quant/HFT

i am CS major graduated from a decent CS cirriculum with a 3.6 and now Im stuck doing IT Consulting. Only if I knew better beforehand. IT consulting doesnt even involve CS skills!!!!

Just trying to gather some suggestions of how to get into quant/hft or any analytical division of finance (no IT or backend crap). in fact im also interested in ibanking but thats a long shot.

so is there any way to make the switch or is MBA my only option?

(not sure if i want to do hardcore programming though but got the skills and interested in finance).

thanks.

6 Comments
 

Hardcore quant shops don't go looking for MBAs, or even put much emphasis on them. You would be much better with a MFE or something similar.

However, from what I understand, the economy has caused some degree of credential inflation. A lot of PhDs are out on the job market, so the quant shops can be pickier. Nevertheless, if you can show you have the skills, you should be fine with a reputable MFE. It sure beats a 4+ year commitment to a doctoral degree.

I am sure not a quant guy, but I have been looking around MFE boards lately. So take the above with a grain of salt.

 

thanks for the input man. so i assume there's no way to segway into the industry with just a bachelors? and even with MFE, you have to be an exceptional coder/alg engineer (not just good) to place?

 

Not trying to be harsh, but -- hastily judging by your writing and inability to figure out that IT Consulting was going to suck before you took the job -- banking is out of the question.

MFE is one possibility, but if you have a decent pedigree/skills you could also talk to quant headhunters. Don't be surprised if they tech you out a bit. Perhaps you could land a quant developer role at a reputable bank or fund.

 

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