Transitioning from Tech to HF, What to Expect?
Somehow I have made it to last round interviews at a major hedge fund, and an offer seems very likely. The role is for a quant/data analyst on a fundamental trading desk.
I am currently working in tech as a data scientist for a fairly small firm. My current work hours are medium-long. I work an average of 55 hours with some occasional weekends or additional overtime. WFH most days.
My question is about culture and work/life balance. Am I in for a culture shock by transitioning into the HF space? Are trading desk/front office hours as dramatic as I have heard?
HF has always been a dream role for me, at least in a romanticized kind of way. However, I do wonder if I have it good in tech and should take the slightly lower pay in exchange for more free time.
Hours are intense because it’s pretty economically meritocratic. It’s a free market filled with greedy asps constantly trying to find some advantage over everyone else. How will you fare if you’re the only one that’s only on the hunt for 6-8 hours a day?
That said, there’s a difference between fundamental analysts and quant/systematic folks. In the latter, you’re probably less reactionary and a bit more academic in your approach/day-to-day.
Additionally, there’s a difference between a large institution like Two Sigma and a small eat-what-you-kill hedge fund that’s basically a pack of greedy hyaenas always looking for scraps of meat on which to gorge.
Comp model often drives culture. The more upside is on offer, the harder people fight/work to get it in a zero sum environment.
If you’re basically hired to rub your chin and write white papers and thought pieces, you’re basically a very well paid college professor with no teaching duties.
That sounds terrible tbh
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