How to Succeed in Your APAC Financial Job Search

How to Succeed in Your APAC Financial Job Search

Date: 07 Aug 2025

The Asia-Pacific region has firmly established itself as one of the most attractive destinations for financial professionals. 

With record-breaking hedge fund returns, competitive tax benefits, and some of the world’s most liveable cities, APAC continues to draw top-tier talent from across the globe.

But opportunity comes with competition. For every open role in trading, quant research, or fintech, firms are often receiving hundreds of applications. Standing out requires more than just strong technical skills — it means presenting yourself as the complete package.

In this edition of APAC Trading Insights, Ollie Chapman, Principal Recruiter at Tribus, shares practical steps candidates can take to set themselves apart and secure the best roles in 2025.

What Makes Candidates Stand Out in APAC’s Financial Market?

1. Academic excellence still matters.
Unlike fast-moving sectors such as tech startups, APAC’s financial industry remains conservative. Employers consistently prioritise strong academic backgrounds, particularly in quantitative fields such as mathematics, statistics, computer science, and engineering.

2. Real-world experience is essential.
Trading desks and quant firms need professionals who can hit the ground running. For junior candidates, this means internships, technical projects, and certifications that demonstrate hands-on ability. Have you contributed to open-source quant libraries, built trading models, or automated workflows in Python or C++? Highlighting these achievements makes a difference.

3. Passion is the differentiator.
Hiring managers quickly spot the difference between candidates who are genuinely motivated by the financial markets and those chasing high salaries. Reading industry research, attending trading meetups, or building side projects are all signals that show real commitment.

Building a CV That Gets Noticed

Your CV is often the first impression you make — and in APAC’s competitive financial market, clarity is everything.

Key recommendations from recruiters:

• Keep it concise. Aim for one page if you’re a junior, two pages if you’re experienced.
• Prioritise education. List university, degree, year of graduation, key modules, and awards at the top.
• Highlight achievements, not just responsibilities. Example: “Optimised trade execution system, reducing latency by 15%.”
• Showcase technical skills. Whether Python, C++, KDB, or AWS, list the tools and platforms you’ve mastered.
• Quantify your impact. Metrics such as PnL contribution, throughput improvements, or processing-time reductions resonate strongly.
• Stay consistent. Your CV and LinkedIn profile should tell the same story — discrepancies create doubts.
• Adding side projects or hobbies can also make your profile more memorable, giving interviewers something to connect with beyond work.

Job Boards vs. Hidden Opportunities

Platforms like LinkedIn and eFinancialCareers are a good starting point for exploring opportunities in trading, fintech, and banking across APAC. They provide visibility into active hiring trends and open roles.

But the most competitive jobs, especially in high-frequency trading (HFT) and proprietary trading firms, are rarely advertised. Instead, they’re filled through internal referrals, closed networks, or trusted recruitment partners.

That means job boards should be part of your strategy, not the whole strategy.

The Value of Specialist Recruiters

Working with a recruiter who specialises in APAC’s financial sector gives candidates a real advantage.

Specialist recruiters:

• Share early access to unlisted roles
• Advise on tailoring your CV for specific desks or asset classes
• Prepare you for technical interviews and code tests
• Support salary negotiation to ensure competitive offers
• At Tribus, we partner with hedge funds, prop trading firms, and fintech startups across the region — matching talent to roles that align with both technical strengths and long-term career goals.

How to Approach a Recruiter the Right Way

Financial roles in APAC attract a high volume of applicants, and even strong CVs can be overlooked. The best approach? Introduce yourself directly.

When reaching out, include:

• Technical achievements (“Built real-time monitoring in Python for 10,000+ events per second”)
• Business impact (“Reduced trade processing time by 20%, saving $X”)
• Soft skills (“Mentored junior developers” or “Led team stand-ups”)
• Avoid generic or AI-generated introductions. Hiring managers and recruiters can spot them instantly - and instead of standing out, you risk blending in.

Finding Your Next Role in APAC

The APAC financial market is thriving, but securing the right role requires a clear strategy. From optimising your CV and leveraging job boards to building direct recruiter relationships, preparation is key.

At Tribus, we specialise in connecting top financial talent with leading firms across APAC. Whether you’re an engineer, quant researcher, or team lead, our recruiters can help you find the opportunities that match your skills and ambitions.

If you’re ready to explore your next move, connect with us today.

About the Author

Ollie Chapman is a Principal Recruiter at Tribus, specialising in hiring for trading, hedge funds, and fintech across the Asia-Pacific region. With deep market insight and a strong network across Sydney, Singapore, and Hong Kong, he helps candidates navigate competitive hiring landscapes and secure career-defining roles.