Getco is currently accepting resumes for algorithmic traders. Surprisingly, it does not require a programming background although it's obviously recommended. Has anyone interviewed for this role? What does an algo trader at Getco do? They are also recruiting quants, who are the hardcore programmers. So my guess is algo traders work mostly on refining the models, debugging algorithms, basic research, etc.
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quants are not generally "hardcore programmers" per se. they can code but generally not particularly well. :)
traders are in either execution and/or portfolio management, though they may have some of their own research/models.
Interesting. All the quant jobs require at least a master's degree in CS/engineering/math/physics and fluency in C++ and Java. So i'm surprised they are not good coders.
Since GETCO is pure high-frequency, i'm not sure how much portfolio management will be involved. My guess is the algo traders mostly work on refining the models and improving execution.
how do you know this, their careers site is pretty vacant. Heard on the grapevine?
t
posted around to target schools
i passed them a resume and got dinged on the initial screen.
any reason given? do you need perfect scores or something?
they are in the top of the first tier. i never won a math olympiad or a putnam so i was out of the running from the start.
Did you submit your resume through campus career services? How long after you submitted did you get dinged?
i emailed them with my basic bio info. i think my HYP dealio and ph.d. got me in the door. once they saw that i had no fields medal on my full CV that was the end of my getco aspirations. my GPA wasn't much to brag about either.
the ding took them a day or two.
You had a 3.7 gpa in math from princeton (arguably the best math program in the world), and that was not enough to get you an interview? jesus christ.
Was this for algo trader or some other job?
i told them i was interested in both trading and quant.
once you start interviewing in this kind of pool you see guys with 4.0s from HYPM all the time. i can't even begin to tell you how many romanian math geniuses i have seen.
I think they take a range of people, you never know why you get dinged, could even be an HR person having a bad day. If I dont get feedback I dont try to dwell on what went wrong. It could be anything and assuming stuff is a waste of time.
That's because GPAs don't mean shit in math. Any idiot can learn the crap they teach in undergraduate that stuff is to just give you a foundation to start learning about math ON YOUR OWN.
If by "the best" you mean "the hardest" in terms of academic content. Not even close... US math programs are usually quite easy and completely overrated.
But it's probably one of the most prestigious so it attracts among the best candidates.
hmmm, might give it a shot then, is it only US side recruiting or is it UK as well?
US. don't know if the UK is easier.
That's why I neglected your comment about the GPA part.
I think you mean graduate level courses.
I mean courses taken by first and second year PHD students? We technically started "graduate courses" in sophomore year.
lol... PhDs take graduate lvl courses for the first 2 years, pass the qualifiers, and they just go to colloquium/seminar and do research. There is no 'PHD class' unless you are participating in the research seminars, which I doubt that's what you are doing in your junior and senior year. And what "graduate courses" are you taking in sophomore year anyway? lol
Stuff.
Ok, in general, US undergrad math program is easier. I have friends studying math in French top school such as Université Paris - Pierre et Marie Curie, and École Polytechnique. To say it is a joke, it is very misleading. Just because it is easier to get a math degree in US, it doesn't mean the quality of education is subpar. There is plenty of freedom for you to take grad lvl math courses, if you are interested in the subject. It's not like everyone is just doing the bare minimum to get by.
Right, what Gekko said. The standard level in the US might be easier, but there's a lot of freedom to go way beyond that. Besides, the hardest math program is probably harvard's 55. They did our two year sequence in one year.
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