Risk model validation

[Once_Set]

hi,

I'm a fresh PhD, and I'm interviewing for a position in risk model validation, is that a real quant job? They don't validate derivatives pricing models, is this a dead end?

I need a job and dind it difficult to study on my own, having failed many actualt quant interviews.

Would it be a good place to keep learning and keep applying? Or does it hinder my opportunities?

Thanks!

 

[Once_Set]

Update:
I have been made an attractive offer from a Tier 1 investment bank, and the position is essentially model validation,
but they said it's model validation for anything that the bank is doing but not derivatives pricing.

Is this an attractive role? Too far displaced from traditional quant positions, difficult to move away from?
Would I be learning a lot of programming/statistics/maths?

It's a very good salary, and a very good bank, but I don't know much about this kind of job. The interviews
were standard quant interview, with C++, maths, stochastic calculus and option pricing.

thanks for any help!

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Definitely take the job. It would look good on your resume. You will learn some relevant skills.
As you don't have any industry experience, this could be an ideal start for later positions that fit better with your goal.
You will know a lot more about what you want to do once you start working.
Congrats.

 

[Once_Set]

thanks! I think I will take it, I have been looking for a while and it seems like it's definitely a good way in.
I am just worried that I'll be far from the front office, that I probably won't see any derivatives pricing and that
I probably won't program much either.
Although I guess it's definitely better than nothing...

 

[GoalSeeker]

not a bad option. I know someone, who did model validation for 1 year and then moved to a different firm doing more interesting stuff. Just understand the models you validate and dont be a monkey pressing keys.

 

[Once_Set]

Fair enough, just out of curiosity, was this model validation for derivatives pricing models?

 

[CasanovaJ]

You seem to have quite the fixation on derivatives pricing...

 

[Once_Set]

It's just what I have been studying towards, and was hoping to get into. But only this opportunity came up.