Starting a Quant job for fresh graduates in Financial Engineering

If you have just completed your PhD or are nearing completion and are looking for opportunities in the Quant (Quantitative Analyst) or Financial Engineer fields, this article is for you, especially if you are entering this profession for the first time.

High competition at the Entry-Level

Getting your first job in the Quant field is not easy because there are many applicants with excellent technical skills as well. Therefore, you need to have more than just these basic qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Mathematics, Physics, or Engineering
• Object-oriented programming (OOP) skills, especially in C++, are considered essential.
• Knowledge of stochastic calculus, financial derivatives, risk-neutral pricing, and probability theory

But these skills alone are not enough. You need to make yourself stand out to attract the attention of employers.

Choose a job position that suits you.

The term "Quant" encompasses several positions, such as:

• Quant Trader: Focuses on quantitative trading in funds or banks
• Quant Structurer: Designs derivative products and financial structures
• Financial Engineer / PricingQuant: Develop derivative pricing models
• Quant Developer: Write and maintain software systems used by traders or modeling teams.

Study the details of each position and see how each company utilizes these positions.

Evaluate your skills honestly.

• The CV should clearly showcase technical skills and experience, both academically and in real projects.
• Explain the PhD thesis topic in detail – this is a key selling point.
• If you have real expertise in C++, specify it clearly along with examples of problems you have solved with code.

Entering the workforce through networking and recruiters

• Start by asking senior alumni if there are any open positions.
• Contact recruiters who specialize in Quant positions specifically, but be cautious because the quality of recruiters varies greatly. Try several to compare.

This is an overview of the entry-level path into the Quant field.The next article will discuss how to effectively manage recruiters and techniques for successful interviews.

Reference: Junior Quant Jobs Beginning a career in Financial Engineering after a PhD

From https://www.quantstart.com/articles/Junior-Quant-Jobs-Beginning-a-career-in-Financial-Engineering-after-a-PhD/