Quantitative Programmer-advice needed

[7of9]

Hi All,

I was approached by a recruitment agent for a quant programmer role. My expertise is in pharmaceutical industry and all my contracts are pharmaceutical/health care related. I have no knowledge about quant/IB/trading, so any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Is it a good move to become a permanent quant programmer for a couple of years and go back to contracting later? I assume the contractor rate for quant programmer is better than the ones in health care?

The agent mentioned that Hedge fund companies are better than IBs if I consider going back to contracting again in the future. But if I want to become a senior director in the future, IB offers better career path than hedge fund companies. He also said that the pay in hedge fund is much better than IB.Is he telling the truth or talking rubbish?

Thanks

[cojak]

What's your Maths degree? Do you have any experience in numerate coding?

[7of9]

I dont have a math degree. but my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees all have maths/statistic modules. And I do like maths and physics.

[JoJoGabor]

A good quant in IB could demand £700/800 per day if not more

[BlasterBates]

Be worth the experience of going to the interview. There will be a lot of tough competition so to be honest it will be difficult. You'll be put through your paces. Gen up on your statistics knowledge. Probably a good idea to buy a book on derivatives to give you an idea.

[7of9]

A good quant in IB could demand £700/800 per day if not more

A friend of a friend is a project/change management contractor for a bank. He is on 1000 pounds a day. How come we IT folks don’t get paid that well in Banking even investment banking?

[Scrag Meister]

A friend of mine is a perm quant dev/modeller for an IB and he said that the interview for his role was the hardest he had ever had.

He has a PHD in pure maths.

So be prepared.

[7of9]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I think my question is Is it a good move to become a quant programmer? Is quant programmer definitely the highest paid programmer/contractor?

[northernladuk]

A friend of a friend is a project/change management contractor for a bank. He is on 1000 pounds a day. How come we IT folks don’t get paid that well in Banking even investment banking?

Change management is a completely different kettle of fish. Might want to understand what he does so you will understand why they get a different rate.

[7of9]

Change management is a completely different kettle of fish. Might want to understand what he does so you will understand why they get a different rate.

My friend said all he does is chasing people