Moving to the buy side

I’m a “quant” on the algo desk at a non-BB. I say “quant” because we don’t really build fancy statistical models (although I’d have loved to do that), instead we just pull numbers and crunch data 24/7.

Given the mundane nature of this work, I’m already bored and don’t really feel challenged by it. Thus, wanting to switch over to the buy-side.

How did you move from the sell side to the buy side? Is networking important? Whom to reach out to? Is having a PhD or a conventional quant experience (regression etc) absolutely required or do some firms just take the chance and see how the candidate does in the interviews? Also, since mine is a non-BB and a non-risk taking role, would it be more realistic for me to consider moving internally or to another BB in a risk taking role first, preferably on a macro product? Any other inputs would be valuable too.

I don’t really want to go to an HF because of the high turnover and the fact that my career would depend on my PM’s performance, not just my own. But I’ve some MM pods retain their QR’s even if the PM is let go - those could be viable.

I’m more interested in the prop side, even though it’s just as risky, but at least my career would depend on my own performance (for the most part?).

How about switching over to IB? Is that even doable?

Happy to hear from the community :)