FAANG -> HFT worth it?

Apple
bDiz10

Go to company page Apple

bDiz10
Aug 6, 2021 23 Comments

Interviewing for a SWE role at HRT, Optiver and Akuna. Just had the initial phone screen and moving to technical rounds. I shared I wanted over 400k minimum TC and two place said that might be a little high.
I’ve been at Apple for 4 years and while it’s not a bad job, it’s pretty stale work and the politics here are abhorrent. I was at Google previously. The more I move up the more slippery it gets. I imagine most other big tech companies are similar so not too interested to jumping somewhere else in FAANG/unicorn.
People who have made the jump to HFT/Quant/MM was it worth it? Is the work more interesting? Are the politics as bad as other FAANGs?

7 yoe
TC 380k

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TOP 23 Comments
  • New
    Niaz38

    New

    Niaz38
    The finance companies typically work you pretty hard. Even the ones that say they have good WLB only mean they are a little less intense, like it is still often 9+ hours a day. It’s basically a big endless grind. A lot of jobs in FAANG are pretty stressful too but in general on the West Coast I think employers tend to be a bit more chill and relaxed compared to the East Coast where most of those finance guys are. If you haven’t tried it before it may be a bit of an unpleasant surprise. Have been there and would choose Silicon Valley/FAANG overall unless the pay was much higher at HFT like 150-200k higher. Also one other thing is you don’t get stock appreciation in most of those places since its straight up cash bonus. Also means that there’s a lot more uncertainty about how much you’ll actually make at the end of the year and it’s always going to be really dependent on how much your boss likes or needs you whereas 4 year stock grant gives you at least some guarantee. Overall I wouldn’t do it unless you really don’t care about bad WLB and they give you a six figure raise.
    Aug 7, 2021 6
    • Google
      ADFQ

      Go to company page Google

      ADFQ
      I mean stock prices at a lot of FAANGs like Google, Apple have more than doubled in the last year and there's also stacking refreshers every year. This benefits everybody working at these companies (at least if you got RSUs in your compensation). At finance firms you can probably get an extra big bonus if you are a top performer or your manager really likes you, but ultimately only a fraction of people will qualify for that.
      Aug 7, 2021
    • I wasn't considering refreshers, but yeah there's different trade-offs. I personally prefer cash but obviously see the historical success that FANGs have had

      @fb: I'm not sure there's really any general guidance in what to expect for bonuses, and I think it varies more team to team at trading companies than at FANGs. If you're getting an offer, they should provide a bonus range or guarantee.(and if they don't, push for one). I don't think there's really a limit for a top performer (eg. 2-5x is not ridiculous) but maybe 0.5x-1x for a new hire, average performer?
      Aug 7, 2021
  • New
    🇹🇼‎🥇

    New

    🇹🇼‎🥇
    People overstate the value of RSU appreciation.

    After 12 months:
    - HFT guy gets a cash bonus
    - FAANG SWE gets a RSU vest

    Same cash flow timing.

    Both of them can invest in VTI, AMZN or BTC. Appreciation doesn’t matter *after* this point.

    Now, which one is larger at 12 months?

    Even with a generous 25% RSU appreciation, I believe the HFT bonus still comes out ahead.
    Aug 10, 2021 0
  • Optiver
    oEMQ52

    Go to company page Optiver

    oEMQ52
    There are many SWE making 400k+ here afaik, thing is that it's largely performance based so no promises. You get the large upside in a great year like 2020 though where most people would make over 4x the year before. Haven't seen a bad year yet myself.

    If you want promised experience based TC stay at the megacorp and play the politics.
    Aug 9, 2021 0
  • Esri
    klokov_v3

    Go to company page Esri

    klokov_v3
    Did Optiver and Akuna say that 400k might be a bit high?
    Aug 6, 2021 4
  • Google
    uwuL6

    Go to company page Google

    uwuL6
    Yes
    Aug 6, 2021 0