When looking to land a job at a hedge fund, the first thing you need to ask yourself is am I ready for the intense

environment that working at a hedge fund provides? If the answer is yes, then it’s time to get started.

But beware: landing a job at a hedge fund can be just as intense as

working there.

To land a job at a hedge fund, it starts where every career does: networking.

Roy Cohen, a career coach that has written books such as The Wall Street Professional’s Survival Guide, says that you need to have a specific approach when it

comes to networking for hedge funds.

Cohen points out that most executives within the industry have short attention spans and feel

rather uncomfortable when it comes to networking.

There’s no beating around the bush - take a second to make them feel comfortable and then let them know your intentions.

Another interesting point about hedge funds is that they do not hold

“job-seeker” conferences.

The reason is simple: hedge funds are unregulated and keep their business

under wraps.

They don’t broadcast their business.

As a result, it’s necessary to use every contact you have that is within

the business.

After finding which head fund you want to target, make sure that you’re

prepared for the meeting.

Show them that you’ve done your research on the company as well as

other companies.

Hedge funds are investing in other companies - you need to have a suggestion as to why they

should invest somewhere else.

When Cohen was looking for a job as an analyst, he prepared an analysis of a company that he

thought the hedge fund should consider.

This is one way to prove that you’re prepared for the competitive environment

as well as showcasing your stuff.

Throughout the meeting, make sure that you are focusing on clarity and

confidence.

Have very concise answers to why you want to work within the company and how they will benefit as a result of your work.

Also, prepare yourself for off-beat questions; many executives within the industry want to see how quickly you can react and adapt to changing

situations.

In terms of your resumé, you want to be as specific as possible and use

metrics wherever available.

Hedge funds base their investments off of hard facts.

If you had a sales position in the past, note specific accomplishments such as

your sales numbers.

Know how to best describe yourself to someone.

Most interviewers will put the ball in your court, seeing how you can sell

them.

Your interest and your experience are most important when it comes to hedge funds; they show that you can keep up in the fast-paced

environment.

Also, be sure that you know the fund.

What asset are they managing? What sector are they focusing in, and what strategies are they

implementing? These are things that are hard to find out - be prepared to dig deep in research.

If you think that all these preparations are a bit over the top, then you probably

aren’t ready to work at a hedge fund.