Transitioning from Quant Risk Analyst to Quantitative Trader/Researcher

[jim_]

I'm currently working as a Quant Risk Analyst within the credit risk team at a Big 4 company. My educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in Physics with a specialization in theoretical physics, followed by a Master's degree in Statistics. Also, i know Python, R, and SQL.

I'm 24 years old and based in Greece. I've recently been contemplating a transition into a role as a Quantitative Trader or Researcher. However, I recognize that my current knowledge base might have gaps, particularly in stochastics and derivatives pricing, which are essential for these roles.

Considering the limited opportunities in Greece, I'm primarily looking for positions in Europe. I'm seeking advice on the best path forward. Would pursuing another Master's degree in Quantitative Finance be the most beneficial option for me, given my background? Or would self-study through relevant books and hands-on projects suffice to bridge the knowledge gap?

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Try to get into one of the top programs in UK and use the program to open opportunities there.

 

[achirikhin]

Quant trader and researcher are very different jobs. You need to decide what you want to do and be honest with yourself.

As a trader thr job is to buy low and to sell high. In any order. If you don't want to do exactly that, don't fool yourself.

If you are sure about trading, just apply to every trading house. They may just take you, especially on something like FX. You may be already a bit old for them

To switch into an FO quant you will need C++. As a quant researcher, i.e. ones doing ML and stats, your skills are somewhat transferable to buy side.

See sections 2 and 6 of

Quantitative Analyst, Developer, Strat: The Profession

Good luck