I will sound stupid coz maybe I am! but I have heard a lot about Quant Jockey jobs. Can anyone tell me what exactly are they and why are they so coveted? I am extremely good in numbers, maybe it is a good area for me to dwelve in! I appreciate any comments/ suggestions. Thanks
Thanks for the reply But it just tells me the definition which I had a hunch about and I was correct. What do most quants have as far as qualifications are concerned? Someone told me that a MS in Actuarial Sciences is a must. Is it? What should I do to become one? Thanks
Here are a few qualifications from a quant firm I know of: Principal 1: MBA, PhD Principal 2: MBA, PhD, CFA Principal 3: MBA, Masters in Computational Finance, CFA Principal 4: Masters in Computational Finance, CFA Principal 5: MBA, CFA
hmm! Thanks I have a MS but in engineering. I might start a MBA this year. so i guess if i have a MS, MBA and CFA i am going to write level II this year, I would still probably need a MS in Computational Finance! ! That sounds easy…
you might want to check out CQF curriculum (certificate in quantitative finance)
me_here: relax, big guy, I believe you that you are good with numbers but MBA + MS engineering takes you nowhere close to a quant job. MS in computational finance, well, that’s a step in the right direction and may get your foot in the door, especially if you are good looking and nice to be around. If you are not, well, you need a hardcore PhD. Get Guide to Getting a Quant Job from wilmott for more details. Mark Joshi also has a very good writeup on quanting.
4castles: you are right. But you know what i am a nitwit I got into Carnegie MBA this yr. I did not even bother to research before hand that there is a MBA+MSCF dual in 24 months at carnegie!! I currently do computational fluid dynamics due to MS in mech engg. this involves lots of computer programming and having CFA knowledge gives finance knowledge. I dont talk much and maybe that makes me good to be around with 
also i look decently good so thats that hehe! but ya i am dumb so have to suffice with a MBA then! i wont wait one more yr to app in dual degree i suppose! By the way after all this, what do they pay you? in kgs of gold per week or likewise i hope?!!..
me_here Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > 4castles: > > you are right. But you know what i am a nitwit > I got into Carnegie MBA this yr. I did not even > bother to research before hand that there is a > MBA+MSCF dual in 24 months at carnegie!! > That program is one of the best and most competitive in the country. Probably too late to get into it, but you never know. Despite what everyone else said here (and they may know better than I), but I’d say that the graduates of that program at CM can write their own ticket (love that expression!).
plyon thanks for the comments. u r right. It is pretty much top notch. but too late for me. MBA in itself from Tepper (CMU) is good but thats all. I dont know what type of ticket i will be able to write for myself after that!! :-/
I think CFA only helps to build background knowledges. There are a lot of math to learn. For us who do not have math Ph.D., it is going to be an uphill battle. I have bought a bunch of books to self study based on things I learned on Wilmott. I probably will start a thread on Wilmott to motivate myself to study after level 2 exam.
I agree totally that CFA Maths is elementary. I have taken Masters/ PhD level courses in both Applied Mathematics and Applied Statistics in Research during my BS and MS degrees. the Qunat section looks like a smooth cakewalk. I just wish the whole CFA exam was like the Qunat section!!