Moving Hedge Fund Ops
I just finished my first year at a hedge fund in middle office. Studying for level 2 of CFA now, what do you think the best path is to move to a front office role?
I just finished my first year at a hedge fund in middle office. Studying for level 2 of CFA now, what do you think the best path is to move to a front office role?
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Career Resources
The move to FO is usually easier (although still difficult) to make internally than to exit to another HF. However - given you are only a year in, you still have a shot. You'll need to demonstrate enthusiasm for markets in interviews and justify why you are better suited to FO than Ops. Expect to start from 0 - I would apply to junior roles and internships.
On the other hand, you can also get close to the traders and PMs at your fund, this is the better option if you have good relationships with the team and they like you. Try to make their life easier, show enthusiasm for the role, follow the markets, ask questions, and only when you feel the time is right, have a conversation about assuming some minor FO responsibilities and eventually build that up. This is easier to do if the fund is small and less structured in their recruitment. If you can't make the switch internally, you'll atleast have some FO experience you can put on your CV which will help you out.
Whatever you do it's best to act fast, the longer you stay in Ops the more difficult it is to move to FO - the difficulty increases exponentially over time.
Edit: also make sure you invest your own money if you don't already.
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