u/Iwillhelpyou_

I’m a 2024 B.Tech CSE graduate from a Tier-3 college. I currently have experience as a Quant Developer as well as a DevOps/Software Engineer. I have worked with C++, Python, cloud, CI/CD, and trading-related systems.

I want to build my career further in the quant/HFT/MFT space, particularly as a C++ low-latency developer. My long-term goal is to work at a good HFT/quant firm and eventually reach high-paying roles.

I’m considering doing an Executive M.Tech from IIT, but I’m not sure how valuable it would be for my specific career goal.

My options are:

• Do an Executive M.Tech from IIT while continuing my job
• Prepare for GATE and pursue a regular/full-time M.Tech from an IIT
• Skip M.Tech and focus completely on C++, DSA, OS, networking, concurrency, low-level systems, and low-latency trading, while gaining industry experience

Since I’m from a Tier-3 college, I’m wondering whether an IIT M.Tech would significantly improve my chances of getting into HFT/quant firms, or whether my time would be better spent gaining strong C++/low-latency experience.

For people working in HFT, quant development, low-latency C++, or who have done an IIT M.Tech, what would you recommend?

Is the Executive M.Tech worth it, or should I prepare for GATE and target a regular M.Tech?

I’m a 2024 B.Tech CSE graduate from a Tier-3 college. I currently have experience as a Quant Developer as well as a DevOps/Software Engineer. I have worked with C++, Python, cloud, CI/CD, and trading-related systems.

I want to build my career further in the quant/HFT/MFT space, particularly as a C++ low-latency developer. My long-term goal is to work at a good HFT/quant firm and eventually reach high-paying roles.

I’m considering doing an Executive M.Tech from IIT, but I’m not sure how valuable it would be for my specific career goal.

My options are:

• Do an Executive M.Tech from IIT while continuing my job
• Prepare for GATE and pursue a regular/full-time M.Tech from an IIT
• Skip M.Tech and focus completely on C++, DSA, OS, networking, concurrency, low-level systems, and low-latency trading, while gaining industry experience

Since I’m from a Tier-3 college, I’m wondering whether an IIT M.Tech would significantly improve my chances of getting into HFT/quant firms, or whether my time would be better spent gaining strong C++/low-latency experience.

For people working in HFT, quant development, low-latency C++, or who have done an IIT M.Tech, what would you recommend?

Is the Executive M.Tech worth it, or should I prepare for GATE and target a regular M.Tech?

Hi everyone,

I've recently started preparing for DSA, and instead of studying topic by topic, I'm following a pattern-based approach (for example: two pointers, sliding window, etc.). My goal is to recognize patterns first and then solve problems that fit those patterns.

I have around 2 months to prepare for coding interviews.

I also spoke with a developer at a company where I want to apply. Based on his interview experience, he told me that most of the questions they ask are from:

• Arrays
• Subarrays
• Subsequences
• Sliding Window
• Two Pointers
• Stack
• Queue
• Dynamic Programming

He mentioned that he rarely saw questions from trees or graphs in their interviews.

My questions are:

1. Is learning DSA by patterns instead of topics a good approach?
2. If you had only 2 months, how would you structure your preparation?
3. Should I focus only on the patterns mentioned above, or should I also spend time on trees, graphs, linked lists, and other topics?
4. How many problems should I aim to solve daily to become interview-ready?

For context, I already have programming experience, but I'm new to serious DSA preparation.

I'd really appreciate any advice from people who've recently cracked interviews or conduct them. Thanks!

Current CIBIL: 715

Age: 24

Monthly Income & Employment Status: ₹60,000/month, Full-time Salaried Employee

Monthly Expenses & Spending Patterns:

• Most transactions are done through UPI.
• Regular spending on Instamart and Zomato.
• Monthly PG rent (can't pay directly using a credit card).
• Occasional online shopping and utility payments.

Top 5 Monthly Spend Categories:

1. UPI Merchant Payments
2. Groceries (Instamart)
3. Food Delivery (Zomato)
4. PG Rent
5. Online Shopping

Top 5 Annual Spend Categories:

1. UPI Transactions
2. Groceries
3. Food Delivery
4. Rent
5. Shopping

Current Credit Cards:

• Slice Credit Card – ₹2.12 lakh limit (approved in July)
• Novio FD-backed Credit Card – ₹9,000 limit

Preferences for Credit Card Features:

• High cashback on UPI payments
• Cashback on groceries and food delivery
• Good rewards on everyday spending
• Low or lifetime-free annual fee

Reward Preference: Cashback

Lounge Access Required: No

Other Special Needs:

I'm looking for the best way to maximize cashback on my current spending rather than collecting multiple cards.

Currently, with Slice UPI, spending ₹513 earns 513 Monies, which converts to about ₹5.13 (roughly 1% cashback).

I'd appreciate recommendations on:

• The best UPI app to use with RuPay credit cards (Google Pay, PhonePe, BHIM, Slice, etc.).
• Whether I should continue using Slice or apply for another cashback card.
• The best cards for Instamart, Zomato, and daily UPI transactions.
• Any cost-effective way to pay PG rent using a credit card.
• Tips to maximize cashback while maintaining a healthy CIBIL score.

Looking forward to your suggestions!

Current CIBIL: 722 (as shown in the CRED app)
Age: 24
Monthly Income & Employment Status: ₹60,000/month, Salaried (currently working in Gujarat)
Monthly Expenses & Spending Pattern: My monthly expenses are relatively low. I mainly spend on PG rent, groceries, and occasional outings. I don't have any major expenses or EMIs.
Top Spending Categories: PG Rent, Groceries, Dining/Outings, Online Shopping, Utility Bills
Preferences for Credit Card Features: I mainly want to build and maintain a strong CIBIL score. Cashback is a bonus.
Reward Preference: Cashback
Lounge Access Required: No
Other Special Needs: I have two credit cards:

• Slice Credit Card with a limit of ₹2.12 lakh
• FD-backed Credit Card with a limit of ₹9,000

I don't spend much every month, so I'm confused about the ideal credit utilization ratio. Is keeping my utilization around 10% enough to improve my CIBIL score, or should I use more or less? Also, should I use both credit cards regularly or just one? I'm looking for the best long-term strategy to increase my CIBIL score while avoiding unnecessary spending.

https://preview.redd.it/cck6cqtbdieh1.png?width=1487&format=png&auto=webp&s=c65e06f4bb3f8251d18d7d9afed6dc77c50d683a

Should I buy it now, or wait for the Independence Day sale? Also, can anyone suggest a good protective case for it?

Hey everyone,

I'm new here. I'm currently working as a developer at a small firm. My company doesn't provide PF, salary slips, or a salary account. My salary is simply transferred to my savings account without any deductions.

I have a question: if I switch to another company in the future, how will they verify my current salary? Since I don't have salary slips or PF records, what documents should I ask my current employer to provide before I leave?

For context, my salary is credited to my personal savings account, and I mainly use that account for salary transactions.

Hey everyone,

I’m planning to buy my first IEM with mic, mainly for:

Music 🎧

Movies 🎬

Casual use

Maybe some gaming in the future

My priority is value for money, good sound quality, and decent mic performance.

My total budget is around ₹2500–₹3000, and I’m also planning to get a DAC dongle for better output.

So I wanted to ask:

Is this combo good for a beginner IEM user?

Are there better value-for-money options under ₹3000 (IEM + DAC)?

Should I prioritize a better IEM or a better DAC in this budget?

Any suggestions for a good budget DAC dongle?

I’m open to suggestions 🙏