Bridgewater Associates?
IB
(Chimp, 10
Points)
on 10/10/09 at 11:02pm
Hi Everyone,
I'm applying to Bridgewater Associates, but don't really know much about it. What do you all think - is it a good place to start one's career?
In the short run, I'm concerned about pay. In the longer run, I'm concerned also about how the name looks on a resume or on an MBA app.
Thanks.





Pay is around 100K and
Pay is around 100K and prestige is equivalent (perhaps higher for uniqueness reasons) than working at a BB.
BW
Hey I have an interview with BWA for the Data Analyst position next week. I read your posts regarding passing the first round. Would you be so kind enough to let me know the kind of questions they asked please?.
Thank you.
extremely strong fund, $37bn
extremely strong fund, $37bn AUM and recently ranked the best of the big hedge funds by institutional investors:
http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/02/bridg...
I'd like to hear more too,
I'd like to hear more too, i've been wanting to apply to their operations associate position anyone have insight on pay there?
Hows the mobility once inside? and what do other hedgefunds think of Bwater since it is from what i hear different
Thanks for the replies
Thank you - it apparently seems like a place with a strong record and reputation. I'd still love to hear more from those who know about Bridgewater and the financial services sector in general.
For those who've asked about what interviewing is like: I only know what I do from alumni friends who went through the Investment Associate recruiting path. For first rounds, it's a group debate. You're asked to pick a topic (one that doesn't require vast background knowledge, like "Television hurts American community") and debate it with 6-8 other people. Depending on how the group dynamics are, as few as zero or as many as half of the group may be called back for second rounds. I know less about second rounds, but they're supposedly similar in style.
Very different style than most firms, but I think they're just trying to gauge your raw horsepower when in a group setting. Who knows? Given that the traditional interview is a notoriously bad predictor of on-the-job success, maybe it's a smart shift.
very interesting. i've never
very interesting. i've never heard of such an interview style. do many other funds also have such unorthodox interviewing set-ups?
anyone know more about bridgewater's interviews and job/work culture specs?
Bridgewater -> MBA
Anyone know how Bridgewater positions someone for an MBA / how top MBA schools would see this on the resume?
...
Anyone know how Bridgewater positions someone for an MBA / how top MBA schools would see this on the resume?
If you work at Bridgewater and you want to stay in finance, you don't typically go back for an MBA.
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silence...
I had my last interview with them three weeks ago. All looked fine...
I have not heard a peep ever since...If they do not want me, why don't they call or email me? Or if they want me why don't they send the offer? Should I contact them or just wait around?
Thanks!
If it's been three weeks and
If it's been three weeks and you haven't heard anything... that likely means you've been dinged. Firms don't always call back if you've been passed.
But, you should just follow up with them regardless. If you call and they tell you you're dinged, you can maybe get feedback on why... or at the very least get closure. On the chance you're not dinged, then you've followed up and shown interest in the role by following up. 3 weeks is a long time before following up though.
Hold on
Pay is around 100K and prestige is equivalent (perhaps higher for uniqueness reasons) than working at a BB.
Huh? He didn't even specify a job title/description and you're giving him a salary figure? And prestige is higher than doing exactly what at a BB? Do you know what you're talking about?
I interviewed with Bridgewater and was asked back for a second round, but I turned it down. The culture is odd in many respects. Please visit their website and read the letter written by Ray Dalio. Something just seems off.
The number one attribute they were looking for was somebody who was going to question processes, question this, question that and generally sink his/her teeth into the conventional wisdom and suggest ways to make things better.
All of this is well and fine, but I'm not one who necessarily thrives in a culture with such a "flat" hierarchy (really a lack of any hierarchy). They seemed to be obsessed with ensuring that I was going to throw in my two cents on everything, which makes me wonder if I'd be working with a bunch of bullshitters throwing in 2 cents, 1 cent, 2 Canadian cents, 10 Monopoly dollars, etc. in order to look good. Not sure if this makes sense, but I hope it helps you.
Interview Style
I interviewed with them for a Client Service role a few months ago. They did not invite me back for a second round interview, but after the first round I didn't want to work there anyway.
Big egos and probably some major BS hidden behind some ridiculous terms like brutal honesty or aggressively searching for the truth. I completely agree with Ovechkin, read Dalio's writings and info on the website. Then go interview. It will open your eyes about the place. And be prepared for AGGRESSIVE questioning. Don't even bother trying to finesse.
I give them credit for trying to judge ability and fit in novel ways. I also give them credit for caring enough about their hiring process to be thorough (I was there for >6 hours and pretty sure that less than 1 or 2 other people from my group stayed that long).
Basic answer: I don't think they acted like what Dalio writes about culture.
Mike Coggins, PhD
Dept. of Cellular and Molecular Physiology
Yale University
silence / if its been three weeks
propeller,
did you ever reach out to BW about your status? I went through three rounds of interviews with them over the course of two months and a couple weeks ago they asked for references. But I know BW hasn't reached out to them, so I'm still waiting on the sidelines.
As for the culture and philosophy, I think they have good intentions but I'm sure the message and the intent get sidetracked by BS and misguided conversations/arguments. It is refreshing to see a corporation attempt to operate with meritocracy as the foundation...
They could care less if you
They could care less if you know anything about investing for their investment associate position. in fact, they put both investment associates and management associates in the same interview. weird huh? all they care about is whether you are argumentative or not.
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Anyone had any luck getting an internship interview with Bridgewater if they don't come on campus?
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I just received an email for
Wow! So many comments
The guy continues to grill