But if you want to be a quant polishing fixed income risk management models in some bank,
What kind of social skills does that require? My impression is that this is the modern equivalent of court astrologer and requires some similar skills, i.e., cold reading.
What kind of social skills does that require?
Not much -- the usual ones for holding a corporate job (wear business casual, look neat, don't smell, don't be a weirdo). Quants are expected to be nerdy/geeky.
My impression is that this is the modern equivalent of court astrologer
Not at all. Finance has the advantage of providing rapid and unambiguous feedback for your actions.
If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post (even in Discussion), then it goes here.