Get involved in as many financial-related activities as you can while in high school and college. Join investment clubs and follow the stock market closely. Many clubs compete in regional or national investment competitions, which will give you a good opportunity to test your skills against others and make networking contacts. Some colleges provide students with the opportunity to run an actual hedge fund or investment fund. These funds are managed by students with the help of a faculty advisors. Schools that offer these types of opportunities include the University of Missouri (Mizzou Investment Fund), University of California-Berkeley (Berkeley Investment Group), and Pennsylvania State University (Nittany Lion Fund).
Check out the following resources to learn more about hedge funds:
- What is a Hedge Fund?: ttps://www.thebalance.com/what-is-a-hedge-fund-357524
- Investing in Opportunity: https://investinginopportunity.org
- The Latham & Watkins Glossary of Hedge Fund Slang and Terminology: https://www.lw.com/admin/upload/Documents/BoJ_Hedge_Funds-locked-March-2015.pdf
- Hedge Funds: https://www.preqin.com/academy/industry-definitions/hedge-funds-definitions
- What Are Hedge Funds?: https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/investing-basics/investment-products/private-investment-funds/hedge-funds
Participate in information interviews with hedge fund managers. In such an interview—which can be conducted in-person, on the phone, or through video-conferencing technology—you will get the opportunity to ask managers about their job duties, work environment, likes and dislikes about their careers, educational training, and other topics that will help you to learn more about the field. Ask your school counselor or business teacher to help you set up information interviews.