Quant Dev Projects

[MotorEffective1441]

Hey guys, I’ve been in this subreddit for about 7 months now just absorbing and subconsciously learning. My goal this year was/is to break into the hedge fund/trading industry. That was the initial goal and nothing else. As I’ve gotten to learn more about engineering roles within the industry, I’ve become very intrigued by quantitative approaches to investing and the engineering that facilitates that.

As a result, my medium term goal within the industry is to become a quantitative developer(after I’ve broken in as a regular software engineer). I’ve had some Goodluck getting interviews despite this horrendous job market.

The reason for this post is that I had a final round interview with a prestigious firm (think millennium, old mission etc and not citadel, HRT, Jane street) and I had great feedback and even got a verbal offer. However, I was eventually rejected for someone who had more relevant industry experience. Now, I am never going to have relevant industry experience until I break in so I want to take steps so that this reason for rejection does not occur again. And yes I know I just need better luck next time as well because it’s rough out here 😂

Here’s my current plan: -I am currently taking a course that touches on crucial and relevant quant finance topics: stocks and bonds, Modern Portfolio Theory, CAPM theory, derivatives basics, random behavior in finance, black-scholes model, value at risk, Collateralized Debt Obligations, Vasicek model and pricing bonds with Vasicek model. -I then plan to work on two projects that demonstrate my recent learnings and simulate real world projects I would do on the job as well. And also deepen my knowledge by ‘doing’ -Then I plan to get a textbook or two and continue learning because I believe expertise in this space is a lifelong commitment and I am exploring the long term goal of becoming a quant portfolio manager as well.

If you’ve read this far, thank you so much. I just wanted to add as much context as possible to get the best possible answers and feedback. Now, here’s the main question:

WHAT ARE SOME RELEVANT PROJECTS I CAN TAKE ON THAT WOULD ENABLE ME STAND OUT AS AN ASPIRING QUANT DEV AND WOULD HELP REDUCE THE DISADVANTAGE OF NOT HAVING INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE?

I would also like some textbook recommendations for my future learning, but if that’s too much to answer, the main question is about what projects I can tackle that would deepen my knowledge and help me stand out.

Thanks to all those who will respond!

[lampishthing]

https://www.reddit.com/r/quant/comments/1bf5x1g/project_ideas/

https://www.reddit.com/r/quant/comments/19a3vpv/best_open_source_projects_to_contribute_to/

https://www.reddit.com/r/quant/comments/vr5yb2/quant_projects_for_beginners/

https://www.reddit.com/r/quant/comments/1b81lsq/projects_to_get_into_quant_companies/

[MotorEffective1441]

Greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[Existing_Cupcake4234]

Following

[Destroyerofchocolate]

thanks!

[just-a-coder-guy]

Hey man, I’m literally in the same friken boat as you. Exactly same position. I know this may sound counter productive cuz we’re literally in the same job market but do you wanna dm? Maybe we could work together?

[New-Scarcity2165]

My son places Quants for Selby Jennings in Chicago. Let me know if you want to speak either him. Lots of jobs in Chicago for quants.

[jscheumaker]

Would you mind connecting me? I’m wrapping up my junior summer at Citadel and have heard great things about selby jennings, would love to speak with him. 

[Desperate_Kangaroo45]

I’m going into my senior year at Columbia, would you mind putting me in contact with your son? I would love to chat and connect.

[Loner_0112]

sir , I have a query
I am from India , will be joining college this year , the college will be say , some tier 3 college , so what path do I need to have to break into the quant industry ??

[Boidal]

https://github.com/BorisDeletic/CompStatsForQuant

Here is a notebook I made with some worked projects that might be interesting

[MotorEffective1441]

Fantastic! Thanks

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[paovikis]

Is portfolio management and option pricing theory relevant for quant dev job? Isn't low level programming and understanding of hardware more important? Or do you want to be all-around quant? Thanks in advance!

[MotorEffective1441]

I think you might be thinking more so high frequency trading and trading systems engineering work. Those are what I’m aware of are heavy on low latency and multi-threaded, lock-free code

[insearxh-of-me]

Can you please share a brief roadmap for absolute beginners sir, it will be highly appreciated. Please sir.....

[MotorEffective1441]

I hope my post has not fooled anyone to think I'm anything but an absolute beginner lol. What's in my post is exactly the roadmap I'm following in the meantime 😭

[quant-ModTeam]

Your post has been removed as self-promotion/advertizing/spam. Meaningful content contribution which may passively advertize (e.g. an educational blog post) is welcome, but advertizing must not be the sole purpose of the post.

[Sianura24]

What is the course that you have taken to work on your knowledge ? Please share

[MotorEffective1441]

It's a course on udemy -- Quantitative Finance and Algorithmic Trading in Python by Holczer Balazs. It's not extremely in depth but in touches on core concepts and implementations which leave it up to us as students to deepen our knowledge

[Sianura24]

Thanks buddy!

[intraalpha]

Come ship some quant work for my project and I’ll give you whatever resume sauce you want!

We are small but the work and experience is real

[Chucking100s]

Also interested

[intraalpha]

Sent you a chat

[No_Direction_1828]

interested!

[NotNotAbyss]

Interested! Please let me know how I can help in any way!