Exits from fundamental analyst at market maker

Hi I am a fundamental analyst at a large market maker. My role consists of supporting news flow to traders, and event driven research and trading, both fundamental and quantitative.

I was curious what type of exits I could potentially have? My thoughts so far but I actually have no clue:

  • event driven pod
  • event driven SM
  • fundamental pod

Anyone have any light or ideas or experience about this? In a rather niche role so would appreciate any suggestions

15 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some potential exit opportunities for a fundamental analyst at a market maker:

  1. Event-Driven Pod: This aligns well with your current experience in event-driven research and trading.
  2. Event-Driven Single Manager (SM): Similar to the event-driven pod, but typically involves working for a single manager or a smaller team.
  3. Fundamental Pod: Leveraging your fundamental analysis skills in a different setting.

Additionally, other common exit opportunities for roles similar to yours include:

  • Hedge Funds: Particularly those focused on event-driven or fundamental strategies.
  • Private Equity: Especially if you have a strong background in fundamental analysis and deal experience.
  • Corporate Development/Strategy: Utilizing your analytical skills in a corporate setting.
  • Equity Research: Transitioning to a sell-side or buy-side equity research role.
  • Entrepreneurship: Leveraging your finance and market knowledge to start your own venture.

These paths can offer diverse opportunities depending on your interests and career goals.

Sources: Exit opps: I've crunched the previous work experience of 390 PE Associates.., Q&A: First year macro hedge fund analyst, Consulting Exit Opps for Introverts, Breakdown of Post-IB Exit Opportunities, Q&A: London L/S + event-driven analyst

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

bump - curious about this as well

I went through interview process for citsec and spoke to a former intern who said people exited to pods, pe, and quant (for ft from intern). Curious what ft exits would look like.

 

Would you be willing to share how you prepped for interview process? I not in the process just curious, I got dinged on the first round after being stumped on market making game haha. I get it now, but wondering how would one prepare for it without being a Stats/Applied Math major...

 

Got final round at one of these places but ended up taking BB SA at the time. The interview process mixed quant and standard ER processes. Wasn’t tasked for a stock pitch or technicals, was asked about the market and events that can move stocks and how I’d trade them.

was then asked the standard EV questions/games. I.e price to play a game where you earn $ on a die roll with subsequent conditions being added. 

I’ve also been asked mental math/probability questions by MMHF so I’m guessing they’re becoming more common for L/S too.

The questions don’t get nearly as hard as quant interviews (usually just as hard as the first 2-4 questions you’d get in an Optiver QT first round or something)

 

So for me it was 4 rounds.

Two 45 minute interviews which were focused on valuation, probability, and market making. Nothing was too difficult and seemed to be trying to gauge how you think. 

One ~2.5 hour round split into three interviews which had more technical probability and market making questions. They also asked me to do three separate stock pitches. The interview felt similar to hedge funds with a quant bent. 

Final 45 minute interview with hiring manager where we went through two hypothetical event scenarios (eg CEO of a company posts on twitter before earnings and what option strategy do you recommend based on this). 

I prepped by reading the probability/brain teaser section of the green book and practicing some market making. Nothing was too difficult otherwise they would not interview finance majors. I think making sure your probability is sharp and you can answer estimation questions (create 50% confidence interval for random things) you should be fairly well prepared. 

 

As far is understand the role, exiting to MMHF isn’t going to be straightforward (bizdev etc don’t know what you do lol) and not sure you’re actually developing stock pitches/modelling skills the same way and ER associate at JPM is.

i have seen people go from MMHF -> equity analyst @ quant market maker though (Optiver/IMC/SIG type shop)

 

Hi interesting post, keen to connect and share ideas. I have been with HFT for several years now as an analyst. I'd say, there are differences between shops. Some are more collaborative, some are more information provider vs. risk taker.

At my shop, we focus a lot on short term fundamental driven opportunities. Like the earnings event prep the comment below mentioned. On top of that, the money makers are typically, the ad-hoc events. Events that aren't priced by the market and also react to tails on like ASML accidentally released its earnings early.

After speaking with a few recruiters and BD at MM, it appears that a lot of these shops focus on different kinda events vs. HFT. And HFT strategies is very different vs. HF. So far, I am trying to hone my modelling skills and understand some of the longer plays HF do.

 

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