3rd yr analyst, crazy to try to find another job?

I've been working at a small fundamentally-oriented l/s hedge fund in new jersey. I started in 2006 and recently completed my second year. I've been offered a third year (probably 95k base plus 35k bonus).

I like the work, but don't like new jersey, and would like to try to find a job in NYC. I'd like to find a position doing fundamentally-driven research for a fund or doing gaming industry research at a sell-side shop (I'm from vegas and have family who work in the industry so it's sort of natural). Am I insane for wanting to leave a job in this market? I'm okay with taking a significant pay cut.

My background: princeton 06, major in philosophy, 3.8 gpa, near-perfect SAT score. That was the basis for my hiring as I had no financial experience. I enrolled in the cfa program while working and took level 3 in june.

tyia

7 Comments
 

Only a college student here but in this market you might be best sticking it out for another year in a job like that, sounds pretty good especially since you get to avoid NYC's high cost of living.

"There is only one bottom line -- how much money you make."

"There is only one bottom line -- how much money you make."
 
Best Response
C.R.E.A.M.Only a college student here but in this market you might be best sticking it out for another year in a job like that, sounds pretty good especially since you get to avoid NYC's high cost of living.

"There is only one bottom line -- how much money you make."

Yeah, sounds like a college student answer... living in Jersey sucks, life isn't just about pumping up the checking account.

To the OP... I don't understand the downside. Put together your resume, do some research for some big funds in your space and shoot your resume off. Total time would be what? 5-6 hours? You can afford to be selective, which eliminates the worst part of any job search. You have the pedigree, the work exp., and a solid story - I would be really surprised if you don't pull any interviews. Worst case, you screw them up or you don't even get an interview, so what? What do you lose by putting yourself out there?

Love the respect you get for full disclosure. No wonder so many college kids come on and talk about how their associates at Goldman.

"There is only one bottom line -- how much money you make."

"There is only one bottom line -- how much money you make."

I respect him for putting the fact that he's a student out there.

We have too many pretenders on this board giving bad advice.

  • Capt K
- Capt K - "Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
 

Thank you for your honesty, CREAM. I'ma tell u like wu told me, cash rules everything around mem singing dolla dolla bill y'all

http://modernyuppie.blogspot.com/ The musings and antics of a Meathead College Wrester turned Asset Backed Securities trader living in The Rotten Apple.

 

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