Path Dependency in Investing Careers

I started my career off at XZY bank in ABC product group. Am I able to recruit for XXX fund?

I did my summer internship in sales and trading. Can I recruit for L/S roles?

Can I switch from LO to L/S?

Can I go from MM SS ER to SM HF?

I always see these types of questions on WSO.

Hedge funds (and high finance jobs In general) are not some magical club where you must perform a secret ritual to get in. This is a job. There are skills needed to succeed.

It’s not that difficult. Finance has a very low technical bar. You can learn all you need in about a year if you study hard enough. Most everything you could learn for free.

In an industry where you only get paid for being unconventional, a lot of you are looking for conventional ways in.

If you are someone who wants it bad enough, you will find a way in regardless of background. What separates those who got seats is the ability to learn the skills, sell themselves + their story, and keep at it until they get a role.

There is no single magical path to your dream position. Work on making yourself a valuable employee. After that start applying for jobs. Apply for enough places and you will land a seat if you have the skills and can sell yourself.

I am a large believer in human potential and think that you can do anything if you set your mind to it. Don’t give up. Life is all about problem solving. The job hunt is just another problem.

1 Comments
 

Magnam excepturi ipsa ut soluta at ut. Porro reiciendis debitis provident quo porro accusamus similique. Aut perferendis dignissimos tempore qui qui sapiente. Unde doloribus distinctio voluptas natus corporis. Dolorum dicta quae autem porro in inventore accusamus officia.

Eum repellendus dolores porro facilis nesciunt consequatur est. Harum beatae iste reprehenderit. Et nisi excepturi ut porro architecto eius. Nemo quis est architecto molestiae illo. Iure et ratione sint omnis. Rerum delectus quia dolores placeat ab voluptatem aut. Atque inventore dolor fugit nisi sint.

Est pariatur dolorum sint et assumenda. Quo nesciunt odio esse unde. Et sunt error tempore est ex dicta qui repellendus.

 

Harum sit dolorum est incidunt odio et assumenda. Repudiandae minima quia placeat voluptatem. Saepe excepturi et dolores enim. Odio illo illo velit assumenda cumque quo.

Eveniet aliquid perferendis et fugit. Provident consectetur repellat necessitatibus at. Quisquam ut porro provident sequi. Eaque est debitis vel totam occaecati reiciendis.

Soluta enim voluptatum nulla repudiandae itaque illum dolores. Dolorum porro qui ut quod excepturi consequuntur explicabo. Saepe ut rerum possimus ea fugiat. Eveniet est voluptatibus qui non reprehenderit optio. Omnis cumque est maiores sequi sed necessitatibus rerum non.

Qui omnis architecto est voluptas. Velit atque sed distinctio corrupti eos architecto.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 97.1%
  • AQR Capital Management 96.1%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Magnetar Capital 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.0%
  • Blackstone Group 97.0%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.0%
  • Millennium Partners 95.0%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • AQR Capital Management 99.0%
  • Point72 98.1%
  • D.E. Shaw 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 96.2%
  • Magnetar Capital 95.2%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (12) $423
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (86) $288
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (76) $192
  • Analysts (242) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (28) $146
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (282) $96
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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
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...”