Soon to be PhD who won the Green-Card lottery

Hi all,

I'm new to the WSO after being a long time lurker and I would appreciate comments on my Resume since I just won the Green-Card diversity lotery and have decided to relocate to NYC in a coming 10 month window.

Key Education:

  • Master of Quant-Finance from top French Uni (master ranked within french top 3 on several rankings)

  • Currently doing a PhD involving large set of Factors, Machine-Learning and Text-Mining techniques applied to AM cross-assets-strategies (also involving pretty decent econometric modelling in one of the papers). Expected to graduate in 2018, after I will move to the US (only writing and publishing work on the last months that won't require me to be in Paris).

Key Experience:

  • 2 years Junior-PM within quant-equity AM team at top French AM company (before starting the PhD)

Looking for ideally: Buy-side position in cross-asset or equity quant-strategies.

Besides a general comment on the resume, I would really appreciate if you could give me an insight on how well would be perceived my education and experience. Like for example:

  • Would my Master and PhD be considered as equivalent to some top US ones?

  • Would my experience allow me to apply to some experienced positions like experienced-Associate or should I rather go for some Analyst positions?

  • Would you strongly advise taking the CFA level 1 in June (in order to give some assertion to my degree and comply better with American standards)?

Thanks!

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