When preparing candidates for job interviews we are sometimes asked what questions they should ask the potential employer. This article by Jeff Haden in Inc. Magazine: Job Interviews: 5 Questions Great Candidates Ask, poses some good options. It is important to note that no matter how senior-level you are, it is good to go over the basics. Wall Street Oasis, targeting candidates in the early stages of their career can be a good site to review.
Quantifying the Quants
Check out this blog entry on the meaning of all things quant. We think you will find the premise of this piece, written by Andy Nguyen on www.quantnet.com, thought provoking.
Here’s an excerpt:
“Applied to a person, the Platonic ideal is someone with a quantitative PhD and a deep understanding of financial theory, who applies herself in creative and important ways to financial practice, and who has an engineer’s openness and honesty. For every ideal quant there are many people who share some of these characteristics to different degrees. There is no bright line distinction that is accepted generally, just people with different levels of quantness…”
Not all job losses are created equally
Bloomberg reports the job loss figures for 2011-2012 will now surpass the number of jobs lost in 2008 through 2009. What can job seekers expect in 2011 and beyond? To set the tone, I quote Citigroup’s Vikram Pandit, CEO of Citigroup on his outlook “Financial services face an extremely challenging operating environment with an unprecedented combination of market uncertainty, sustained economic weakness in developed economies and the most substantial regulatory changes we have seen in our lifetimes.” This is dire stuff, but can’t we expect some turn around in jobs once developed economies right themselves? The answer depends on whether the job losses are a result of cyclical or structural changes. Widening Sovereign spreads, ratings downgrades, Euro fragmentation and political and financial headwinds in the US are causing uncertainty for the industry. As earnings have slipped, banks have been quick to trim staff. Trading and Sales teams were reduced, expansion plans were shelved, and noncore businesses were eliminated. If these are cyclical factors, then we would expect the usual rebound in hiring once developed economies recover. Structural changes are tougher to navigate. According to a report conducted by Federal Reserve Economists, Erica Groshen and Simon Potter,(http://www.ny.frb.org/research/current_issues/ci9-8.pdf), there may be different dynamics at work when industries are effected by structural change. Hiring managers tend to “let the dust settle before they start rehiring”. Groshen and Potter observed that in recent recessions the job losses tended to be more structural and therefore more permanent. Structural change could also signal job gains as well as losses. Jobs can migrate or relocate within a broad industry. The willingness for hedge funds to hire skilled traders from banks, as banks exit proprietary trading activities is a perfect example of this relocation. Hedge fund assets have grown to record levels in 2011 to $2 trillion according to Chicago based Hedge Fund Research. If there is a silver lining it would be that growth in that sector will require infrastructure building e.g. PMs, Research, Trading and Risk Management. Implementation of Dodd Frank has created demand for professionals who have a solid understanding for clearing mechanisms and for those well versed on the new standards. These are examples of how structural change can have a positive effect on other areas within our industry. For those in the throes of a job search, it may help your search strategy to think about where gains are being made elsewhere in our financial industry and how you can position yourself accordingly.
Stealth Reductions in Force
”A Stealth reduction in Force” is how one professional put it. We are hearing of light job cuts across the industry in Fixed Income( in US). Strategic hires made in 2009 and 2010 have come under pressure as trading volumes have dropped and client interest has been quieter than normal . The moves tend to be selective and handled very quietly, allowing some folks to seek alternate positions internally (where possible) or are being encouraged to find outside positions while they are on notice. Another troubling sign is the lack of urgency in replacing voluntary resignations. Even darling areas such as FX and Emerging Markets have seen a few reductions. The most notable cuts have been observed at the Director and Managing Director levels. Sales teams appear to have been more effected than trading and research. At an investor conference recently, one investment bank CFO warned that more cuts are likely as profit margins remain depressed and the US economy ambles along. What we need is a quick resolution to the US Debt ceiling and a believable resolution to the Europe Debt crisis to pull us out of these market doldrums.
Just Four Global Events Will Determine Investor’s Fates
The fates of investors and traders alike depend on how four politically charged events play out over the next 12 months. James Shinn takes a look at how the interplay of US monetary policy, Chinese economic growth, the European debt crisis and Saudi oil prices are likely to determine the future of the global economy. http://www.institutionalinvestor.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=2855196&LS=EMS544288
Conversations in the Market
This week our question is for the Head of Electronic Trading at a recognized algorithmic trading firm.
Q: Where do you think trading execution is heading over the next five years?
A: The evolution and transformation of Wall Street trading desks over the next several years will continue to move further away from the traditional trading desks that we are all accustomed to. The “quant’ has taken us from a high touch sales trader environment to a low touch computer driven world in a very short period of time. Algorithms have reshaped how we trade and will continue to capture market share and dominate trading due to their ability to process large volumes of order flow in a very cost efficient manner. Continue reading
The Wall Street Mind
The Post Crash: Wall Street Won. So why is it so worried?? http://nymag.com/news/business/wallstreet/
Managing Expectations in a Tough Year
Managing Expectations in a tough year.
As we round the corner on the 2010 Wall Street bonus season, we take note of some changing attitudes and expectations. Shrinking bonus pools, uneven disbursement of bonuses and an array of deferred schemes have left Bankers feeling uncertain about their earnings prospects. Many on Wall Street were disappointed and frustrated with their bonuses, especially with the break from traditional correlations between production and payouts. Continue reading
Conversations in the Market
This week our question is for a FX eCommerce Consultant.
Q: What do you see as the main criteria buy side clients rely on when deciding what platforms to use?
A: It really depends on what their objectives are. Some firms need to manage a number of sell-side relationships, and chose a platform that facilitates this. Some are very focused on best execution and due diligence, so they need tools that enable that. Others are strictly all about the price–relationships and documentation be damned.
Battle of the Titans
Battle of the Titans – For big banks that have long dominated foreign-exchange trading, new competition has them scrambling. http://online.wsj.com/article
Dodd-Frank’s Impact on IT
Dodd-Frank’s Impact on IT – Interesting article concerning Dodd Frank, Capital Markets and Technology – http://www.wallstreetandtech.com/regulatory-compliance/229200184
