Is it necessary for me to learn Python if I knew Matlab well?

I am a Ph.D. candidate in the field of Nuclear Engineering. I am considering applying for a Quantitative Researcher position this fall (either hedge fund or investment bank). I am planning to allocate the next 6 months carefully for the preparation of transition. By talking to some other people in the quant field, I noticed many use Python on a day-by-day basis. However, in my work I mostly use Matlab and C++. I am curious:

For interviews, is it still necessary for me to learn Python, if I am already familiar with Matlab?

I am new to WSO so please remind me if I came to the wrong sub-forum. Thanks!

2 Comments
 

You don't need to be a Python expert for interviews. Just know the basics and make sure your interviewers know that you don't know Python. (i.e. do not put it on your resume)

Most interviews will be a mix of of brainteasers/math and programming questions using pseudocode so no need to know the details of some library (unless of course you claim to know it on your resume - then it's fair game!)

If you know C++ and Matlab, you should be able to pick up Python pretty quickly.

 

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