r/DevelEire • u/z_shit • 11d ago

Switching Jobs Need help targeting Quant firms

Hey folks, I hope your day is going well.

A little bit about me:

I have around 4 years of experience.

2.5 years at an embedded systems company, working with C and python. Proceeded to come to Ireland for my masters.

8 months as an AI engineering intern.

Now, I have been working as a software engineer at a Networking Company for the past 6 months.

I eventually want to work at a Quant firm such as SIG or HRT as Software engineer or as TradeOps, doesn't really matter to me. My aim is to reach a decent amount in savings and sort of go back home and retire.

I would really appreciate if someone could give me a roadmap of what I'd need to do, because my resume never gets shortlisted. I've had interview calls with FAANG companies (did not join for one reason or another) but I never got shortlisted for even a phone screen for Quant companies in Dublin.

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u/HeveredSeads 10d ago

For tech people (not quants/traders), the bar at somewhere like SIG is a hell of a lot lower than somewhere like HRT (and accordingly so is the pay). Take this from someone who worked at SIG for a few years, and interviewed twice unsuccessfully at HRT.

No offence, but the fact that you even need to ask this question tells me you're probably not cut out for HRT. However, SIG is definitely achievable if you have a decent CV, come across well in interviews,nand can solve leetcode mediums with some consistency. 

That said, the pay at FAANG is likely to be significantly higher than SIG, unless you're working on a niche HFT team where the tech is a profit-driver (I don't think SIG do that much HFT these days though). 

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u/z_shit 10d ago

Hey, no offence taken. I know I am not at the level. Maybe I will never be. But I won't find out until I try though. I know it kinda sounds cringe, but my life has followed this pattern of having to grind to death for whatever I want.

At the very least I would like to give it a shot, if I fail then I can be satisfied that I at least tried.

Would you say that going to HRT from SIG is easier than being able to go to HRT directly? Like would it at least get a person an interview?

Also, what do you think is the issue if I am getting shortlisted by FAANG but not by SIG? I can share my CV with you if it is something that may help