Junior Qualitative Analyst // 60K // Hedge Fund // NYC

Story: I didn’t do my research, didn’t have a finance background and had no idea what I was getting myself into. During my interview, I didn’t know what a market rate salary for a Junior Quantitative Analyst was for a boutique hedge fund. I was making $53k as a beauty buyer so I figured if I can make $60k, I’ll be happy because that $7K more than what I was making at the time and I assumed there would be opportunities for bonus. So I said my minimum salary requirement was $60k and he said there is no negotiation. I thought there was potential to make a bonus but didn’t speak up. It took me a year to realize that my peers were making double my salary. I left a 9-5 job for a small increase in salary which included an atmosphere that felt like a men’s locker room experience + insane working hours and a constant undervalued feeling. I just left the company.