Hedge Funds can be an excellent place to start if you can get into the right one. Right now they are generally having a miserable year. Problem with hedge funds is that they are very volatile and investors are fickle so you can be pick of the bunch one year and on the street the next. As an employee most compensation will come from the funds performance. Certainly worthwhile if you get the opportunity, particularly as a grad, but do not count on retiring in 5 years, I have yet to hear of anybody who did that.
As for non-paid position, if you are going to take it, make sure you have more than 6months living expenses available otherwise you will not survive even if the market is good.