No Return Offer - But good References

Hi, I did an off-cycle internship at a desk at a BB that seemed to go really well (good reviews well the way). I didn't get the offer, despite being told my project was great and that everyone I interacted with would be happy to be references for me going forward. They gave me some reason related to headcount, and at the time I was so blindsided I didn't even completely listen to their explanation.

I was as expected devastated, not only because I didn't get the offer, I made the dumb mistake of not applying to any Trading/Quant/FO positions at Banks when they usually do their FT hiring. I also missed a lot of funds that wrapped up their hiring. Now I am about to graduate and don't have a clue what to do next. I am at a Master's Program at a Top Ranked MFE if it makes any difference.

I think my shot at being in a S&T/FO Quant role at a Bank is pretty much done now, I can only focus on funds (be it quant type strategies or quantamental type), but am I at a disadvantage that I am going to be applying at such a late cycle of the year? Honestly just want to know if someone has faced something familiar and have I really shot myself in the foot as badly as I think I have. Thanks

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You are getting a MFE? There are always quant roles at the banks looking for applicants...and quant roles are common entry paths to trading desks at the BBs.

So, go on indeed, search for "quant trading" and look at 20-40 quant job postings, and make a list of the skills you see the roles asking for (C++, Python, Excel VBA, curve boot strapping, options pricing, stochastics, monte-carlo, Experience working with time-series data and large data sets, etc..)

Then make sure you have those skills (if you don't, you can learn all this stuff for free from youtube videos, or you can pay for courses on platforms like Udemy). You'll be able to get a job in the Quant/IT division of a BB, and then within 1-2 years, you'll be able to lateral onto a trading desk. Seen this happen dozens of times.

just google it...you're welcome
 

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