In this insightful episode, I sit down with Edson Bope, a master’s student from Zimbabwe studying Financial Engineering in Pennsylvania, who shares his journey navigating the competitive U.S. job market in search of quantitative finance roles.

Edson opens up about the unique challenges international students face, from visa constraints to cultural differences in networking. He talks about his experience attending quant conferences, participating in hackathons, and leveraging LinkedIn cold outreach to build real connections with professionals at hedge funds, banks, and prop trading firms.

We dive into:

• 💬 How to turn an informational interview into a genuine relationship

• 📊 The importance of technical prep, including case studies, coding tests, and probability brainteasers

• 💼 Why many firms prefer candidates who can “hit the ground running” and how international students can bridge that expectation gap

Edson also reflects on the mental resilience required during long job hunts and shares tips that worked: from making a networking spreadsheet to sending value-driven follow-ups.

Whether you’re an international student or just someone looking to break into quant, this episode is packed with practical advice, real-life stories, and a reminder that persistence pays off—even across borders.