My desperate cry for help:I am stuck in a underpaid job, am massively overskilled and every day the thumb tasks are killing my brain.To give you a short overview over my CV:2001-2002 OTC Broker (leading London based broker)2002-2003 Futures Trader at unknown small bank2003-2006 consultant for companies going into Trading electricity derivatives(leading London Based broker)2006-now fund management for closed end funds-real assets and commodities at a small bankBachelors degree in economics. Bad score from an average university.In 2006 I accepted my current job, to live near my family, buy a house in the landscape,marry my wife and make a lot of children.From each position to the next my salary was decreasing. started at 100K and finally reached 40K...Euros. I was never bad in my job, but had to leave due to different reason(bankrupcy, changing location)My job is massively unchallanging and whenever I decide to work more than 4 hours a day everyone gets excited how clever I am and how valuable my work is-but does not pay me. I think there is noone in this company that I could learn anything from.To get a more challanging job I started the CFA in Dec 07 and just wrote the 3rd level few days ago(hopefully passed, but u never know). I am also registered for the CQF June 09.Problem is that I have now been 3 Years in a financial field, that I do not want do stay in-valuation of private equity and commodity investments.Everything but quantitative. It took me too long to find out that I do like finance, love maths, but hate controlling, marketing, accounting,... Did the Kersey test and it came out that I am 100% N and 88% C-> so get into a quant field and forget about the stuff they teach at an MBA!!!I am now 30 years old and I am really scared that it is too late for me to find a job I really like-a quantitative job. So tell me: Is there still hope? Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Or am I cursed to go to work every day and perform stupid tasks and argue with stupid people?My son was born in 2008 and my salary is so low that I am struggling to feet my family(well, saved some decent amount of money, but expenses>income make me nervous)I am now so desperate that me and my wife decided to work anywhere in the world, as long as it is a quantitative job.Any advices, any words of hope?Many Thanks,the desperate Gortak

do you have any quantitative skills? i.e. graduate level maths.

I took all quantitative courses that were available for economists. Time series analysis, Regression analysis and all basic maths. But that was years ago.And to keep my brain alive, I worked thru some books about quant finance(wilmott on quant finance,Hull,... tried shireav, but that was quite difficult for self study) , but nothing certified-thats why I am doing the CQF now.I know, I should have done a MFE 5 years ago, but,in early age, when you see people around you having never seen a college from inside making more money than the prime minister, you think its a waste oftime to invest that much for the thoretical knowledge-bad mistake!Right now, salary should cover my expenses, thats all. Much more important is that the work is challanging and interesting. Just from my feeling, companies are only looking for PHDs from a top university, work experience from a top tier investmentbank. max age 26 and 25 years work experience...young and experienced?You only find that at street prostitution:-)

Don't panic!!Realize that we are living through a time when all the world's major financial firms have been hammered pretty well.If the "full frontal assault" upon big firms (investment banks) isn't working, then try the classic "flanking maneuver!!"That is, try for a quant / trading position at a mom-and-pop hedge fund. Why not? You would be doing enjoyable work and there may be a potential for upside. Or perhaps revert to the annoying yet lucrative OTC broker thing.Don't give up! Finance is a big field and it's a big world. Have you thought about the US? Give it a shot!

QuoteOriginally posted by: Gortak2006-now fund management for closed end funds-real assets and commodities at a small bank if you could not make money managing closed end commodity funds when oil rocketed from $40 to $150, then back down to $45, now back up to $70 -- you cannot make money managing anything, my friend.

QuoteOriginally posted by: Gortakget into a quant field and forget about the stuff they teach at an MBA!!! I am now 30 years old and I am really scared that it is too late for me to find a job I really like-a quantitative jobIf you are determined to be an employee, and to get paid for how clever you are, then you are probably stuck at that income. My personality tests indicate that I should be writing poetry for a living. But on this planet - planet Earth - adults have to market products. And hire people for $50,000 a year to make them.so fucking limitedso limited are weimprisoned in small shipsbobbing in the seaset our sails for sundomkingdoms of the future pastguided towards the sunsetdreams can never last

QuoteOriginally posted by: farmerso fucking limitedso limited are weimprisoned in small shipsbobbing in the seaset our sails for sundomkingdoms of the future pastguided towards the sunsetdreams can never lastPretty good!

@Papercut, havent tried the "full frontal assault" yet. Hope my chances will be better after I can put all these letters(CFA,CQF) into my resumee and I plan to stay in my current job until I finished the CQF. I am just scared that even 20K Euros and 2,5 Years studying will not help me to get any quantitative job. Not even with a low salary.So far I have been looking around and talking to HH. Pretty frustrating. Especially when you just spent 2 years of your life on learning for the CFA and you realize that it will not help you to find a job you like.@farmer: Becoming self employed would be an alternative, but not everyone is born as a self made man. But at this stage of life I am more looking for a job where I can learn from other people and become extraordinary good in a special field.

I say, have you considered going to drama school instead, what?

title: Rat Quants RacingAroused purple lipsUrgent, unlimited, young, and freecaptain of our destiny shipsEjaculation in the bonus seaWe want to fly like a cometPass kingdoms of future's pastfree flying towards the sunsetQuant dreams that can not last.

These poems are good, but I found them by accident.There should be a separate poetry thread in Careers, so the silk purses sit distinctly in a place of honor. ***It is never too late, but you have to make a concerted effort on multiple fronts. I hope that you have passed the CFA and can now devote time to CQF and maybe attending some good QF/F conferences; would your current employer let you out in the world, perhaps on their behalf, from time to time?

@trackstarwhat should I expect from these conferences? network? skills? Most are much too expensive for me and I doubt that my employer will pay for it.

Hi Gortak,On the purpose of attending conferences - a combination of sharing and acquiring knowledge, making new contacts, and polishing your networking skills - which is fun, once you get used to it, though it can feel very awkward at first.It seems that you have talent, but a tendency to slack off a bit, partly due to financial (de)motivation in your current location. Your employer, perhaps, should compensate you better, but at the same time, it is your responsibility to find reasons to excel in your field and develop the motivation to work hard, under whatever circumstances you find yourself in.As a prospective entrepreneur, you must learn that it takes alot of *unpaid* business development in order to bring in a set of profitable contracts. So finding a strong personal drive apart from a guaranteed paycheck is critical to success, should you branch out on your own some day.