wilmott.com

A little about me to put things into context: 1st in Physics, PhD in simulating laser dynamics, prizes won at both levels. Small amount of experience working with financial instruments developing web applications around a data feed. Recently I've been working on my financial knowledge (Hull, Wilmott!) and my C++.Initially I was aiming for junior quant roles but I don't think I have the programming skills yet - for some strange reason I continued to use F90 instead of switching to C++, probably because it is faster (whoops, can of worms... ignore that comment) I have mostly been batch processing my simulations, but have also done a small amount of parallel processing, although I'm not sure that counts for much (?)Unfortunately I now find myself in the same situation as a BSc and having a PhD may even be a disadvantage, since it probably rules me out of graduate programmes. Even if that is not the case, graduate positions tend to recruit to a particular timescale and I think all of those are now closed for this year.I have taken to emailing every hedge fund I can find and I've emailed loads of big banks, my application count is 170+ over the past few days..... So there is a significant chance that someone reading this has received one or more of my CVs - sorry about that. Is spamming hedge funds / banks a good idea? Are head hunters likely to place someone at entry level?Is there anyone out there who has found themselves in a similar situation in the past? How did you get a foot in the door? Just in case anyone reading this wants to offer me an internship / job I am willing to work for peanuts (or jaffa cakes)Risky

QuoteOriginally posted by: Riskyfor some strange reason I continued to use F90 instead of switching to C++, probably because it is faster (whoops, can of worms... ignore that comment)You're really handicapping yourself here. Do you think your job will consist of developing a wonderful software empire in splendid isolation from everything else? You are going to have to use other people's code, and they yours, plus various existing libraries or codebases and perhaps interfaces with other systems. This isn't going to be in Fortran! And how are you ever going to learn concepts like inheritance, polymorphism, templating and design patterns? It's not a debate between which is the better/faster language; it's between employable reality and unemployable dreamland.

QuoteYou're really handicapping yourself here. Do you think your job will consist of developing a wonderful software empire in splendid isolation from everything else?.............I have realised the error in my ways - just a little too late (about 4 years) I have been trying to learn C++, spending a lot of time on it over the past couple of months. Recently I've been trying to write some games - easy to set mini projects and seems like a 'fun' way to learn the language.TBH I've enjoyed learning C++ so far and wish I had adopted it for my simulations. I knew I shouldn't have made that comment........

QuoteOriginally posted by: RiskyQuoteYou're really handicapping yourself here. Do you think your job will consist of developing a wonderful software empire in splendid isolation from everything else?.............I have realised the error in my ways - just a little too late (about 4 years) I have been trying to learn C++, spending a lot of time on it over the past couple of months. Recently I've been trying to write some games - easy to set mini projects and seems like a 'fun' way to learn the language.TBH I've enjoyed learning C++ so far and wish I had adopted it for my simulations. I knew I shouldn't have made that comment........In order to test whether you are really good at C++ now, read Effective C++ and Exceptional C++, and what do you feel?

Your background sounds rather similar to mine and others I've known. I'd say you have a pretty good chance- not being a C++ programming expert is not a huge handicap from my experience- but need to prepare systematically. Spamming is obviously not a good idea. DCFC's guide should be a good place to start.

Marvin, is that others you have known that have subsequently gone on to secure a position? If so, did they go through recruitment agents or take a different approach?

Yes (including myself) - and all went through headhunters. There's been lots of discussion on this forum about the pros and cons of headhunters, which you should look at. I would recommend the HH route.

If the odds are against you (you're from another country, from an unknown institution / school, etc.), I learned that going straight to the hiring managers will produce results. But of course it is the most difficult. The key is building networks and connections (but it takes a long time to do so).I recently discovered this website:www.linkedin.comAnyone uses it?

OK thanks Marvin, that is encouraging. I will just keep plugging away and improving my skills in the mean time. Jomni - I've seen linked in, and maybe even added my name at some point, but I'm sceptical about that sort of thing doing any more than annoying people.... have you heard of any positive outcome through that?

QuoteOriginally posted by: RiskyJomni - I've seen linked in, and maybe even added my name at some point, but I'm sceptical about that sort of thing doing any more than annoying people.... have you heard of any positive outcome through that?I'm asking the same thing. Looks more like a professional version of Friendster.Don't know if it can get you a quant job.And most people who use it are in the IT industry.