Laid off after 1.5 years at a HF -> biz school?

Have 1.5 years of experience at a hedge fund ($1billion aum) and have been laid off. Would biz schools even look at me for the next cycle? It’s been incredibly hard to find a role (3 months), any thoughts on next steps. I’ve been targeting HF and ER roles.

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Were you laid off or fired? Laid off and I’d hope they’d go to bat for you to help you get a gig if you did good work. Fired and I get it, it may not have been performance related but tough to explain.

Nah b school not really an option to matriculate in the fall. There might be a few out there but deadlines passed months ago for the schools that would add to your resume.

I’d keep on the HF recruiting grind and see if something opens up. Would make sure you downplay how long you’ve been out and frame more as you took time off which is a totally understandable thing to do.

 
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Idk take the GMAT and start networking. Do you want to back to a HF? If so then does it really make sense to go to b school? Might be better off just getting in front of all the MM BD teams. Could also try the P72 experienced academy too maybe but since you’re doing the job you’re better off riding a PM/sr analyst hiring.

This is the time to really work on your process. Think through what worked, what didn’t, and ask why on all of it. When you don’t have an answer to why then dig in until you have something. If you feel like you have something good then start thinking about how to incorporate risk management. You won’t have a lot of resources but you don’t need to get hung up on factors or anything like that - just think through vol and how it impacts your names/portfolio.

Read a ton - books, substacks, X threads, 10ks you name it. Do a mix of personal and professional development so that you have a few more tools in the belt for the next thing. You might stumble across something along the way that’s either a good trade idea or potentially something outside of finance that shapes your path.

Last thing, don’t get too discouraged. It’s a tough market rn so not a lot of seats and you can’t be too picky but you’ll be ok. You’re a well-educated, experienced professional who can likely run laps around most people. You’ll find a way to monetize that - might be tomorrow or might take time but you’ll find it.

 

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