Career change from Amazon software engineer to finance
Hi all,
I originally developed an interest in finance in college, but because I didn't go to a target school and only had software engineering internships under my belt, I didn't bother applying to any jobs in investment banking or S&T. Since then, I've graduated and spent a couple years at Amazon as a software engineer and have done pretty well for myself, including getting promoted.
However, I haven't been able to shake that desire to move to finance. I'm not as interested in building technology as I thought I would be, and I definitely do not want to stay in an IC software role long-term. I've done a decent amount of research over the years and believe these are the routes available for me to break into finance:
- Get a top MBA and get hired into a post-MBA investment banking associate role.
- Get hired into a quantitative development role at a trading firm or hedge fund.
- Network and somehow land an investment banking analyst role (basically impossible but still technically a route I guess).
For option 1, it's not actually clear how to me how realistic this is. I have read this article on Mergers & Inquisitions and it says moving directly from SWE -> MBA -> IB without a pre-MBA finance role has a 0% chance of happening, but anecdotes on this website imply otherwise?
For option 2, it is much harder to land these roles than a typical FAANG job. The bar is much higher and it usually requires a level of expertise in C++ and/or probability/stat, neither of which I have (Amazon is more of a Java shop). I'm also trying to break away from purely technical IC roles. Lastly, I have strong quantitative skills but not at the level where I think I can compete with MS/PHD grads from top schools who have been doing Putnam competitions their whole life.
This is definitely an uncommon path and I'm not sure how many software engineer to finance career changers are lurking this site, but any advice is helpful.
I know someone who was an engineer at a manufacturing company, went to a top 10 MBA (not M7), and then went on to be an AS1 at JP Morgan. Possible, but definitely ask more people and research your MBA's outcomes.
Would strongly urge you to consider job security and likelihood of long-term employment as you consider this shift - especially going into what is already a volatile environment. Easiest and safest transition would just be to a swe or quant dev role at Two Sig, Citadel, etc., but it'll be harder the more you get into actual quant trading or research roles as you've pointed out. If you lack an understanding of fundamental finance and that's what you want to do, I would recommend MBA because a) reputation and pedigree matters a ton, b) gives you time to learn, and c) leaves open optionality to go for PM role at a techco should things go wrong (and maybe you can get some part of it paid for by your company). If you choose not to do MBA, then at the very least do CFA - nobody is going to hire anyone without any finance education or background or work experience.
Reasons not to make this shift especially now: Layoffs and the fact that more people generally go back to school during recessions probably will increase the number of candidates trying to shoot for fewer jobs. Amazon, Google, and the rest benefit from massive balance sheets, and big tech generally is secular vs business cycles - cash flow will stay strong even if stocks go down. Banks on the other hand have none of those advantages. Your WLB is going to take a hit no matter where you land, your benefits will fall off a cliff (firms have varying food expense and WFH policies, cost of dry cleaning, cost of living / commute, can't expense tech equipment, working on really backdated software, 401(k) / healthcare, PTO / vacation days all of which are worse than tech). Not to mention, more than half the kids I've worked with have parents that work in finance and pretty extensive networks that helped them get the job and will help them keep their jobs. You're also going to have to fit in with a frattier crowd to make a living - personality is a big differentiator in moving up the ladder.
FWIW I have an engineering degree and went the finance route.
honestly surprised when I clicked the m&i link and Brian said swe - > m7 mba -> BB IB is virtually impossible
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