A: This is an increasingly common response heard from hiring managers as the balance of power shifts from seller to buyer given the current environment. Hedge funds are saturated with qualified candidates. As a result, hiring managers want the best of both worlds – someone who not only has the skills required for the job, but also someone on a steep trajectory and for whom this job will represent a ‘step up’ in their career. As a candidate, you should focus on both your skills and what you can bring to the company now. We suggest doing serious homework on the hiring firm – try and find out more about either their investment style, current skills/expertise gaps, or major business initiatives. Then tie your experience / abilities to those types of initiatives. When in an interview, place relatively more emphasis on how your experience ties to their goals, and be cognizant of the potential downside of overemphasizing the extensive length and depth of your experience.