I'm a new grad who wants to pivot into HFT. I have a good amount of C++ experience and work on a bloomberg trading systems team and have been at bloomberg since this summer. I had some general questions about this process: 1. Does working at bloomberg help me pivot to HFT? I know they aren't the same thing but people at bloomberg say HFT poaches bloomberg engineers. 2. Besides C++/low level understanding, what are some other skills I'd need to do well in interviews? 3. What are some realistic firms I should target? I've gotten offers at some lower tier quant firms (sub 200K new grad offers) and would ideally like anything that's 250K+ TC. 4. If I apply with 1 YOE do I apply as a new grad or do I just apply for generic SWE? 5. Best ways to prep? Blind Tax: TC 200K
HFT poach engineers from all over. Being at Bloomberg is no advantage especially since Google/Meta and other Unicorns generally have better talent for C++. The people who leave Bloomberg for HFT are typically the cream of the crop which most Bloomberg engineers are not , they are the exception not the rule. Getting interviews is tough rn, so just interview at whichever one gives you one