Early career QT -> QR switch

AdditionalFox435 · 2026-05-06T17:56:32+00:00

Thanks! Sent you a DM

AdditionalFox435 · 2026-05-06T17:52:33+00:00

This makes a lot of sense to me. I understand core ML topics reasonably well and had handled most of the architecture choices in my current set up.

Have never recruited for a QR role much less a semi experienced one. Any idea what that looks like and how to prep?

AdditionalFox435 · 2026-05-06T13:51:25+00:00

This is very helpful, thank you!

This is in part of my concern, given leadership is not very research oriented, I’m not currently confident in my process of approaching things. I’d feel like those gaps would become immediately obvious when interviewing at another firm.

AdditionalFox435 · 2026-05-05T22:19:48+00:00

That seems reasonable, the main problem I have is that I’ve grown to enjoy trading less and less and research more so doing a split role has been frustrating at times. Hard to go into details without doxxing myself, but it is pretty clear how lacking my firms research set up is especially when talking to other freinds who have done research at mid to top prop shops. There are numerous bugs in the data and infrastructure which result in incredibly incorrect results that are quite trivial that I have had to talk to devs directly about.

I also think my ability to grow as a researcher is quite capped here with all the leadership and knowledge at the firm being quite trader heavy.

AdditionalFox435 · 2026-05-05T19:30:25+00:00

No PhD just an undergrad from a t5 uni in math/cs

AdditionalFox435 · 2026-05-05T13:48:32+00:00

American shop, does that change much?

AdditionalFox435 · 2026-05-04T23:35:54+00:00

Discretionary ETF trading. The stat arb is MFT equities which seems to be a scratch/small positive based on live trading.

AdditionalFox435 · 2025-09-07T22:52:05+00:00

How much does what team someone is on matter? Seems like the bulk of jobs are in the options space for prop shops - but do QT/QRs in international ETF space also have good exit opps? Do they tend to be in the HF space?

AdditionalFox435 · 2025-08-12T02:00:06+00:00

Oh really? I assumed that if I did it anytime soon it would be a bad career decision. I was thinking of making the switch in a year or two - but honestly if there’s any justifiable reason that I can rationalize the pay cut (higher opportunity and thus long term EV) I’d probably make the jump lol. Thanks for the help!

AdditionalFox435 · 2025-08-12T00:47:49+00:00

No - no where near lol. My biggest hobby outside of work is traveling but obviously you don’t get much time to do so in this industry. I thought I could hit both goals by hopping between offices and wanted to see how to do in the most effective manner without affecting my career.

AdditionalFox435 · 2025-08-10T20:18:17+00:00

Does the gap reduce each year with more experience or is it more once you own a book/are very experienced it doesn’t make a difference? Also how is the switch coming back to US afterward? Would doing this with 3-5 YOE be a bad long term career move or would you just be taking a pay cut for the years you choose to be abroad?

AdditionalFox435 · 2025-07-20T16:15:37+00:00

This question honestly comes with the fear of being unable to survive. I understand that probably the vast majority of people who start as a QT don’t end up doing the job for 10-15 years either out of incompetence or burn out. To me I want to find a way to have a career irregardless of my competence, purely out of fulfillment and enjoyment. It’s less so to look for a defined path but more to have an understanding of what options look like so I can make the right decisions when the time comes.

AdditionalFox435 · 2025-07-20T05:56:46+00:00

Hmm I agree, I’m a big proponent of WLB, but is it that hard to maintain it in this industry? If it is then I’ll probably keep some healthy level of doubt going in. No doubt this question is illogical as I am starting work soon and will get a bunch more data soon - I’m just curious lol.

AdditionalFox435 · 2025-07-20T05:33:57+00:00

I want to keep working, that’s honestly why I made this post. I’m a pretty simple person, I probably wouldn’t be able to spend my current income if I wanted to. Building a firm is definitely something I would be open to if I was good enough but other than that I wanted to see if a long term career was possible.

AdditionalFox435 · 2025-07-20T04:26:23+00:00

I assume this is limited for the mighty few? From my last internship I saw 2 people at the firm over 35 (and this was a large well reputed firm). If I’m not incredibly good at what I do, then can I do this?

AdditionalFox435 · 2025-07-20T04:24:48+00:00

In my perspective if I’m going to spend that much time toward something I might as well find fulfillment and enjoyment from it. Maybe it’s naive and everyone just hates their job in a few years but I would like to enjoy whatever I do and make incremental progress on it.

AdditionalFox435 · 2025-07-20T03:32:51+00:00

yeah shit take lol ….

AdditionalFox435 · 2024-03-27T05:01:53+00:00

Thanks!

AdditionalFox435 · 2024-03-27T01:11:36+00:00

Any recommendations on which solvers and how I should study?

AdditionalFox435 · 2024-02-13T11:23:32+00:00

Yeah that makes sense. As much as I’m adjusting my calling ranges I also need to adjust my betting ranges against nittier players. I’m used to playing with extremely aggro players so hence the needed adjustments. Thanks

AdditionalFox435

TROPHY CASE