I?m in search for some practical advice. I am just beginning my quant career in the rates business in one of the US investment banks. I do have a good academic technical background but I think I will gain more knowledge as I go along which relevant for finance. I know there are a number of different products that people trade now less actively than before due to regulations and low volatility. In particular, exotic instruments. Therefore it probably won?t be a very marketable quality if I were to know the math for those products. But then, what are the essential qualities one should have in the coming years to be successful as a quant in rates? Shall I improve my coding? Or statistical skills? Shall I still learn more stochastic analysis? Where all this field is heading to and how can I prepare myself for the coming years?

Take good long vacances, it's the last opportunity.

people have short memories, get into it now. Establish yourself now, and people will start to trade very exotic stuff again that weave through the regulatory framework until the system falls apart. By then you would have decent bonuses to be ok to lose your job.

QuoteOriginally posted by: Kamil90I?m in search for some practical advice. I am just beginning my quant career in the rates business in one of the US investment banks. I do have a good academic technical background but I think I will gain more knowledge as I go along which relevant for finance. I know there are a number of different products that people trade now less actively than before due to regulations and low volatility. In particular, exotic instruments. Therefore it probably won?t be a very marketable quality if I were to know the math for those products. But then, what are the essential qualities one should have in the coming years to be successful as a quant in rates? Shall I improve my coding? Or statistical skills? Shall I still learn more stochastic analysis? Where all this field is heading to and how can I prepare myself for the coming years?careers section

Kamil90It's over, dude. Sorry.