The State of The QUANTster

The Job Board For Financial Engineers

On May 1, QUANTster will have been in business for a year, so I had a long-delayed catch-up with the QUANTster himself, Jim Varriale.

We've only spoken a few times but Jim seems to be a very frank, nice guy and I really enjoy our conversations.

CH: Hey, Jim, how are ya?
Jim: How am I? I sent you an email two months ago.
CH: I was busy. Sorry.
Jim: A quick phone call would have taken too much time?
CH: What are ya, my mother?
Jim: Didn't you scold a guy yesterday for not getting back to you?
CH: That was different.
Jim: Of course, it was. You were on the other side.

I told you he was frank, didn't I?

For those who don't know, QUANTster is a specialty job board focused on Quantitative Finance. It's for Quant Analysts, Traders, Financial Engineers, Risk Managers. Guys like that.

(I think of Financial Engineers as PhD's who take their arithmetical skills into the world of finance instead of the defence industry).

So, How Goes It With QUANTster?

After one year in business, QUANTster has 20,000 visitors a month and, says Jimmy, an impressive list of clients. They include both employers and recruiting firms and many are repeats (which is a very good sign).

And, QUANTster now has a North American focus. There are a lot of financial engineeers in London but, like Don Corleone Amerigo Vespucci, Jim is happy to claim the New World for Varriale and leave the old one behind.

The QUANTster Talent Pool

Now, all of my readers, must know that talent-pooling is hot, hot, hot. And, Varriale has a talent pool of over 400 propeller-heads who subscribe to his site.

So, his current project is The QUANTster Monthly. It's an e-newletter that will allow employers to reach them.

Through QUANTster, a firm like Citibank can let these guys know what they are looking for, job-wise, and tell them a lot about their quantitative culture, as well.

And, these quantsters, eh, they're working twelve-hour days worrying about how many millions they're going to make or lose for their firms (seriously), so having this little package delivered to their doors might be as welcome as those dating services for millionaires who don't have time to go looking for their own girls (or guys).

Good luck, Jimmy, in Year number two. (You seem to have caught a wave).

The Canadian Headhunter

Comments

[Maureen Sharib]

Those "quants" can be a real challenge!