Networking with Quants

[Savoy]

Hi everyone,

I'm an undergraduate student preparing to network with as many quants as I can. My goal is to develop a solid and productive professional network. I'm assuming many of you are quants and will be able to help optimise my networking skills and experience.

I want to ensure that I give the best impression I can and portray myself in a positive way. As such, I have a few questions for the experienced quants on Quantnet:

What kind of questions should I focus on asking?
How can I steer the conversation in a productive direction that will cultivate a professional relationship and perhaps, an internship and/or job offer in the future?
How can I avoid asking what may be considered 'stupid' questions?
How can I determine intelligent questions to ask that will portray me in a positive way?
How should I differentiate my approach when networking with a buyside (money management) VS sellside (strategy, ect) quant?

Is networking with quants (perhaps, due to the nature of personalities within the industry) different from networking with those within other finance roles (investment banking, fundamental money managers, ect)?

Networking seems to be very productive when done with those in fundamental finance. Is it the same within the quant side of finance?

Thanks.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

What do you have to bring to the table as it were? How long is a piece of string? What's the meaning of life?

What kind of study are you doing?

 

[Savoy]

What do you have to bring to the table as it were?

What kind of study are you doing?

I'm double majoring in Mathematics and Statistics and Computer Science.

Beyond other undergraduate students, I have nothing extraordinary to offer. From an academic stand-point, I'm guessing that the people working at these firms will be far more knowledgeable than any undergraduate wanting to work there (including myself).

The only extraordinary thing I have to offer is my superior work ethic, willingness to learn, dedication and thirst for success.

 

[Savoy]

What do you have to bring to the table as it were? How long is a piece of string? What's the meaning of life?

What kind of study are you doing?

After seeing your edit, I'm unsure as to whether you're attempting to mock/troll me or otherwise. Either way, I took your first post seriously and responded in the same fashion.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

After seeing your edit, I'm unsure as to whether you're attempting to mock/troll me or otherwise. Either way, I took your first post seriously and responded in the same fashion.

Your questions were too open-ended. I was joking and then I became serious.

My advice is finish you degree. That networking is when you have a job. Learn stuff.

And why would you ask people on an anonymous forum such inane questions?

Tell them you an expert C++ programmer and that you know SDE inside out, for example.

 

[Christopher lee]

I'm double majoring in Mathematics and Statistics and Computer Science.

Beyond other undergraduate students, I have nothing extraordinary to offer. From an academic stand-point, I'm guessing that the people working at these firms will be far more knowledgeable than any undergraduate wanting to work there (including myself).

The only extraordinary thing I have to offer is my superior work ethic, willingness to learn, dedication and thirst for success.

how would you show this superior work ethic? i don't know a single person who doesn't say they have a great ethic. i have 2 pieces of obvious but possibly useful networks that you may already have. Do you have any family friends in the business? Do you happen to go to a small school? I've found that smaller the school, the more likely alums are to respond to cold emails/calls and talk to you about their careers.

 

[Savoy]

how would you show this superior work ethic? i don't know a single person who doesn't say they have a great ethic. i have 2 pieces of obvious but possibly useful networks that you may already have. Do you have any family friends in the business? Do you happen to go to a small school? I've found that smaller the school, the more likely alums are to respond to cold emails/calls and talk to you about their careers.

Unfortunately, I do not have any family friends in the business. Indeed, I intend to contact alumni to develop my network. However, my questions were asked so that I may network more effectively and efficiently. It's not finding people to contact which is the problem, but rather how to position myself during the actual networking.

 

[Savoy]

Your questions were too open-ended. I was joking and then I became serious.

My advice is finish you degree. That networking is when you have a job. Learn stuff.

And why would you ask people on an anonymous forum such inane questions?

Tell them you an expert C++ programmer and that you know SDE inside out, for example.

I appreciate the advice, but I'm interested in learning more about effectively and efficiently networking with quants. That is why I have created this thread.

 

[Pavlos Sakoglou]

I appreciate the advice, but I'm interested in learning more about effectively and efficiently networking with quants. That is why I have created this thread.

I don't think this community would be best for your purpose, but I might be wrong. I would recommend you to focus on LinkedIn if you what you want is strictly networking. However, I agree with Dr. Duffy above: first build up a useful skill for yourself, i.e. C++ Programming, so that you will have something to sell: "I am an excellent C++ developer and I specialize in Risk Modeling blah blah blah". Then your counterparts will know how to use you, promote you, and recommend you.

Your excitement is good, but not enough to get you efficient connections that will lead you somewhere. First be good at what you are doing, be remarkable at it, and then the easiest part is to find connections. As a matter of fact, people will for you.

 

[Savoy]

I don't think this community would be best for your purpose, but I might be wrong. I would recommend you to focus on LinkedIn if you what you want is strictly networking. However, I agree with Dr. Duffy above: first build up a useful skill for yourself, i.e. C++ Programming, so that you will have something to sell: "I am an excellent C++ developer and I specialize in Risk Modeling blah blah blah". Then your counterparts will know how to use you, promote you, and recommend you.

Your excitement is good, but not enough to get you efficient connections that will lead you somewhere. First be good at what you are doing, be remarkable at it, and then the easiest part is to find connections. As a matter of fact, people will for you.

Thanks for the comprehensive advice. I appreciate it.

 

[Daniel Duffy]

Thanks for the comprehensive advice. I appreciate it.

Be careful with some avatars on LinkedIn; they are not what they seem.
And LI is not (yet, if at all) so useful in your case.. It is a catwalk while it I better used as a Rodolex.

 

[Savoy]

Be careful with some avatars on LinkedIn; they are not what they seem.
And LI is not (yet, if at all) so useful in your case.. It is a catwalk while it I better used as a Rodolex.

Got it. Thanks.

 

[Kevin Ramlal]

Hey Savoy,

We are in very similar positions, I am in my undergrad doing Stats and Physics, and have been actively reaching out to traders/quants over the past two months. I guess I can give you some lateral-level advice based on my experiences.

First of all, are you networking to try and land an internship/full time, or are you just networking to meet quants and learn a little more about the field? Personally, my main goal was to land an internship, and, atleast here in Toronto, it is very hard to land first round interviews at financial institutions without having someone from the firm recommend you.

LinkedIn has worked wonders for me, and it helps if you and the person you're interested in speaking to have mutual connections. Add them as a "friend" and in the message box, state clearly that you are interested in meeting with them to learn more about their role etc.

When I met a trader for the first time, I was very awkward and couldn't make eye contact lol, but as I contintued to meet with more people I got "the ball rolling" and become much more natural. You dont have to have a pen and paper ready with a set of questions about their job. Sometimes they meet you after work and are tired of dealing with anything related to their job. Also, I usually get coffee with them for about 20 minutes.

The best strategy to go in with is to show genuine curiosity about them and the field, and gauge how they want the conversation to go. If they are more chill, then juts let them talk about whatever they want, but if they say "Do you have any specific questions" you can ask something technical you were curious about.

Lastly, don't worry about not being smart enough to them. They obviously know that, and in fact, it would be rather insulting if some random kid goes up to a quant and tries to talk about their work as if they know it inside out. Always be humble, and let it be obvious that you are LEARNING. They would likely be more willing to help you out if you don't come across as a know-it-all.

Anyways, happy hunting!

 

[Savoy]

Hey Savoy,

We are in very similar positions, I am in my undergrad doing Stats and Physics, and have been actively reaching out to traders/quants over the past two months. I guess I can give you some lateral-level advice based on my experiences.

First of all, are you networking to try and land an internship/full time, or are you just networking to meet quants and learn a little more about the field? Personally, my main goal was to land an internship, and, atleast here in Toronto, it is very hard to land first round interviews at financial institutions without having someone from the firm recommend you.

LinkedIn has worked wonders for me, and it helps if you and the person you're interested in speaking to have mutual connections. Add them as a "friend" and in the message box, state clearly that you are interested in meeting with them to learn more about their role etc.

When I met a trader for the first time, I was very awkward and couldn't make eye contact lol, but as I contintued to meet with more people I got "the ball rolling" and become much more natural. You dont have to have a pen and paper ready with a set of questions about their job. Sometimes they meet you after work and are tired of dealing with anything related to their job. Also, I usually get coffee with them for about 20 minutes.

The best strategy to go in with is to show genuine curiosity about them and the field, and gauge how they want the conversation to go. If they are more chill, then juts let them talk about whatever they want, but if they say "Do you have any specific questions" you can ask something technical you were curious about.

Lastly, don't worry about not being smart enough to them. They obviously know that, and in fact, it would be rather insulting if some random kid goes up to a quant and tries to talk about their work as if they know it inside out. Always be humble, and let it be obvious that you are LEARNING. They would likely be more willing to help you out if you don't come across as a know-it-all.

Anyways, happy hunting!

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!