Using AI to research quant roles

[Ash Cross]

Over the summer I experimented with ChatGPT to research different roles - it’s been helpful to break down what entry-level traders, researchers, and modelers do on day-to-day basis.

Here are a couple ChatGPT prompts that I've played around with:

Prompt #1:

Please list out the top 5 career paths in financial engineering for Master's students. Do not include software engineering.
Under each title, please provide:

• a two line description of what they do (explained in a way a non-technical person can understand)
• a list of 5 specific technical skills and proficiency levels required for entry level jobs in that role (example: heavy knowledge of machine learning, basic knowledge of fixed income and stochastic calculus)
• 10 examples of companies that hire these roles (e.g., Akuna, Chicago Trading, JP Morgan, and lesser known ones)
• and highlight if there are any differences in the role on the buy-side of finance (hedge funds, asset management, prop trading) compared to sell-side of finance (investment banks)

Prompt #2

I’m a _______ [context - rising CS student / career changer with 5yrs in SWE] interested in learning more about a ___ [job title/job function] role at a _________ [type of financial institution] (e.g., sell-side bank, buy-side hedge fund, asset manager).

Please describe this role in short, structured, ADHD-friendly bullet points. Keep it entry-level. Make sure the total adds up to 100%.

Sections to include:

• Core Tasks (%): 5 daily activities with rough time splits (e.g., 40% coding & backtesting, 30% data analysis).
• Collaboration: 3 key teams or people this role works with and how.
• Tools & Deliverables: Common languages, libraries, and typical outputs (e.g., model prototype, performance report).
• Career Path: Typical entry points and next-step roles.

Keep bullets short and practical — no fluff or senior-level tasks.

I'm still mostly using ChatGPT - it's been so helpful to brush up on ML concepts to me quickly when reviewing resumes or quizzing students for mock interviews (e.g., Why did you use ___ instead of ___? What were the advantages and drawbacks of using ___?). It's also been interesting using it to compare prereqs across multiple programs and identify opportunities for upskilling/projects.

I'm curious how others are using LLMs for career prep to get started in this field. And has anyone found any useful prompts for GRE prep strategies too? Let me know your favorite prompts and platforms! I figured this is a great place to crowdsource ideas.

If you want to connect or talk more about quant career prep, here’s my info: @Acrosscareers | Linktree

 

[rajivp]

I’ve used deepseek to better understand the transition from banking advisory to quant/hft role with prompts as#
"What are the essential skills to move from banking advisory to a quant role?”
“Compare top master’s programs that help transition into quant finance.”
“Summarize the core topics in financial engineering that maps with credit risk advisory.”