Hi guys! Just need to know what you think. Given: 29, foreigner, maths postdoc at Cambridge (PDE, analytic/numerics, C++, no stochastics calculation), been in UK for 2 years.Situation: got an offer for another postdoc at Cambridge Need to make a decision: either to take it or try to find a quant job in IB. Why I am asking: I want to go to finance as I am really interested in it (from mathematical point of view). BUT PROBLEM: still have some problems with english.I have some experience in finance in my country - been working in IB for 2 years doing some stuff like portfolio management/trading (REPO with bills of exchange and bonds, no real science was used). The thing is that I don't mind to take another postdoc - the subject is interesting from mathematical point of view and it helps me to improve my english but I will be too old after (32). I was wondering if you guys know how many foreigners are at IBs and what is the minimum level for english then?

if you graduated from cambridge, i dont see that you have english problem.

where is your origin?

No, I got my PhD in Russia and then got postdoc position there.

no one's forcing you to finish the second postdoc

Firstly some of the french quant guy i meet I can barely understand them....Secondly only do the postdoc if you are still interested in academia

Thanks for your post. Yes, no one is forcing me indeed, except me I am just worrying about my age as I will be too old after second postdoc. As I've understood from reading this forum 32 years may be too much to get job in IB.

QuoteOriginally posted by: ronwiseThanks for your post. Yes, no one is forcing me indeed, except me I am just worrying about my age as I will be too old after second postdoc. As I've understood from reading this forum 32 years may be too much to get job in IB.I do not think 32 will be too old for financial jobs. Where did you find such information on this forum?

Sorry, I mean 32 years old person might be too old to get an entry level quant job just becouse of high competition with a fresh 26 PhD graduate. It is just my impression I got reading this forum. I would be happy if it is wrong.

My friend, are you good enough to convince yourself that you are capable to produce results in the quant field. It is not how old you are, but how good you want to be..Who cares whether is 26, 32 or 40? You just have to prove yourself. Please dont ask assurance from Wilmott members, we all have to work damn hard to reach our goals.No free lunch in the real world.

Yes, ckevin is right. They want the best people not the youngest people.

However, I think ronwise does raise a valid point, that of perceived ageism and university snobbism. The perception, for an outsider to banking like myself, is that the quant field is very "set in its ways" - ie it is only filled with high-flying 26-30 year old Oxbridge, Imperial and LSE graduates who are absolute maths, physics and computing geniuses. Geez, how many [post]graduates per year do these universities churn out for all potential quant employers and recruiters to fill their posts ? No wonder the British output in natural sciences has dipped - if every potential "Einstein" is grabbed by banking, who's going to do the work within our British scientific institutions. Another gripe that I have is the explicit and unfairly biased way a lot of these adverts specify that only those from "Oxbridge and red-brick" universities need apply. So, now I am meant to accept that my PhD and undergraduate studies are useless as they are from the "lower caste" of universities ?When I start applying for various posts, I hope that I'm not up for a lot of disappointment due to being slightly "older" and not from the top-ten list of perceived "quality" universities for my PhD. There are many other universites and departments that have the highest quality of talent and research.I would really hope that it is academic performance, the subjects studied and individual potential that are the criteria for eventual entry-level selection, not the fulfillment of a pre-defined set of conservative/predictable requirements that, in my opinion, are unnecessarily biased and wrong.

same old story. are you good enough to get that job.everyone wants to get into the quant field but only the best can survive.you have to try damn hard to work it out. it is not about your degree but sometimeit is about your attitude and other personal elements that make up that position for you.

ronwise I doubt the English will be a problem. There's not much recruitment in July/August so why not put yourself through an intense English immersion boot-camp for a couple of months. Force yourself to talk to people all day in English, ask them to correct pronounciation errors, listen to the radio, watch TV, read in English only etc

QuoteOriginally posted by: ronwiseThanks for your post. Yes, no one is forcing me indeed, except me I am just worrying about my age as I will be too old after second postdoc. As I've understood from reading this forum 32 years may be too much to get job in IB.what i mean was, that you could resign it half way through.I started in the city at 30. I employed a guy straight from academia aged 35.