MFE Jobs and careers

[Rockoo]

Greetings!
This is my 1st post on quantnet.

I am currently in college majoring in Applied math and economics with a 3.93 GPA. I'm looking to apply to top MFIN programs and MFE programs. My issue is that I don't know what jobs I can expect with an MFE. On columbias' website, it says that graduates go into portfolio management, reseasrch, fintech, risk management and trading. However, would it be possible to get a less technical job such as Investment banking (M&A) and consulting?

Also, if I want to work as a portfolio manager in a top hedge fund, what would be the career path I need to take to reach that goal?

I would really appreciate some answers and advice.

Thanks!

 

[mhy]

Go do an MBA for IBD and consulting. Some people do that after a Master in Finance as well. Your MFE will be wasted and you will be crying your brains out looking at DCF Excel spreadsheets and Powerpoint presentations after going through hardcore math classes.

The usual path for PM is something along the lines of junior analyst -> analyst -> assistant PM -> PM. Can take well over 10 years.

 

[Rockoo]

Go do an MBA for IBD and consulting. Some people do that after a Master in Finance as well. Your MFE will be wasted and you will be crying your brains out looking at DCF Excel spreadsheets and Powerpoint presentations after going through hardcore math classes.

The usual path for PM is something along the lines of junior analyst -> analyst -> assistant PM -> PM. Can take well over 10 years.

Thanks for replying!

Which department in an investment bank do you mean when you say junior analyst -> analyst ?

Or is it an asset management firm?

 

[mhy]

Typically a fund (hedge fund, mutual fund) or the asset management division within banks.

 

[ManOfGold]

Complete the MFin and go do M&A or Restructuring for 2-3 years, then apply for a hedge fund. MFE would be a huge waste of time and money and would put you into an entirely wrong career trajectory.

Do NOT do an MBA either because you will end up as an IBD associate which will close your doors to most hedge funds. IBD associates are not usually recruited by hedge funds, analysts are, period.