Is 35-36 too old to get into the business?

stillyoung · Post by **stillyoung** » Fri May 09, 2008 10:38 pm

I'm currently enrolled in a MS in Statistics program from a descent school. I'll be 35-36 when I graduate. Will I be too old to get a job in the quant world?

I got a MBA more than 5 years ago. I've worked in investment management and investment banking but not on the quant side. I'm not interested in roles where the person is always doing lots of hard core math & c++. I'm more interested in positions that are close to trading, or analyst positions where you are evaluating what to buy and sell instead of just pricing the securities.

In your reply, please tell me a little bit about yourself so I know your point of view. Thanks.

Crassus · Post by **Crassus** » Fri May 09, 2008 10:56 pm

hi sumyungguy. say hello to the Kraken as you swim for the boat.

stillyoung · Post by **stillyoung** » Fri May 09, 2008 11:01 pm

i guess you're saying the answer is yes. can you tell me your bio? thanks.

Crassus · Post by **Crassus** » Fri May 09, 2008 11:07 pm

well guy, I liked the doublethink. Impossible is nothing.

wolf0564 · Post by **wolf0564** » Sat May 10, 2008 1:08 am

dude, Crassus is right. a lot of people on this phorum started in the quant world, so to speak, at a more advanced age than yours. good luck!

GLpartners · Post by **GLpartners** » Sat May 10, 2008 2:19 am

Good question, in fact, leaving the age bit aside. I have been getting so many people from the investment banking side asking if they would stand a good chance moving into derivatives trading. I don't really know what to tell them, and given that bankers (most of them) have an egoistical issue, I obviously don't tell them that they can't do it.

In fact, I did tell one guy to try for cash equities instead or go into research, he threw up a fit and almost spat in my face at suggesting that he couldn't be a derivatives trader. So these days I just tell any M&A guy that he will be a fantastic candidate on the trading floor.

Anyways, to the OP, I think you can do it if you can demonstrate ability (duh), but maybe think of a way to help interviewers understand why they should hire a 36 year old MA/MBA guy with no relevant experience instead of a 23 year old MA stats guy with 2 trading internships. Also, I once saw this 30 year old MBA guy start out as an energy trading assistant at a hedge fund, he got absolutely thrashed by his boss who is a 27 year old ivy league grad, it was kind of sad to watch. But then again the MBA deserved it, he booked the wrong trade after reading the wrong signals generated by a program he wrote, but still sad.

To hijack this thread a little, anyone at the senior level who would interview M&A guys with 1 - 5 years experience for derivative trading roles? I am indeed curious to find out.

dantes · Post by **dantes** » Sat May 10, 2008 8:00 am

I would guess you have a hard time fitting into the IB world as their system of up or out kinda rules out recruiting more mature people. But if you are willing to work for smaller outfits, hedge funds etc and have some serious brains and abilities to deliver I cant see a problem. I have personally hired liked that in the past and it worked out well. Dont push for a high salary though, your edge is a mature grown-up at a reasonable price, but only for a the first few years of course. after that you charge full price...

stillyoung · Post by **stillyoung** » Sat May 10, 2008 9:30 am

my preference is to work on the buy side so i don't mind not getting into an ibank at all. however, ibanks hire the most people out of graduate programs so it's hard to ignore them.

can those of you who replied tell me a little bit about your background?

Nonius · Post by **Nonius** » Sat May 10, 2008 4:53 pm

I'll answer that if you can answer this....how long is a piece of string?

nodoodahs · Post by **nodoodahs** » Sat May 10, 2008 6:26 pm

Long enough to stretch from one end to the other.