Job Skills Preparing for a career as quantitative analytist

AI Thread Summary
To prepare for a starting position as a quantitative analyst, focus on enhancing coding skills, particularly in C#/C++ for high-frequency trading, and gaining proficiency in SQL and basic finance concepts. Engaging in machine learning projects can also be beneficial. Internships at trading firms are highly recommended to gain relevant experience, though opportunities may be limited, especially in Europe. It's suggested to explore off-cycle internships or apply for future summer internships if currently closed. Resources for internship applications in the US are available, but finding positions in Scandinavia may require direct outreach to firms.
Mikkel
Messages
26
Reaction score
1
Hello, I'm looking for any advice on how to prepare myself for a starting position as a quantitative analytist (quant).
I'm currently doing my Master's in astrophysics, where I for the last 1½ year have been practicting my coding skills, as I found myself gravitated towards the industry's data science and quant positions. I plan to take more courses that involve programming and I'm doing beginner projects on the side that involves machine learning.
What I'm looking for now is advice on how to proceed my preparations. I was thinking about learning the basics of C#/C++ for high frequency trading - seems useful, SQL and some basic finance knowledge.
I'd appreciate any advice and/or links to online courses and books you can recommend.

Thanks!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Given your post it sounds like probably not, but if you have a chance to do an internship at a trading firm that would both help you figure out if that's something you're interested in, and also give you a better chance at getting a full time job afterwards.
 
Office_Shredder said:
Given your post it sounds like probably not, but if you have a chance to do an internship at a trading firm that would both help you figure out if that's something you're interested in, and also give you a better chance at getting a full time job afterwards.
Thanks for your reply.
I've been looking into that, but it doesn't seem like they provide internships for these kind of positions.
 
Mikkel said:
Thanks for your reply.
I've been looking into that, but it doesn't seem like they provide internships for these kind of positions.
Your thread is a couple months late since I imagine most of them have closed their 2021 summer internship applications, but if you are going to be in school for a while longer you could apply for a 2022 summer internship, or you could just try to email them and ask if they offer off-cycle internships (I have no idea if that would work).

It does seem like it's easier to find a place currently accepting internships in the US than in Europe. I don't know if you can just do a US based internship, how the visa stuff works with that.

https://www.janestreet.com/join-jane-street/internships/

closed for applications for summer 2021, but they have internships in London

https://www.citadel.com/careers/open-positions/positions-for-students/?keyword=Intern%20trader

This says they have an open application for us interns right now. No mention of a London based one (they do have an office in Europe though)

https://www.tower-research.com/open-positions/?gh_jid=3075627

Another open application for a us internship. No mention of one based in Europe, but they do have a London office also.

I just searched for proprietary trading firms and looked at their websites, if you keep looking around you might be able to find something that works better.
 
Office_Shredder said:
Your thread is a couple months late since I imagine most of them have closed their 2021 summer internship applications, but if you are going to be in school for a while longer you could apply for a 2022 summer internship, or you could just try to email them and ask if they offer off-cycle internships (I have no idea if that would work).

It does seem like it's easier to find a place currently accepting internships in the US than in Europe. I don't know if you can just do a US based internship, how the visa stuff works with that.

https://www.janestreet.com/join-jane-street/internships/

closed for applications for summer 2021, but they have internships in London

https://www.citadel.com/careers/open-positions/positions-for-students/?keyword=Intern%20trader

This says they have an open application for us interns right now. No mention of a London based one (they do have an office in Europe though)

https://www.tower-research.com/open-positions/?gh_jid=3075627

Another open application for a us internship. No mention of one based in Europe, but they do have a London office also.

I just searched for proprietary trading firms and looked at their websites, if you keep looking around you might be able to find something that works better.
Thank you for taking your time to find and send these. I live in Scandinavia and would prefer to do an internship here, but doesn't seem like they're recruiting. However, sending an e-mail sounds like a good idea and worth a try :)
 
I don't know if anyone on here works for any of the well known defense companies of your country, whichever country you are from?? Also, if you choose to work in one, do you think the engineering education provide from your school would adequately prepare you for the job. What do I mean by that? Well if you work at say Lockheed Martin and you work in the latest iteration of a missile or if you work at Pratt & Whitney, they assign you to work in the team helping out with building the jet...
Hello, I graduated from undergrad a few years ago with a Major in Physics and minor in Electrical Engineering. I tried to get experience working on and testing circuits through my professor who studied Neutrinos, however covid caused the opportunity to go away and I graduated with no experience or internships. I have attempted to break into the engineering industry with no success. Right now I am considering going for a Masters in Electrical Engineering and I need advice on if this would be...
So lately, my interest in the realm of optics/optoelectronics/photonics engineering has grown and I have started to seriously consider pursuing a career in the field. I have done a bit of career research and also have done some learning on the side to gather more knowledge on these topics. However, I have some questions on what a career in these fields would look like, and I wanted to find out more about this area to know what I would be getting myself into if I did make the choice to pursue...

Similar threads

Replies
7
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
14
Views
3K
Replies
9
Views
1K
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
21
Views
4K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Back
Top