How This 24-Year-Old Made $900K+ in Quant (After Meta Layoff)

About this video

• Video Title: How This 24-Year-Old Made $900K+ in Quant (After Meta Layoff)
• Channel: Aman Manazir
• Speakers: Aman, Helen
• Duration: 1:32:25

Overview

This video features a conversation between Aman and Helen, a 24-year-old who achieved significant financial success in the quantitative finance (quant) field after facing a layoff from Meta. They discuss Helen's journey, including her experiences with Meta's hiring practices, the realities of quant culture, and the strategies for breaking into the competitive tech and quant job markets. The video also touches on the transformation of the tech market, the impact of AI on software engineering, and advice for aspiring professionals at different career stages.

Key takeaways

• Meta's Internship Practices: Helen shares her experience as a Meta intern during a time when the company drastically reduced return offers, leading to widespread uncertainty among interns. She discusses how her TikTok post about this situation gained traction and was even cited in a New York Times article.
• The Quant Industry: The discussion delves into what quantitative finance entails, differentiating between market makers and hedge funds. It highlights the high compensation in quant roles, primarily paid in cash, and the competitive nature of the industry.
• Job Market Dynamics: The video contrasts the tech job market of 2020 with the more challenging market of 2025, suggesting a return to pre-pandemic levels of difficulty rather than a permanent downturn.
• Career Transitions and Advice: Helen details her decision to leave a high-paying quant job for a startup, driven by a desire for more tangible product development. The conversation also provides specific advice for landing internships and full-time roles, focusing on resume optimization, networking, interview preparation, and understanding company incentives.
• AI's Impact on Software Engineering: The speakers discuss how AI tools are changing the role of software engineers, potentially automating junior-level tasks and increasing expectations for design and strategic thinking.