How long does the hedge fund hiring process typically take for a lateral hire?

Apologies if this has already been asked before. Interested only in lateral hires and also please describe the process/number of interviews and with who, thanks! 

7 Comments
 

Based on previous WSO threads, the lateral hiring process for hedge funds can vary, but here are some insights:

Duration:

  • Typically around 3 weeks: From start to offer, most processes are tightly run and usually take about three weeks.

Process and Interviews:

  1. Initial Screening:

    • Phone Screen: Often conducted by a VP or director, focusing on behavioral questions such as "Why this firm?", "Why leave your current position?", and "Why this specific group?"
  2. Technical Interviews:

    • Case Study: A 45-minute case study interview, often involving two interviewers. This will test your technical knowledge and problem-solving skills.
  3. Final Rounds:

    • Multiple Interviews: These can include several rounds with senior members of the team, such as VPs and MDs. The focus here is on both technical skills and cultural fit.

Example:

  • Evercore M&A Specific Coverage:
    • 1st Round: Phone screen with VP/director (behavioral questions).
    • 2nd Round: 45-minute case study with two interviewers (technical questions).
    • 3rd Round: Multiple interviews with senior team members.

Additional Notes:

  • Variability: The process can be group-dependent and may vary slightly between firms.
  • Waiting Period: After the final round, there can be a waiting period of a few weeks before receiving a response.

This should give you a comprehensive overview of what to expect during the lateral hiring process for hedge funds.

Sources: How long was your lateral process ?, Lateral Hires - What were your interviews like?, Guide to Lateraling in 2021, How long does your research process take?

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

Depends what level you're at.

If you're at a junior level then you can expect the usual gruelling process of 5+ interviews including a standard online technical assessment along with a potential take home project. Probably takes ~2 months.

If you're at a more senior level and you already have a strategy to bring onboard then the process is much shorter ~3 interviews, however, it really comes down to whether the firm is already running a similar strategy. The overall job search might actually take longer, despite the shorter hiring process.

 
Most Helpful

Depends on the firm/pod. I’ve seen some shops that make a decision in a little as 5 interviews and others take no joke 20+ because they have you meet practically everyone except the janitor. The speed depends on how badly they want you (a function of how quickly someone else might scoop you up), and how urgently they need to fill the position (if they aren’t super committed to filling a role then they’ll slow play you to make sure they really need the spot and that you truly are the best person for this seat). I think the time variance is wider for more senior individuals (ie could be very fast or very slow), but is probably more consistent amongst junior folks.

 

20+ rounds is often a fake interview. I did it with a bunch of firms a few years ago and half the rounds were strategy fishing sessions. They seemed to have not hired anyone at all when I looked them up more recently.

 

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