How to pass resume screen get interviews from a hedge fund?
Hi there, currently a junior at a top U with 3.7 GPA, major in math/CS. With relevant experience/investment clubs/upcoming internship at a BB. I have been:
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applying to L/S equity funds (some top funds, some smaller ones) with or without internship programs by submitting my resumes online, but NO ONE wants to even talk to me (some do, but they want me to help them with coding/quantitative stuff)
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then I thought I didn't network enough so I reached out to alumni on Linkedin - very few of them replied - I guess hedge fund people are busy.
I have been contemplating possible reasons, and I think it might be because
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My GPA is not high enough
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I didn't network in the right way
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I don't have that hedge fund vibe (one manager commented that "she doesn't think like an investor" - lol not sure what that means) - if this is the case, how do I improve? (as someone who worked all the way from a third-world rural village without speaking English to one of the best universities in the world, I truly believe that talent comes from practice and strategy rather than some inborn magic.)
I have seen people with MUCH WEAKER finance/accounting skills and people with weaker academic background got jobs/internships, but I can't get people to talk to me. More generally, how do I pass the resume screen, and what is the right approach to L/S equity hedge fund interviews?
Please give me some advice and would love to provide more information if needed. All constructive feedback is welcome, and I will definitely give back when it's my turn.
What are your current top three investment ideas?
Exactly. Send a write-up with an investment idea(s). You want to stand out, and your college degree, even if from Harvard, wont impress anyone.
I thought about doing that but was afraid whether that came off as being too desperate? Especially during the first-time contact with someone. While being desperate is acceptable in banking, some hedge fund managers seem to dislike this type of personality...but I could be wrong.
Its not desperate, pretty much the exact opposite of that. Its demonstrating your passion and intellectual curiosity to go ahead and work on investment ideas in your free time. There are zero barriers to entry to coming up with your own ideas while you're in school, so if investing is something you really want to do there isn't an excuse to not do it. Its a very easy way to weed people out.
Have you applied to Quant hedge funds? Your background may be better suited for algo-trading type funds
Yes, I usually get interviews for those funds; however, I prefer to stay on the fundamental side.
You should do what the above suggests. Unfortunately your background screams quant so they will pigeonhole you to that role. Also, if you're Indian, that will work even more against you.
a strong "academic record" only takes you so far, as in college acceptance to a strong university and a check next to their min GPA. Did you win any stock pitch competitions? There are hedge funds that host competitions for only target schools and people have been able to get interviews that way.
No, I didn't win any stock pitch competition - my school is way more STEM-focused than finance focused and does not offer any finance classes. I used to think that HF loves kids with raw intellectual power rather than kids with a super strong accounting background, but thank you for your advice.
They do, thats why they expect serious candidates to have done independent investment pitches and be following the market in their free time.
Is this a troll post? Can sense a decent amount of entitlement.
nope
Have you tried the larger firms (e.g. D.E. Shaw fundamental group, Point72?)
They usually seem pretty willing to talk to high GPA students from top universities and at least give out interviews (depending on where you go though, the 3.7 may be on the low end).
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