My Actuarial Journey: Reflections from My First Internship

My name is Jenna Coubati, and I’m a rising junior at The College of New Jersey, majoring in Data Science and Statistics with a minor in Actuarial Science. This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at MetLife as part of the Retirement & Income Solutions Finance team. It was my first internship experience, and it taught me more than I could have imagined, both about the actuarial field and about myself as a young professional.

I worked primarily with Stable Value and Capital Markets Investment Products (CMIP). Stable Value is a principal-protected investment option that provides guaranteed interest, commonly used in retirement plans. CMIP, on the other hand, focuses on managing capital market liabilities and reinvested assets. These areas were complex, but with time, support, and curiosity, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of the details and their broader business impact.

One of the highlights of MetLife’s internship program was the weekly actuarial development sessions, where interns across teams came together to learn about core actuarial concepts. These sessions helped us see how different types of actuarial work are used across various areas of MetLife. We also explored emerging technologies, including new AI tools and how they are beginning to transform the actuarial profession. From automating repetitive tasks to enhancing predictive modeling, these tools have the potential to make actuarial work more efficient and accurate. As someone preparing to enter the field, I found this especially exciting.

Looking back, here are a few key takeaways I would share with anyone starting their first internship:

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You are not expected to know everything on day one. Asking questions shows you are engaged and willing to learn.
• People want to help. Everyone I encountered, from analysts to senior leaders, was welcoming and generous with their time. They were eager to share what they knew and genuinely wanted to help me grow, both professionally and personally.
• Save your Excel files often. Excel crashes happen more than you think and you do not want to find that out the hard way.
• Take initiative to meet people. I made an effort to speak with professionals from various departments and backgrounds. Whether in the Whippany, Bridgewater, or New York offices, I found that these conversations helped me understand career paths, company culture, and what is going on in the actuarial world. I would recommend writing down a few thoughtful questions before meetings, it helps guide the conversation and shows genuine interest.

Overall, this internship was a valuable stepping stone that helped me grow professionally, technically, and personally. I am grateful to MetLife for the experience, and I am excited to continue pursuing a career in the actuarial field with a deeper understanding of the work.