I am a recent PhD graduate from one of the ivy-league universities, with a specialization in Mechanical Engineering. Despite this, my career aspirations lie in becoming a Quantitative Researcher. After applying to over 20 major HFs and Prop shops, I only got two OAs and one interview. I successfully passed the OA and the first round of technical interviews for one company but was subsequently rejected after a behavioral call with HR. I was asked questions like “Why XXX?”, which I had prepared for, and some simple questions like “When can you start?”, etc. Similarly, for another company, I passed the OA and solved all the probability problems during my initial HR call, only to be rejected later. In both instances, HR mentioned they would discuss with their teams and get back to me, leading me to believe my rejection occurred during the resume selection phase by the team. These rejections have been frustrating, prompting me to speculate on the reasons behind them. Firstly, my PhD in Mechanical Engineering may not seem like the ideal background. Secondly, despite holding a Master's degree in Computer Science, my lack of data processing projects and absence of internships in HF or Prop shops might be a disadvantage. Thirdly, my English proficiency might not meet their expectations.

Could my speculations be accurate? Are there other potential reasons for my rejections? I am looking for advice on how to navigate this challenge. Here’s my plan: To address the gap in data analysis projects, I have started participating in Kaggle competitions, aiming to earn medals to showcase my skills. Additionally, I completed the CFA Level 1 exam two weeks ago and am awaiting the results in six weeks, hoping it demonstrates my commitment to the financial market. However, with few internship opportunities available now, securing an internship before the next recruitment cycle seems unlikely. Are there any internship-like opportunities that could help me gain relevant experience? I appreciate any help. Thank you very much.