What can expect PhD in pure math without any working experience?

I am earning my PhD in pure math (but no way to related it with finance) in a target for some BB banks european university in 2017. I have no banking or finance experience and I am not currently prepared to apply for an internship during next months. I will be 26 y/o in 2017.

What is the best strategy for me to break into IB/PE/HF (I mean advisory, not trading) in one year? When should I apply and what position for? What can improve my chances?

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Best Response

I'll make a slightly off topic comment. My roommate in undergrad was a math wiz, who ended up gunning for a pure math Phd while I went the IB route. He just signed at a top prop shop, after doing a few internships here and there in data-driven positions. Career-oriented math Phds typically go the quant route, and the demand is extremely high for the best of the best. HFs won't even care if you have 0 knowledge of options theory/quant trading (think AQR/2Sig), since they assume you'll pick it up easily on the job. I respect your preference to go the more vanilla advisory route, but you seem quite lost in what you want (wtf is an advisory role in HF?) Figure out your career track first, and then apply yourself.

 

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