What are the career progression options for a quant?

I know that being a quant is a really lucrative job coming out of college, and I think I have the skillset to do it, but I'm curious what the career looks like 5/10/15+ years down the road.

For example, in investment banking, the classic career path is 2 years IB -> 2 years PE -> MBA -> pretty much anything, and that's if you don't want to stay in IB. If you stay in IB you can obviously get promoted internally to end up as an MD.

In a quant role, I know the goal is to go from an entry level role to eventually executing your own strategies (which is where you make big money), but what are the options like if you leave a quant role?

Let's say I do 2 years at a top quant firm and either don't like it or just am not good at it. Do people go to get MBAs? Can you go work in other areas of finance? I'm interested in the field I'm just worried about locking myself into a career that I don't know much about.

 

I am convinced the internet gives people an overdosis of information resulting in analysis paralysis.

Find something you like doing, build good relationships with people, and try to perform as well as you can at your job. If you have good technical skills you will most likely live a comfortable life. If you have good technical skills and solid communication skills, you are most likely heading towards an interesting and lucrative career.

Working as a quant or in tech in general means you are at the forefront of innovation in society. Things change very quickly. Planning your career 15 years ahead is a pretty pointless exercise in my opinion.

 

Ut deleniti possimus ut dolorem alias. Minus est alias porro nisi tempora ducimus. Nulla expedita magnam est et velit et error. Vel dignissimos eligendi esse ex quis qui.

Reprehenderit dignissimos voluptate harum vel soluta dolores illo. Unde ipsa iure corporis voluptatum voluptatibus voluptatem. Tenetur voluptatem quam rem voluptate ipsum placeat. Dolorem excepturi dignissimos nostrum eum provident.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (145) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”