional filter for senior roles.
Common ATS systems used for Actuary roles in Insurance & Finance: Workday, Taleo, iCIMS, Greenhouse, SuccessFactors.
Score Improvement Roadmap
Here's what typical scores mean for your job search as a Actuary:
Excellent
80–100: Exam credentials listed, LOB-specific, programming tools named, reserve/pricing metrics quantified
Good
62–79: Exams and line of business clear, missing programming or regulatory detail
Average
44–61: General insurance background without exam progress or technical depth
Needs Work
Below 44: Will not pass ATS at any insurance carrier or actuarial consulting firm
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Actuary resume failing ATS?▾
The most common reasons Actuary resumes fail ATS are: missing critical keywords that appear in the job description, non-standard section headings that ATS cannot parse, tables or graphics that obscure plain text, and experience bullets without measurable results. The average Actuary resume scores 56% — well below the 75% threshold most ATS systems use to filter candidates.
What ATS score do I need as a Actuary?▾
For Actuary roles, you need an ATS score of at least 75% to reliably pass initial screening filters. The average Actuary resume only scores 56%, meaning most candidates are filtered out before any human sees their application. Scores above 75% give you the best chance of interview invitations.
How long does it take to improve a Actuary resume for ATS?▾
Most Actuary resume improvements can be made in 20–40 minutes with the right tool. The highest-impact changes — tailoring keywords to the specific job description and rewriting weak bullet points — take the most time but deliver the biggest score jump. Using an AI-powered tool can compress this to under 10 minutes.
More Tools for Actuaries
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