Understanding D.E. Shaw

As an outsider looking in, I'm interested in learning more about D.E. Shaw - particularly how the firm is perceived relative to other HFs, its culture, and the types of positions available to post-MBA folks. Any and all answers are welcome, thank you!

 

D.E. Shaw isn't really a place that hires MBAs much. Their strategies are mostly quant/systematic, and lend themselves more to PhDs who research/implement them. You might get a trading job with them with just a bachelors, though, if you're really smart. They do also dabble in a few other things like private equity, but I'm not sure if they hire specifically for those roles in any special way.

 
Best Response
dallasstar:
D.E. Shaw isn't really a place that hires MBAs much. Their strategies are mostly quant/systematic, and lend themselves more to PhDs who research/implement them. You might get a trading job with them with just a bachelors, though, if you're really smart. They do also dabble in a few other things like private equity, but I'm not sure if they hire specifically for those roles in any special way.

Spot on, unless you work in exec as some of their trades need someone to check the banks for prices. But most of the guys are PhDs or just clever blokes. No MBAs really... Unless you are going to be selling the fund, but in this case I hope you have a massive amount of contacts already. Their London office is pretty cool as it's in Marylebone so you can essentially live right next to the office and be in a decent neighborhood. Also the guys who work there are really decent people, and just an all around great company if you manage a job there.

 

That real estate deal they made cannot possibly make sense to anyone. Buying 55,000 acres in the middle of nowhere to build a ton? What the fuck?

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

Judging by the fact that its been owned for 300 years by a Native American tribe and that DE Shaw is about to let the loan default I would say that option has probably been explored.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

Yea, why does DE SHAW have SOOO many god damn information sessions? It damn near impossible to get a job there.

I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment. -Styles P
 

before having interviews with them I had the impression that they care only about quant stuff. However, one of my interviewers was an MBA without a solid math background as he claimed, and another one was a chick that claimed to hate math. Both were traders if I remember well. On the other hand a guy that ran an informal presentation at my school, a PhD (also a trader) was joking about not seeing anybody in DE Shaw reading the WSJ in contrast with other shops...

 

I believe you do have a say in where you would like to be placed. Energy may be best for you, as you say you are quantitative and interested in discretionary strategies.

 

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