HFT or FAANG for a new grad?

New
FWAq85

New

FWAq85
Dec 25, 2021 41 Comments

I'm an undergrad in the EU. HFT companies pay better here (for internships at least). I will be interning at one as a SWE this summer. It is likely I will be able to convert to full-time. Wouldn't that be a mistake though?

I want to maximize my possibilities in the future. Going wherever you get more money is probably not optimal strategy for a new grad. Should I try to go to FAANG once I graduate? What if I get lower TC there? Is the answer different if I get offers in the US?

TC: 0 YOE: 0

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TOP 41 Comments
  • HFT is a downgrade from FAANG. If you have a chance to start at FAANG, go for it.
    Dec 25, 2021 17
    • Bloomberg / Eng
      🗿 <GO>

      Go to company page Bloomberg Eng

      🗿 <GO>
      The amount of cope in this thread is sad. WLB at most HFTs are good now minus citadel securities, other teams in citadel are generally good

      Comp in HFT is outpaced than FAANG, not even close. Also don’t try and use a historical year of a bull run. You’re not going to see 50% returns YoY.

      Interesting problems? It’s a job that you get paid an arm and a leg for at HFT. if you find your happiness from your job, grats. The majority of people don’t need that as they have hobbies or different interests.
      Dec 26, 2021
    • Google
      Fbkb88

      Go to company page Google

      Fbkb88
      “Anyone with a different point of view is coping” - sure bro, thanks for enlightening us all with your gracious thoughts. Been there, done that, happier now - what’s your opinion based on?

      I’d rather spend 40 hrs per week on what I’m interested in, and my quality of life does not depend on a few extra 100ks per year right now. And this often pays off financially in the long term, too, but you seem personally invested in being right so this might be hard to understand. Don’t worry, you have time to grow up.

      And if money is your top priority, don’t be an SWE at all, there are much better ways.
      Dec 27, 2021
  • FAANG is a downgrade from HFT. If you can get in this early go for it.
    Dec 25, 2021 2
  • Uber
    remoddd

    Go to company page Uber

    remoddd
    I can comment only on UK, but for example grad fb offer is a joke almost 2x at top hft. General concern with hft is that it can be shit wlb (citadel) or slower promo (jump/hrt/2sig). But regarding slower promo i heard it’s only an issue when you reach senior.

    As long as it’s not some small/niche hft you will be perfectly fine transitioning into tech if you realise its not for you.

    If for whatever reason comp is similar i would just go to one which promises a more interesting team.
    Dec 25, 2021 3
    • Uber
      remoddd

      Go to company page Uber

      remoddd
      Fb grad is a bit higher. I know return offers if you include signing is ~200k, without signon no way unless maybe Jane Street or maybe Citadels way of getting more bodies to sacrifice.
      Dec 25, 2021
    • Amazon
      VMTk66

      Go to company page Amazon

      VMTk66
      I've heard ~200k swe offers too, although slightly above 150k is more common
      Dec 26, 2021
  • What do you want to do technically? You will have more horizontal flexibility in a FAANG. HFT is a pretty narrow field... A one trick pony of sorts (speed). Most of the dough is going to the quants and those that write the low level execution code.

    There are other things to do, and you'll likey get paid well but there won't be limitless possibilities.

    Stress levels in HFT are something to consider. A company can bankrupt itself in seconds. If that is not on your mind with every piece of code you write you're in the wrong field. The latest to do that was Ronin, and it was a mature company. (Not technical error though, strangely).
    Dec 25, 2021 2
    • Haven't seen anyone else mention Ronin here, yeah they're a recent casualty. The stress exists for more than just the engs writing latency sensitive code, the firm's success determines the employment status of the guy who figures out PNL or the guy who picks package versions...
      Dec 25, 2021
    • That stress is there as well as it's very much a feast or famine business. Was just referring to something somewhat unique in the engineering world. I mean a GUI can go nuts and blow the place out.
      Dec 25, 2021
  • New
    mises100

    New

    mises100
    Hft pays 2-3x the new grad compensation compared to faang in Europe. You can always go back to faang but it's harder to do it the other way around.

    I had the same decision and went with hft. It's pretty easy to make that decision if you have offers from both.
    Dec 25, 2021 0