PhD, but what next?

[ommthree]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for pointers regarding qualifications for quant-type jobs. Simply put, I have a PhD in theoretical astrophysics from a British university and four years postdoc in Switzerland and Germany. I've just accepted a further one year post as a visiting faculty in India. After that I really want to come back to Europe and get into finance, with a particular yen to return to Switzerland.

I have been doing a part-time course over the last year in java and also one that covers php and sql amongst other things, to broaden my IT knowledge. I'm also brushing up my German; I'm about to take a high-level exam in that. I have no specific C++ experience or any experience with software such as SAS and my knowledge of finance is, I admit, limited.

I have eighteen months to sharpen up my CV. So should I sort out my C++, take some courses in finance, try to get an internship in my upcoming three-month gap (April-June)?

Any suggestions warmly welcomed. Thanks very much,
Owen.

 

[daleholborow]

Omm... Look around on this site for the thread about the guide for quants written by Dominic Connor... he is a head hunter who wrote a rather good document which I think will explain everything to you in detail and will answer all your questions.

Basically, you send Dominic your resume, and he sends you a copy of his "intro to getting a quant job". I've found it to be an excellent read.

 

[ommthree]

Thanks for that!

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Start with this Master reading list for MFE - QuantNetwork - Financial Engineering Forum
Also, look at this Forum FAQ - Quantnet Wiki

 

[ommthree]

Start with this Master reading list for MFE - QuantNetwork - Financial Engineering Forum
Also, look at this Forum FAQ - Quantnet Wiki

That's helpful, thanks. So given that I've got the PhD and the maths/modelling side, do you think I'd be in with a decent shout if I work through some of that literature on my own? Or should I try to get some kind of certification, given that a full MFE is too long for me.