Quant resume in HK IBD recruiting

Hi all,

I'm a rising senior studying in US who was late to the game of IBD recruiting, which means for my junior summer I did not have an internship offer secured at a BB/EB. However I did gain some experience in IBD by networking to secure some internships at smaller banks.

I know that HK recruiting is different in the sense that you can first go to grad school and then recruit as an intern analyst, and that's what I plan on doing. However, I know that there are "target programs" for HK IBD such as MIT Mfin/Princeton MFE/CMU MFE etc. that are honestly very quantitative. I have 1 year left until applying for grad school (I plan on deferring graduation by 1 year) and I'm trying to prep my way into one of these programs by doing some quant internships/projects. However, even if I get into one of these programs, my resume would become quite quant-heavy. Does anyone know if this would negatively impact IBD recruitment? Or if anyone has had the experience of transferring from quant to IBD, I would highly appreciate if you can share your experience!

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3 Comments

WSO Monkey Bot

O

2y

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some insights regarding your situation:

School and Program Selection:
- Target Programs: HK IBD recruiting does have target programs such as MIT Mfin, Princeton MFE, and CMU MFE. These programs are highly quantitative.
- School Importance: While attending a top-tier school like HYPS or MIT can give you the benefit of the doubt, being from a non-target school doesn't necessarily preclude success. Skills and passion can help bridge the gap.
Experience and Resume:
- Quant-Heavy Resume: Having a quant-heavy resume can be a double-edged sword. While it demonstrates strong analytical skills, it might not directly align with the typical IBD skill set. However, showcasing your passion for finance through relevant projects and internships can mitigate this.
- Relevant Experience: Doing algo trading or similar quant projects can help demonstrate your passion and competence in finance, which is crucial for the "why Quant" question in interviews.
Networking and Recruiting Techniques:
- Networking: Applying IB recruiting techniques to non-IB industries can yield excellent results. Networking is crucial, especially if you lack traditional BB/EB internship experience.
- Grad School Path: It's common in HK to go to grad school and then recruit as an intern analyst. This path can provide additional time to build relevant experience and network.
Work-Life Balance (WLB):
- General Expectations: In the quant field, the work-life balance can vary, but generally, it ranges from 40-60 hours per week with no weekends.
Transitioning from Quant to IBD:
- Transfer Experience: Transitioning from a quant-heavy background to IBD is possible. Highlighting your finance-related projects, internships, and networking efforts can help make your case stronger.

In summary, while a quant-heavy resume might initially seem misaligned with IBD, leveraging your quantitative skills, networking effectively, and gaining relevant finance experience can position you well for HK IBD recruiting.

Sources: So you want to be a Quant?, So you want to be a Quant?, , , If I see another "Incoming IBD Analyst/Summer Analyst" on LinkedIn.. I'll k--l someone

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grandseiko

IB

2y

Can you do that in hk??

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patriot18

RS

2y

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Quant resume in HK IBD recruiting

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