From discretionary macro research to quant

So i've had about a year of work experience in a BB strategy research role (not quant - think FX/rates strategy) and throughout my time there I found myself becoming more and more interested in the quant side of things, I really enjoyed the model building/ data analysis aspect of it and would like to focus more intensely on this in my career.

My Background
I have a year in research (built a few economic models using python and R etc) and a year at an economic consultancy mostly focused around the energy sector (was a very niche area but I helped to build econometric models for utilities and power traders). My academic background is: undergrad in economics (average uni) and a MSc, also in econ from a top target in the UK.

Goal
My goal is to work in the global macro quant space (not HFT) as a researcher or a trader. However, i'm wondering whether a transition is possible at this stage. So my question is how can I break into the quant space with my background. Obviously i'm networking where I can, but i'm just wondering if there's something I might be missing.

I've also been working on my Python pretty intensely recently through Kaggle competitions and Udemy courses but I still feel like I could benefit from a more structured approach. So if anyone has any resources to share I would be grateful! (Not looking for beginner type stuff)

Cheers!

 

Hey Brightcake, I'm here because nobody responded to this thread after a few days...maybe one of these resources will help you:

  • What does a DISCRETIONARY macro trader do at Citadel/DE Shaw/AQR? externally from BB and DE Shaw seems to grow their own traders) For I know quant trading at those funds ... gather some information about what those macro fund might look for in potential candidates. From what ... income/fx/commodities desks. It seems to me the so-called discretionary desks at those funds still rely on substantial ...
  • Execution Trader at Discretionary Macro Fund, Career killer or valid path to PM? discretionary Macro PMs/founders of multi-billion funds. However the roles are all described as execution ... trading. Is execution trading a valid path to a PM or risk-taking role? Will I be able to learn from the ... PMs or just be clicking/booking things? I realize this varies from role to PM, are there any signals ...
  • Strategies that will continue to flourish? increasingly difficult to have any sort of edge across all strategies? Apart from quant, what's changed ... successful over the next couple of years? People have talked about how the quant strategies have started to ... degrade a lot of the alpha from the L/S shops. But what about other discretionary strategies like global ...
  • Need Help On Best Way To Prepare For A Global Macro Fund (Macro P.M. input wanted) a macro group? I'd imagine that stuff like rates is ideal, but it would be good to get input from ... I am a student who is really interested in global macro and whose dream job would be to be at ... a global macro hedge fund in an investment analyst role and where I could have the potential to act in an ...
  • D E Shaw's Oculus Fund (Global macro) DE Shaw 's Oculus Fund (Their hybrid quant and discretionary global macro fund) is hiring ... Macro analyst anyway? Doesn't seem to be one. D.E. Shaw ... a non-quant role? I was considering interviewing for them but then I graduated in 2008 when they actually ...
  • A Discussion on Interest Rates/Macro Fundamentals (Long OP) from 1995 to 2000, the Federal Funds Rate averaged somewhere between 5.4- 5.5 %. During that same ... to have a thoughtful discussion about where you're predicting interest rates to be in 1-2 years ... and how that will impact the market, if at all. To preface the discussion: I first entered real estate ...
  • I'm bored: Macro Hedge Fund PM Q&A expect a macro fund to do... rates, FX, credit, some equities and real estate, and really whatever looks ... activities. I'm very much a qualitative, discretionary guy (the few, the proud, in macro today) though ... Howdy folks, this market has me bored to tears [edit: I'm truthfully also just having ...
  • More suggestions...

Fingers crossed that one of those helps you.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

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