Recently, I have seen someone saying he's got internship at a hedge fund. I just want to find out what kind of criteria do financial institutions look for from their candidates. I am still studying - doing PhD in a small University in New Zealand. I've done a masters degree thesis on Forex market and I am currently doing research on US futures market. I am a tutor for two papers - advanced corporate finance & international financial management; I am also a database administrator for research student, providing them with financial data they need. My main trading asset is currency and my future anticipation of currency movement is very accurate and I am looking to start trading on US futures market in the near future too. I just wonder if this meets their (financial institutions) minimum academic requirement, what kind of position should I consider applying for ? e.g. researcher or analyst? I'd like to get some ideas about what kind of candidate they look for.
What has been the path been like for your fellow PhD students at your University that have done an internship at any financial institution ? I ask because it will be highly unusual for PhD students not talk to each other. You at a university that has sponsorship or recruitment from financial institutions...recruiters usually hit the universities in the winter months ? Most likely not because if you were, its normal to see these financial institutions contact PhD students for possible internships via agreements with the university. Also, as a PhD student, you must have already come into contact with those working in the industry and you should be aware of the names of specific hedge funds in New Zealand or other countries. For example, did you build a network of those PhD students before you ? I'm not a PhD student but the ones I do know in your situation...networking with fellow PhD students seems very important on their list for employment at top financial institutions or internships. Enjoy your work when you find it...most likely it'll be 50 - 70 hours work week.
Thank you for advice Sir PhD students are a bit different from other level of university students... (or maybe it's a bit different here in New Zealand) They don't usually talk about financial institution jobs. Besides, most of my fellow PhD students are internationals ...mostly from Central Asia and their main focus is to get the PhD degree so that when they go back, they can get promotions. Financial institutions do not contact PhD students but they do contact some outstanding students, especially those who are part of some business clubs. But you're right Sir ...networking is very important. I had an internship with US research and marketing company and I got that position through networking. wow ... so much hours... but this is very good information, thank you Sir. Because I care about spending time with my family... By the way, I want to thank you for your contribution on ET. Cos of your explanation on hammers, I got to know about V shape patterns, and my trading winning rate has since then improved so much.
Disclaimer: my knowledge of this subject is limited to having read (sometimes in some detail) representations made by various financial institutions about their recruitment procedures, and to discussing them in detail, on several occasions, with the staff (who themselves come from quite a variety of trading backgrounds) at one small, specific offshore hedge-fund where I have a few friends. My overall impression is that that general background, together with an appropriately compiled and well-presented CV (albeit that it's not going to get you onto Goldman Sachs trading-floor as a graduate-entry-level trainee), will at least buy you an interview at quite a reasonable range of worldwide financial institutions of various sizes. (And good luck with your PhD: I'm finally submitting mine, any day now, after great delays).
Thank you Xela, I just wonder what you topic is? Mine is related to behavioral finance e.g. price clustering around round number. You must be a lecturer now, and good luck with your submission too!