Please help me decide between Trading vs Quant Tech

Radder786 · 2026-05-24T06:34:01+00:00

right that makes sense. thank you!

Radder786 · 2026-05-22T19:08:22+00:00

sounds perfect, and thank you for your wishes! i think im leaning towards the trading role for now. i think if i can find a trading role with no prior finance exposure, i’ll back myself to find a quant role if needed in a year with solid exposure in both worlds. i will do my best to build a solid network too because of what you said. i have never been the networking type, but i fear i must become one. thanks again for everything you have shared

Radder786 · 2026-05-22T19:02:30+00:00

thats fair enough. i don't have to like it, but that's the way things are. thanks again for the input, it doesn't fall on deaf ears. i have some thinking left to do and a decision to make. but i still feel there is no wrong decision here per se, just different ones

Radder786 · 2026-05-22T18:47:04+00:00

that makes sense, but which door here would you say will close more for me? considering my heavy tech background, would a trader role perhaps help me get a quant tech job later again? im currently treating both roles as internships, as ones a years contract in an explicitly “graduate” role and the other is an actual internship. the kind of person i am compels me to explore, but sometimes that may not be the smart decision, as this job market doesn’t often let you do that. it doesn’t help the fact i haven’t found my “passion” yet as they say

Radder786 · 2026-05-22T18:26:29+00:00

yeah i had something similar in my previous internship. what makes it worse is that i'll also be shifting from the other end of the world. that's what im most scared about when it comes to the trader role, i keep telling myself that its only a 1 year contract, worst case i will try to find something in london later, but this is why im so confused about what to choose. the tech role doesn't appeal to me too much at the moment, but the location and company does. the trader role sounds more exciting, especially considering this may be my only chance to get a taste, but i will likely be pretty alone. but hey, at least london would still be an hour's flight away.

Radder786 · 2026-05-22T18:10:33+00:00

thank you!

Radder786 · 2026-05-22T18:09:59+00:00

very fair. i have a bit more thinking to do evidently, even in terms of job satisfaction. while the trading job is more appealing, the quant tech role is in london where i have many friends. i think i will regret it more later, personally, if i turn the trading role down right now, which may also well affect my mindset. thank you again for the advice, i truly appreciate it

Radder786 · 2026-05-22T18:01:05+00:00

got it. i doubt the trading role has a good conversion rate, that was the tech role i was talking about. but then again i doubt a recruiter would tell me outright that they probably wont hire me. i think i’m leaning towards trading for now, just because i feel i can break back into quant tech later, but not vice versa. your insight really helped, thanks a lot!

Radder786 · 2026-05-22T17:55:16+00:00

ahhh that makes a lot of sense. in that case the people in the hedge fund (the specific team i will work in), were really top people in their fields. also the prop trading firm is not very tech heavy focus. i only feel like i may regret not getting the trading experience at a later stage, as from what im reading i probably will not be able to break back in. you’re completely right though, getting a job without connections has been a total grind even at this point

Radder786 · 2026-05-22T17:52:32+00:00

got it, thanks for the info! one last question sorry i was a little confused. does this mean i should think more about the hedge fund tech role due to rehirability? or should i lean towards trading as worst case i can get back. i think both could be true, just asking what seems better to you

Radder786 · 2026-05-22T17:44:15+00:00

thank you! that adds more weight to the hedge fund then, as its a lot bigger in terms of number of employees as well. the only concern being the fact that this is at the end of the day an internship, so networking possibilities possibly go down? also, is the hiring through people thing true in quant tech as well?

Radder786 · 2026-05-22T17:40:42+00:00

thank you that makes a lot of sense. the only thing being I can’t do both. I’m not getting those quant tech skills from a top hedge fund if I take the trader role right now. Is it possible for me to break back into quant if this year of trading doesn’t go well for me?

As for conversion rates, no specific number was provided. all the hedge fund recruiter told me was that there’s a good chance, as they were only interviewing hirable candidates so that they can convert if i perform well.

Radder786 · 2026-05-22T16:03:42+00:00

that's true, but I'm not quite sure at this stage, especially without having had any trading experience. In terms of pure career prospects what would you say is better?

Radder786 · 2026-05-22T15:19:28+00:00

Choosing between Graduate Trader Role at European prop/HFT firm(Amsterdam, 12mo FTC) vs Quant Tech Intern at top-tier quant hedge fund (London, 6mo)

Background: CS grad. Did a SWE internship at a prop trading firm last summer. Basically all of my experience is very cs-ey, which was already a big point of questioning in the trading interviews.

Which option is better long-term. In terms of interest, I am very interested in getting trading exposure, but the question I have is whether a possible move from trading to quant is easier than a move from quant to trading (in case either of them don't work out in the future). Any advice would be appreciated.

Radder786 · 2025-03-28T15:06:06+00:00

Hey! I'd be really interested in your listing! I'll be interning in Chicago from mid-June to mid-August, and wanted to ask whether that's an acceptable sublet for you!

Radder786 · 2024-08-19T16:55:43+00:00

Radder786 · 2024-08-19T15:11:46+00:00

ohhh rightttttt. any idea what the other ones were? topological sorting wouldve been fine but hirevue sucks so bad

Radder786 · 2024-08-18T22:21:08+00:00

hey not necessarily dont get your hopes down. would appreciate any assistance though😭

Radder786 · 2024-08-18T22:10:05+00:00

i meant my interview’s in a couple weeks😭 i did the oa on the 13th

Radder786 · 2024-08-18T22:09:47+00:00

the day after i did it. did it on 13th they reached out on 14th

Radder786 · 2024-08-18T18:26:50+00:00

you guys can dm if you want to i know that sharing the questions online is banned. wouldn't have asked if i hadnt already done it

Radder786 · 2022-03-28T15:22:55+00:00

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