Pivoting into an investment team role

Execution trading has been my background for some time now and I’m starting to feel the plateau. Yes you can stay in this seat depending on the firm and make a good living but it’s a bit slow for me and I feel so disconnected from the buy side research process. I have plenty of experience across strategies from growth the value and across mkt caps in the equity space. Some hedge fund vehicles as well, options, otc etc…

I’m just at the point where everyone I know in a risk seat has done 2+2 and is now at a long/short equity strat, MM, or doing credit.

I love investing but trading other people’s orders is getting old. Should I do grad school and then go for associate in banking? I feel like going to school is not great given what I’m earning. I also can’t really decide what strategy I’d want to focus on.

For those of you that have pivoted, or have switched paths by way of post grad recruiting can you shed some light on. 1.) YOE, 2.) What you’re doing now, 3.) How you got there 4.) Any other feedback you deem valuable.

I do have a few things on the back burner: one activist fund as a trader, one hf (tech) trading role, interview with Blackrock PM team for multi asset, so things are decent but trading one execution role for the next doesn’t seem like a good choice either.

4 Comments
 
Most Helpful

I pivoted to IB from S&T.

I was looking to get a job in investing but I found employers didn’t take me seriously. I think it’s because there are so many bankers, desk analysts and sell-side research associates applying, and they are a much safer pick.

I decided not to go to business school because it was expensive and I was old (low 30s).

I went big 4 -> MM.

It really worked out for me because I kept getting paid and I got where I wanted to go.

I had desk research associate and ER associate on my CV though so it was easier to convince big 4 that I could do the job. That may be harder with an execution trading job. Sorry to be negative just trying to provide realistic advice.

 

Labore facilis odit est libero animi minus debitis. Architecto ut dolor dolor. Voluptate tenetur hic perferendis debitis.

Similique rerum amet dolore pariatur. Est aspernatur ad ducimus atque expedita. Totam porro cumque et voluptas natus. Accusamus exercitationem distinctio earum facilis aspernatur qui quidem enim.

Quia vel sit commodi voluptate. Voluptate molestiae quasi accusamus voluptatum ratione nam praesentium. Eos soluta et ut ipsam dolore repellat sed. Debitis ea dignissimos quasi labore rem est. Quia neque eveniet recusandae architecto. Ullam ut id consequatur dolor fugiat.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Point72 99.0%
  • D.E. Shaw 98.1%
  • AQR Capital Management 97.1%
  • Citadel Investment Group 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 (77) $191
  • Analysts (242) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (29) $145
  • 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

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...”