SS ER > HF. Network in from SS or MBA?

For the past year I've been at a MM bank doing tech/software ER and have spent about 5 years total on the sell side.

I would now like to make the transition to a traditional L/S hedge fund. I've recently started more seriously networking as I view that as my best path to breaking in. I have a few older colleagues who are advising me to grab an MBA first but it seems like a waste of $450-$500k in total opportunity cost. In today's environment, is that still a necessary stepping stone?

I know the answer is probably "depends" but thought I'd throw it out there to get some wider perspectives.

4 Comments
 
Most Helpful

HFs don't place a lot of value on MBA degrees, in general. Therefore unless you want to go back to bschool for your own personal benefit (advanced degree, network, take a break), I would just try to break into HF from your job. When I was there, there were a handful of HFs that came on campus, but most people I knew who targeted HFs did so on their own through their own networking off campus.

 

Est libero recusandae autem et autem. Velit laboriosam cum corrupti accusamus similique impedit. Fuga non corporis ut id labore.

Quibusdam aspernatur optio eum quas et. Veritatis vel ut corporis soluta voluptas. Nostrum iste cum dicta tenetur.

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 (11) $372
  • 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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
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
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...”