Career as a quant developer/analyst in Singapore

[ravonboy]

Hi. I'm a local undergrad studying Computer Science.

After much contemplation regarding the possible career paths, I realise financial remuneration is very important to me. Hence a career in the finance industry is very attractive. To that end, I wish to be a quant analyst.

I want to start working as quant developer first to get a feel of the industry, and then transitioning to quant analyst by studying MFE overseas/locally. Will like to know more about the quant developer/analyst career paths in Singapore. Their salary, career progression and job prospects etc.

Hope this thread serves as a reference point for other interested quant-wannabes 'coz I don't see a lot of such threads here.

Thanks.

Simple. Do really really well in whatever field of study. You can pretty much forget it if you can't get a first class. Be exceedingly good at probability and statistics. You will be interviewed and expected to solve a series of statistical problems on the spot. Only 1 person I know of among my cohort made it. He loved maths and has a PhD. Good luck.

Originally Posted by ravonboy

After much contemplation regarding the possible career paths, I realise financial remuneration is very important to me. Hence a career in the finance industry is very attractive. To that end, I wish to be a quant analyst.

Heehee.
Good one.
Good luck!

Ensure that you don't spend 100% of your time studying.
You must start networking with the right people now.

[ravonboy]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Simple. Do really really well in whatever field of study. You can pretty much forget it if you can't get a first class. Be exceedingly good at probability and statistics. You will be interviewed and expected to solve a series of statistical problems on the spot. Only 1 person I know of among my cohort made it. He loved maths and has a PhD. Good luck.

I see. I thought 2nd uppers would suffice in getting admitted to MFE programmes, and that MFE is a good ticket to entry-level quant jobs. Looks like I may be wrong. May I ask what kind of quant job your friend is working as?

[ravonboy]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Heehee.
Good one.
Good luck!

Ensure that you don't spend 100% of your time studying.
You must start networking with the right people now.

Mmm.. good advice. I'm quite an introvert. Perhaps this is a good motivation to change myself.

Originally Posted by ravonboy

Hi. I'm a local undergrad studying Computer Science.

After much contemplation regarding the possible career paths, I realise financial remuneration is very important to me. Hence a career in the finance industry is very attractive. To that end, I wish to be a quant analyst.

I want to start working as quant developer first to get a feel of the industry, and then transitioning to quant analyst by studying MFE overseas/locally. Will like to know more about the quant developer/analyst career paths in Singapore. Their salary, career progression and job prospects etc.

Hope this thread serves as a reference point for other interested quant-wannabes 'coz I don't see a lot of such threads here.

Thanks.

You can become a quantitative medical programmer in short a quack.
You can make alot money by quacking and conning people just start a new church

Originally Posted by ravonboy

I see. I thought 2nd uppers would suffice in getting admitted to MFE programmes, and that MFE is a good ticket to entry-level quant jobs. Looks like I may be wrong. May I ask what kind of quant job your friend is working as?

My friend works in an European investment bank.

Since I am not a quant, nor a MFE, I would not be able to answer your questions with any detail of accuracy. I did hear his interview questions because i was the one who recommended him ti interview for the position.

However, you might want to do 2 basic analysis:

1) % of students admitted to MFE with 2nd upper
2) % of students who managed to get a quant job after MFE.

These should be relatively easy questions to answer compared to what you would get at an actual quant interview.

Its good that you want to be a quant developer as there are very few locals who is very good in this field and there is demand for it. They need to be best of both worlds - Programming and Financial mathemathics. You also need to be proficient enough to challenge your business stakeholders (Quant guys) and speak on the same level with them to make your life easier. If money allows, best is to go for a Financial engineering masters on top of your current degree while working for an Investment Bank, preferably in the front office/Risk management as a Business Analyst/Analyst role to get yourself familiarise with the terms and jargons and also to fill up some experience in your resume.

i'm on my way to being a quant, doing algo trades and stuff, but i don't think financial enumeration is getting better. quant jobs are largely disappearing, quant graduates are largely growing. singapore may be in demand for quants, but it's still relatively small unless the financial culture open up like in the U.S. HFT is still not common, and only tons and tons of regulations.

that said, risk management jobs are increasingly getting bigger and better, and in risk there are various roles including quant. you may want to consider comp finance, quant finance, or frm besides mfe.

if u can handle excitement, become a trader. u don't need quant qualifications to trade, but having financial knowledge helps to know what you're up against - bond traders, option traders, equty traders who use statistical analysis to identify arbitrage.

quants can make how much a year?