Common questions we’re getting from Quants and Traders…

How’s the market?

Well, let’s call out the obvious.

One, this is not your post pandemic boom. So, no, not everyone is hiring, and yes, this makes it much more difficult for junior-mid and individual contributors to make job switches.

Companies are looking for a 1:1 fit and are comparing you against other candidates who are a 1:1 fit.

Two, there’s still plenty of room for PMs or aspiring PMs with profitable consistent track records to find a better home.

It’s much lower risk for companies to opportunistically bring in “guaranteed performance” that fits their infrastructure, product expertise, capabilities, etc.

So how does this apply to you?

1. If you’re an individual contributor, really drill into your own competitive advantages. In what kind of role are you going the be the star standout? In what area of expertise, do you have a unique depth of knowledge and capacity? What type of environment is going to appreciate your approach to trading/research? These are the companies that you’re going to interview well at.
2. If you’re a PM or aspiring PM with some kind of track record, think of yourself as a business proposal. What are you bringing to the table performance wise? What kind of infrastructure/support do you need to be successful? What kind of risk parameters’ are you best suited to work with? Which companies line up with your strengths? That’s where you’re going to get hired.

You can’t fit a square peg into a round hole, but sometimes we chase companies that sound cool, but don’t actually suit our skillset, personality, etc.

So think about where you’re going to be seen as a superstar, and focus on those options.

Let’s not waste time.

Let’s find the team where you have a competitive advantage and get you a great offer.