Better at side interest than job

Currently a prop day trader (equities) in the trading arm of a HF, algos n stuff, doing fine at it, but was recently asked to try and find ways of using the hedge funds cash in longer term strategies as something to see if possible. Started doing currencies and have become pretty good at predicting a few of them. (holding periods of weeks/months if still going in the right direction - e.g. Japan).

I am strongly considering jumping across if this takes off, but where to and saying so yea, i wasnt ever interested in currencies but it turns out im not bad at them might not sit right at a job interview.

Yes im aware its possible my results are flukes, past performance is no indicator etc., but if you were in my shoes what would you do? Keep working at my day job, ask to do more in the currencies? (we dont really have a currency desk, im sort of starting it).

The sad part is, my own PnL is not influenced by the funds cash signfiicantly. If i use their capital we can offset the costs of trading into some of their transactions, however being able to prove i can do currencies well feels like its potentially more valuable. More importantly, I feel like I get currencies more than I do equities.

To keep the cynics contributions constructive, what would I have to demonstrate in what time frame that this is something I can do, rather than random chance.

Thanks in advance
T

4 Comments
 
justin88

Just demonstrate statistical significance... you're a quant trader so this should be straightforward.

but i'm going from an environment of hundreds of trades a day to 3 - 4 a month, it would take a helluva long time to get a statistical sample that i'd be comfortable with.

Would you put more effort into showing strength in this (at next to zero PnL for me) for a period of time? Focus on equities and leave this by the wayside?

 
Best Response

Tenetur est error nihil non nobis vitae blanditiis. Placeat libero fugiat corporis voluptates sunt aspernatur. Quam quo amet a id necessitatibus aut.

Accusamus corrupti quia quo amet. Debitis dolorem amet dicta tempora est excepturi sapiente. Quo nesciunt minus pariatur exercitationem voluptatibus aut. Ut non quisquam autem nam mollitia.

Magni et animi ex natus id totam labore sequi. Iste autem recusandae perspiciatis soluta sed illum. Exercitationem ut omnis eius.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (47) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (74) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”