Preparing for Summer Internship
I'll be interning at a pretty well-known (>10B AUM) hedge fund over the summer on a macro team and was wondering what I should do to prepare. Would be grateful for any resources as most of the material I've come across doesn't seem very helpful for what I would do on the job. Any general advice would also be appreciated. For reference I'm a rising senior at a semitarget/target studying math and physics.
To prepare for your summer internship at a well-known hedge fund, especially on a macro team, it's crucial to focus on several key areas:
Understanding Macroeconomics and Financial Markets: Given your background in math and physics, you already have strong analytical skills. Enhance these by deepening your understanding of macroeconomic indicators, global economic policies, and their impact on financial markets. Resources like the Wall Street Oasis forums, particularly discussions on macroeconomic trends and their effects on different asset classes, can be insightful.
Technical Skills: Continue to refine your financial modeling skills. Although you mentioned that most material you've come across hasn't been very helpful, consider the Financial Modeling & Valuation 2-Day Bootcamp offered by WSO, which could provide more targeted and practical insights into the types of models used in macro investing.
Reading and Research: Since you're on a macro team, reading widely about global economic conditions, policy changes, and market reactions is beneficial. Books like "Currency Wars" by James Rickards or "The Alchemists: Three Central Bankers and a World on Fire" by Neil Irwin can provide context and depth to your understanding of global markets.
Networking and Mentorship: Utilize the WSO forums to connect with current and former interns, as well as professionals in the macro hedge fund space. Gaining insights from their experiences can provide practical advice and potentially mentorship.
Practical Experience: If possible, try to simulate or participate in trading games or investment simulations. These can provide hands-on experience with decision-making under uncertainty, a crucial skill for anyone working in a macro-focused role.
By focusing on these areas, you'll be better prepared to contribute effectively during your internship and gain a deeper understanding of the macroeconomic factors that influence hedge fund strategies.
Sources: How to prepare for HF summer internship?, Best way to Prep to be good HF intern., https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/job-search/help-me-formulate-a-career-plan?customgpt=1, How to be a good HF intern, How to prepare for summer ASSOCIATE internship
What do you expect to do "on the job" as an intern? I doubt you have been given a lot of specifics?
At that level, I'd think it's more than enough to be generally aware of what's going on macro wise.. where is the Fed in the rate cycle, where are we trending inflation wise etc.. so, try to skim the WSJ for these topics every day and that should be enough.
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