Thomas Smith

Name Thomas Smith
Job Graduate quantitative analyst
Area of work: Investment banking
Employer: Man Group plc
Qualifications: BCom business and economics, University of Toronto (2007); MSc financial economics, University of Oxford (2008)

I wanted to join the hedge fund industry, rather than pure investment management because the work is dynamic and I believe that there is more opportunity to add value. I initially became interested in working for my organisation after they sponsored a research institute on my campus. I spoke to them about arranging a trip to their offices; I'm convinced that trying to develop the relationship in this way contributed to my getting an interview when I applied for the graduate programme. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of an internship or some work experience in finding a job. Coming from Canada, where internships aren’t that common, I didn’t have this opportunity. However, at the University of Toronto I did some research with a professor on hedge funds, so this differentiated my CV.

’The thing I enjoy most about the work is that it is tangible and leads to an end product – for example, a research report, trading strategy or risk analysis.’

My job

As a new graduate, I am rotating through several areas of the company, all of which are quantitative in nature. My main responsibilities are research-related. We look at developing new algorithmic trading strategies, as well as risk reports and evaluating new investments. For the research, you need a systematic and process-driven mind to look for ideas to build upon and ultimately turn these into trading strategies.

The highlights

Staying on top of all my projects requires a lot of hard work, but I've never had to work a weekend. The thing I enjoy most about the work is that it is tangible and leads to an end product – for example, a research report, trading strategy or risk analysis.