For their great upside and the opportunity to be truly innovative in investment strategy, hedge funds represent the pinnacle of employment for many finance professionals. For many jobseekers, however, the industry is a mysterious one, as employers are relatively small and do not have structured hiring programs like investment banks or mutual funds. This Vault guide takes an inside look at employers and career paths in the industry.

The;Vault Guides to Jobs;series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for a career and getting your foot in the door.

Landing a job at a hedge fund can be a challenge. With billions.

From the Vault Career Library covering the basics of financial statements, fit portion of interviews and equity and debt valuation techniques in a step-by-step process.

Provides information on investment banking, covering the basics of financial markets, interviews, career paths, and job responsibilities.

Professional career guide from the Vault Career Library covering bond fundamentals, statistics, derivatives (with detailed Black-Scholes calculations, fixed income securities, equity markets, currency and commodity markets, risk management.

Careers at private equity firms (which raise funds to invest in private companies) are considered plum jobs in the finance world because of the intellectual challenge and potentially huge financial payoffs. Although private equity is a relatively young business, now there are more than 2,700 such companies worldwide. In this new Guide, Vault guide brings the scoop on the industry.