Math Majors on Wall Street
(Senior Chimp, 18
Points)
on 3/23/11 at 10:56am
What are the most fitting positions for a Math Major on the Street. What types of positions do you guys think that Math Majors would be best suited for and what are the specific titles (ex. quant analyst, risk manger, etc.)?





can you code? quant is
can you code? quant is feasible only if you're good at programming.
risk and trading also like math majors.
Statistics and programming.
Statistics and programming.
I am not cocky, I am confident, and when you tell me I am the best it is a compliment.
-Styles P
if you're good at coding (in
if you're good at coding (in particular C/C++ or high-level languages like MatLab, Python), then quant/quant developer. The specific names for those positions vary widely throughout the industry. If you have little experience coding, then 'strategist' might be a good option (though that will entail a fair amount of coding also). Some of the BBs have moved a lot of their quants into full front-office positions and call them strategists (e.g. at GS, JPM).
Anything with "quant" or
Anything with "quant" or "risk" or both is where you should be looking.
If you can add C++ to your resume you will be in a great position to get a job. There aren't too many people with math degress / C++ experience and yet a lot of jobs open with those requirements, so take advantage of it.
Life on the Buy Side
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quant strategist, quant
quant strategist, quant research, quant developer, high frequency trading (for the coders), algorithmic trading (for the coders), funds that employ statistical arbitrage techniques, risk management, risk analytics, quant-driven styles for equity investing or global macro, quant replication of alpha
Cool, I'm also a comp sci
Cool, I'm also a comp sci major...but am not sure that I want to be coding all day. Which positions above are less focused on coding and more about the models and research aspect?
The coding part is just the
The coding part is just the implementation of the research part.
In very general terms, you'd research ways to generate alpha and/or control risk and then develop a way to implement it.
Life on the Buy Side
www.lifeonthebuyside.com
.............
Mergers & Inquisitions
www.mergersandinquisitions.com