SWE Accelerator Podcast #11: How This 24-Year-Old Made $900K+ in Quant (After Meta Layoff)
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Oct 9, 2025 Helen, a 24-year-old quant, shares her journey of making over $900K after a dramatic layoff from Meta. Discover how her viral TikTok exposed Meta's rescinded intern offers and the HR fallout that followed. She discusses her transition to trading firms, the high-stakes world of quant jobs, and her strategies for landing interviews. Helen also reveals the perks of her Meta internship, the realities of burnout in quant roles, and her aspiration to create a movie recommendation app. A must-listen for anyone eyeing a career in tech!
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How A TikTok Exposed Meta's Intern Cuts
- Helen posted a TikTok exposing Meta's internal decision to deny return offers after hearing rumors during her internship.
- That video went viral, attracted reporters and contributed to wider coverage of the 2022 intern rescinds wave.
Mass Hiring Then Market Shock Explains Rescinds
- Mass hiring during COVID followed by market shifts forced firms like Meta to halt intern conversions rather than lay off full-time staff.
- Companies often delay bad news to protect project output and retain short-term productivity from paid interns.
HR Called After The Viral Video
- Meta HR contacted Helen after her TikTok and hinted she violated an internal confidentiality expectation despite no signed NDA.
- Helen kept the videos up and believes the HR pushback confirmed the story's truth publicly.