Breaking Into Trading / Strats
I'm looking to move from tech to the financial industry and I've been recommended to go down the trading and/or strats route.
I have a quantitative bachelor degree and am studying for my masters in computer science/software engineering (both UK targets) while working full time at a well known tech firm (analytics / applied data science focused role). I know Python, R and SQL and am learning some Java and Haskell through my degree (but prefer Python overall).
When applying to finance roles, I tend to get no love, as although my 'profile is strong' I don't have the finance knowledge or experience (e.g specific derivatives knowledge). I'm unsure how to obtain this outside of actually getting a job in the industry. I have been recommended applying for 'any' role at a bank but some technical roles that use my skill set above can end up being middle/back office which is not my goal.
My questions:
1. Would I need to leave my full time job and intern and/or need to start as an analyst again? (I did try for off cycles but landed no interview invites).
2. Would I need a MFin ontop of my Masters?
3. Would I need to try to move to the US (as they seem more open to people without direct finance experience vs the UK)?
4. Would an online portfolio where I have developed my own trading strategy in my spare time show interest?
5. Would the CFA (level 1) help?
6. Are there any other options of breaking in that I have not considered above?
Thank you for the help.
From my experience, London is just as open about other degrees as New York. As long as you can show you've got general smarts, interest, and knowledge, you'll get the first round. As for showing each of these:
General smarts -> as it was a hundred years ago, it is today: Oxbridge, baby. (high ranked London universities will also be ok) Interest -> have something on your resume that shows your interest. Investing by yourself works, but your uni probably also has an investment club. Join that, and try to be part of all trading competitions they can partake in. Knowledge -> getting a CFA has never hurt anyone. You can still easily sign up for the June one, or December one (cheaper at this point), so do that.
I wouldn't go the MFIN route yet, as I'm unsure you'd actually need it. Furthermore, a lot of the good MFIN's require 3 to 5 years of working experience within the sector. If you can get into those (just check the world's top 5 or top 10) - good. If you can only get into a lesser program, they won't offer you the same upside.
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