Going from IB to HF

I'm 100% confident now that I want to go the hedge fund route one day, but I'm starting out in banking first. Should I do 2+2 IB and PE before recruiting for hedge funds, or recruit directly for hedge funds from banking? I know some firms really value PE experience, but is that really going to set you apart in the long run, and is it worth the extra 2 year grind if you know you'll leave eventually? I'm most interested in distressed/credit investing.

6 Comments
 

Contrary to popular belief…you can go directly to a hedge fund assuming you love what they do and have done previous individual work on stocks and the market (Not including school work)

I am starting at a hedge fund next year straight from undergrad non target. And it’s a really, really good fund. 10+B AUM

 

Mind sharing tips on how to prep for interviews for HF if you don’t have that experience and have just been in IB?

 

Apart from learning exactly what a hedge fund does and how they operate you should focus on Original stock pitches. Stay away from FAANG or anything that appears on the headlines every 5 days. Have 2-3 solid ones that you know like the back of ur hand and GREAT reasons why. How Seth Klarman said Remember you are being arrogant when you buy something because you are assuming the entire market is wrong; so be able to back up your trade and why the market is wrongfully pricing that security with concise points. Often, the simpler the better. Good luck you got this

 

I also am non target looking to break into hf, have part time hf experience and s&t intern. How did you market urself for right out of school?

 

Non qui accusantium eligendi voluptas. Laboriosam sunt similique temporibus labore est earum. Reiciendis dolore et quas. Neque ratione rem praesentium porro aut voluptatem.

Ea asperiores laboriosam quo consequuntur. Voluptatem sit culpa dolore eveniet quam voluptas molestiae. Qui fuga rerum et eum consequatur cum. Aut aut voluptatem accusantium. Consequatur numquam quasi beatae repellat architecto.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • AQR Capital Management 97.0%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.0%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.0%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Blackstone Group 97.0%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.0%
  • Two Sigma Investments 94.9%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.0%
  • Point72 98.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.1%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.1%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (12) $355
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (83) $287
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (76) $193
  • Analysts (235) $177
  • Intern/Summer Associate (29) $145
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (276) $95
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”