4 ms·

(2007) MUCH has changed since then.

keiferski 9mo ago
I came across this guide (dated 2025) a couple years ago and thought it was interesting. Not a quant or even in finance though, so I don’t know how accurate it is: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/da7zfjj2rplwzf2sfiriz/Buy-Side-Quant-Job-Advice.pdf?e=6&ref=thediff.co&rlkey=8abc10koby01w9l84mqfglfeq&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/da7zfjj2rplwzf2sfiriz/Buy-Sid...
- apt-apt-apt-apt 9mo ago
  What's a convenient and safe way to open PDFs safely? Some options seem to be: Upload to google drive (inconvenient), use some open-source tool (LLM suggests DangerZone), use a VM (very inconvenient)
  - nebezb 9mo ago
    I use markitdown[0] religiously. You’ll lose fidelity for anything complex (math equations, images), but it does a great job 95% of the time in my experience. I’m assuming the attack surface is reduced. I invoke it through a docker container. But this might be a misplaced sense of safety. [0] https://github.com/microsoft/markitdown https://github.com/microsoft/markitdown
  - qwertox 9mo ago
    Dropbox is rendering that pdf as html, so using that link should be safer than downloading the pdf.
  - deleted 9mo ago
    [deleted]
  - philipkglass 9mo ago
    Open it with Firefox. The Firefox PDF renderer is implemented in Javascript and sandbox-restricted like any unknown web site.
  - g8oz 9mo ago
    Sumatra PDF if you are on Windows.
  - nickpsecurity 9mo ago
    A one-way link (data diode) transmits it to a box with simplified hardware (eg RISC architecture). The box has a dedicated monitor and keyboard. Once you're finished, you sell the box on Craiglist. Then, buy a new, sealed replacement from Best Buy. Pay per view was an expensive, business model for cable. For PDF's, it's even more expensive. Note: It's more convenient than full, per-app, physical security.
- bormaj 9mo ago
  Gappy is one of the more decorated, public figures in the space. That PDF gives a candid overview of what it's like to interview/work in the industry.
  - mhh__ 9mo ago
    Gappy is very good but occupies a slightly odd role in that he's sort of a jobbing philosopher for hedge funds at this point
    - bormaj 9mo ago
      The exception rather than the norm, yeah but IMO his takes are refreshing/insightful.
r_lee 9mo ago
Should be added to the title.....
altmanaltman 9mo ago
Don't think it's a guide like "Hey here's how YOU can BECOME A QUANT!" bs, more about the stories/history of 25 different quants. So more of a personal story/history doc. I think it's an interesting read if you are a finance nerd
dang 9mo ago
Year added above. Thanks!
KellyCriterion 9mo ago
yeah, nearly 20 years :-D

I came across this guide (dated 2025) a couple years ago and thought it was interesting. Not a quant or even in finance though, so I don’t know how accurate it is: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/da7zfjj2rplwzf2sfiriz/Buy-Side-Quant-Job-Advice.pdf?e=6&ref=thediff.co&rlkey=8abc10koby01w9l84mqfglfeq&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/da7zfjj2rplwzf2sfiriz/Buy-Sid...

apt-apt-apt-apt 9mo ago
What's a convenient and safe way to open PDFs safely? Some options seem to be: Upload to google drive (inconvenient), use some open-source tool (LLM suggests DangerZone), use a VM (very inconvenient)
- nebezb 9mo ago
  I use markitdown[0] religiously. You’ll lose fidelity for anything complex (math equations, images), but it does a great job 95% of the time in my experience. I’m assuming the attack surface is reduced. I invoke it through a docker container. But this might be a misplaced sense of safety. [0] https://github.com/microsoft/markitdown https://github.com/microsoft/markitdown
- qwertox 9mo ago
  Dropbox is rendering that pdf as html, so using that link should be safer than downloading the pdf.
- deleted 9mo ago
  [deleted]
- philipkglass 9mo ago
  Open it with Firefox. The Firefox PDF renderer is implemented in Javascript and sandbox-restricted like any unknown web site.
- g8oz 9mo ago
  Sumatra PDF if you are on Windows.
- nickpsecurity 9mo ago
  A one-way link (data diode) transmits it to a box with simplified hardware (eg RISC architecture). The box has a dedicated monitor and keyboard. Once you're finished, you sell the box on Craiglist. Then, buy a new, sealed replacement from Best Buy. Pay per view was an expensive, business model for cable. For PDF's, it's even more expensive. Note: It's more convenient than full, per-app, physical security.
bormaj 9mo ago
Gappy is one of the more decorated, public figures in the space. That PDF gives a candid overview of what it's like to interview/work in the industry.
- mhh__ 9mo ago
  Gappy is very good but occupies a slightly odd role in that he's sort of a jobbing philosopher for hedge funds at this point
  - bormaj 9mo ago
    The exception rather than the norm, yeah but IMO his takes are refreshing/insightful.

r_lee 9mo ago

Should be added to the title.....

altmanaltman 9mo ago

Don't think it's a guide like "Hey here's how YOU can BECOME A QUANT!" bs, more about the stories/history of 25 different quants. So more of a personal story/history doc. I think it's an interesting read if you are a finance nerd

dang 9mo ago

Year added above. Thanks!

KellyCriterion 9mo ago

yeah, nearly 20 years :-D