How to Get Hired at a Hedge Fund
Hedge funds are some of the world’s most lucrative businesses, but working for one may prove challenging.
Success in the hedge fund field takes hard work, networking and competitive drive – here are some tips to help you land the job of your dreams!
Internships
Hedge fund internships provide an ideal way to gain exposure and experience in this form of investment. They also allow you to network with professionals and potentially land a full-time position at one in the future.
Interns at hedge funds will often perform various duties that differ depending on which fund they work with. At discretionary funds, interns will do similar work to that performed by full-time analysts while those working at quant funds tend to focus more on coding, market analysis and developing statistical models.
Some interns may be asked to pitch stocks, which can be an intimidating aspect of the job. Some funds will only require surface-level pitches while others require deeper discussions about specific stocks.
Discover the types of jobs available at hedge funds by exploring various websites, or speaking with a career counselor for advice on how best to succeed in this industry.
As with any career, getting hired at a hedge fund requires strong references and recommendations as well as having an up-to-date CV that does not contain typos or formatting issues that would prevent its review.
Find work in a hedge fund can be challenging, but with hard work and determination it is certainly achievable. Aiming for internship positions could require networking with relevant contacts and sending customized email pitches; but with persistence this goal could become reality.
Start by searching for hedge funds that match your interests and skills, then send out a resume highlighting your abilities to each. As part of your pitch you may also include case studies to demonstrate your expertise in the market place.
Be sure to create an attention-grabbing subject line so that the recipient opens your email and calls you, increasing the odds that a hiring manager will pick up the phone and arrange an interview for you.
Networking
Hedge funds are highly competitive industries and to get hired at one, networking will help set yourself apart from other applicants and secure an interview.
Network with hedge fund managers by sending an email that describes who you are and why you wish to work at one. If they respond positively, they’re more likely to call back for an interview.
One effective networking technique is sending resumes through job boards and hedge fund web sites to hedge funds. While this may be easy and the best way to find work, securing interviews may prove more challenging.
Hedge funds receive many applications every day and most applicants do not pass the resume screen process.
If you want to ensure you stand out, contact others in the industry and ask for references. They can give more insight into the company and what it’s like working there.
Persistence and approaching multiple hedge funds with the same message are keys to success here. Smaller VC-like funds tend to be more welcoming of networking and interview opportunities, making them more likely to contact you for an interview slot.
Once you have established some contacts, start sending out resumes to potential employers and following up when they contact you. Be patient as this process may take time – don’t expect an interview right away!
Reaching out directly to experts in your field is also an effective way of connecting with them and building your career. Today’s experts are more accessible than ever, making their advice more readily accessible than ever.
These experts can offer many advantages to investors, including equity research, due diligence services and market intelligence. Furthermore, they can help explain how best to invest in particular companies.
Hedge funds face fierce competition from other investment strategies and traditional asset managers like mutual funds. Furthermore, their investors increasingly desire greater transparency and accountability which requires them to change their strategies frequently in order to stay ahead of the game and acquire expertise through new paths.
Education
Hedge funds are highly-competitive fields and it may be challenging to gain employment there. One way you can increase your chances is by becoming knowledgeable of their industry; doing this will prepare you for interviews more easily while making you an attractive candidate.
Starting off by reading articles, books and newsletters about hedge funds to gain more knowledge about the industry and gain insight into various jobs within it, you’ll also have an opportunity to network and form relationships with those who can assist with the hiring process.
Becoming an intern at a hedge fund is another effective way of expanding your knowledge about the industry. Not only will you gain first-hand experience, but you will gain an in-depth knowledge of what constitutes successful investment decisions and gain a better grasp on how the market operates and what constitutes good or bad investments.
If you are interested in an internship at a hedge fund, be sure to find a fund which offers programs tailored specifically to undergraduates, graduates, and PhD students. Internships at these funds typically last eight to 12 weeks long and provide roles across investment management, technology engineering and engineering, quant risk and big data roles.
Many hedge funds hire graduates of esteemed graduate and post-graduate programs worldwide, including DE Shaw with its program for quantitative PhDs and coding talent; Bluebay Asset Management with their internship in London for both undergraduates and graduates; and Bridgewater Associates which offers internships in New York.
As a hedge fund is an extremely fast-paced environment, employees need to come prepared for long days of work. To succeed in the hedge fund environment, employees need to be disciplined, committed, and passionate about what they are doing.
As part of your success at a hedge fund, it is imperative that you possess an interest and are up for taking on challenging assignments in order to be able to meet deadlines while producing high-quality work.
Experience
Experience is of utmost importance during the hiring process of a hedge fund, helping investment professionals shorten their time commitment by filtering out applicants who do not possess sufficient qualifications for the role.
Hedge funds seek individuals with a solid academic history and the capacity to do their homework carefully, in addition to candidates with strong investment ideas that other analysts or portfolio managers question.
Therefore, to increase your odds of employment at a hedge fund, having an academic degree in quantitative-related fields like finance or economics can be the ideal way to land one. Doing so will enable you to become more qualified for the job while simultaneously giving you an opportunity to hone your skills through real-life experience.
However, elite qualifications aren’t necessary in order to secure employment at a hedge fund; even those without these credentials could find work if they possess excellent work experience and knowlege of a certain field.
Network with people within the hedge fund industry – networking is often more successful than just sending out resumes and waiting for responses!
At the forefront of any networking strategy should be an inventory of prospective contacts from various financial fields – prime brokerage firms, investment banks and asset management companies among them.
Reach out to the individuals on your list and arrange informational meetings, asking for advice and guidance about investment processes as well as names of people to reach out to. Not only will this build your network but it will give you a deeper understanding of the hedge fund world and how you can increase your chances of employment.
After meeting with your advisors and reviewing your resume, it should be ready for applying to jobs at hedge funds that interest you most. Make sure your resume includes any recent experience gained at internships you’ve completed as well as references who can verify your accomplishments and professionalism – it would be ideal if this included someone working at either your firm or someone who left to secure an available hedge fund job position.
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