D. E. Shaw is a large hedge fund that thinks very highly of itself. Like all hedge funds, it looks to attract the very top talent available. Unlike most, however, D. E. Shaw is interested in candidates from all backgrounds.
This firm is huge. $30+ billion managed globally across many different investment approaches. The common thread in its products is that it looks for areas where technology innovation can build a competitive edge. D. E. Shaw looks to bring in talented people from all walks of life to create a culture of innovation (or so goes the company line). Its Associate program is one way to get a foot in the door.
Associates rotate to a different role every four months. Each rotation will focus on a different aspect of the business, from HR to investing. Of the many perks that come with the position are free lunch, casual dress, and a very competitive salary.
How to apply
Fill out a short online form on the D. E. Shaw Web site here. If you pass an initial screen, a representative from Strategic Growth (a.k.a HR) send you a full application. The application is short, but looks for test scores, awards, and achievements. You have a better chance of getting an interview if you’re a Rhodes scholar or competitive chess player than if you went to Harvard and worked at Bain & Co.
March 16th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I’m interested in finding out more.
March 16th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
I actually got dinged in the second round of interviews for this position a few months ago. I know that the application is skewed towards individual instances of outstanding accomplishments, such as publishing work or winning awards. They pride themselves of creating an eccentric culture of accomplishment.
I have heard, from a friend that works there, that they “reject applicants just to say that they reject a lot of applicants”. I’m sure this was intended to be consolation, but still…
If you pass the first screen, you will need to submit a writing sample. I submitted some corporate blog posts with no success. If I could do it all over, I might pull together something academic (theses?). If you have been published, that might be a good place to start!