What do the most technically / quantitatively adept quant hf / prop shop analysts do to stay sharp and continue to hone their skills many years after graduation?
Generally I've seen very few get a masters while working since that's pretty intense. I've seen some pursue certifications like the CFA, but for quant-y roles this may not be necessarily what I imagine would help. I've seen some do Coursera courses but the feedback I get from people is that these are not considered rigorous enough. So, all these options apparently aren't that great. It could be that the answer is just "bro just do a good job at work and then chill otherwise" but wanted to see if there's ideas that others had.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are a few ways that quantitatively adept analysts in quant hedge funds or prop shops can continue to hone their skills:
Understanding Market Participants: It's crucial to understand the different market participants and what they are doing. This gives you a good idea of the big picture.
Data Analysis: Get a good sense of what sorts of data makes money, and how it makes that money. This involves a lot of data analysis and interpretation.
Statistics: Understand your stats, and how the different analytics of signal performance interact. This is a key skill in any quant role.
Continuous Learning: While online courses might seem boring or general, they can still provide some value. It's about finding the right ones that are related to your projects and can help you understand and modify your colleagues' code.
Experience: Nothing beats hands-on experience. The more you work on your projects and face new challenges, the more you learn and improve.
Networking: Building connections in the industry can also help you learn from others and stay updated on the latest trends and strategies.
Remember, it's not just about working hard, but also about working smart. So, don't just do a good job at work, but also take the time to chill and reflect on your experiences. That's when the real learning happens!
Sources: Trading Own Quant Strategy at Prop Shop, Q&A: 2nd Year Equities L/S HF Analyst in Hong Kong, 0 to pseudo quant real quick - analytical skills for juniors with finance background, Q&A: I worked as a CTO at prop-shop doing high frequency trading (HFT)
I was part of a hardcore quant research team in Citadel/Millennium. The simple answer is, learning and practicing maths are part of their lifestyle. These people have an attitude where if they don’t know something, they will try learn it by any means. It can be from textbook, a course, or whatever. To focus on which resources/books to consume is misguided I would say.
Hello,
May I ask whether you have heard of SDA team at Citadel? Not sure how rigorous the interview process is and how I can well prepare. Thank you!
That's a data analyst role for assisting the fundamental investors, not a quant role. So the interview process is accordingly much simpler
Let me tell you I've sacrificed a lot of my social life in favor of looking through textbooks, etc
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