Can't bring myself to leave my job.

[ajau]

Quote from andread:

In two years you should be able to go back, but I would set a first milestone at one year. You still have the time to see if you are profitable, I guess. And you have more chances to get a good job in the worst case.
The interviewer can simply prefer someone who didn't stop for two years. That also depends, of course, on the market condition.

If you must lie, tell them you were on sabbatical or you were backpacking thru Asia or something.

OTOH, whats the deal with the harda$$, unforgiving employers who look down upon anyone who steps out of the "career track" even for a moment? Jealousy?

 

[JimmyJam]

Quote from rimshaker:

Ok here's my final plan:

Set aside enough cash to pay for rent/bills/car for the next 2 years so I'm not pressured just to live a normal life. No debts, no CC balances, 800+ credit score, six-figure trading account. Only expense I'd have to worry about is whatever I put on my credit cards.

Worst-case scenario is I realize I'm not making any progress for 2 years as when I had my old job, then I fall back on my EE degree. Interviewer asks why I irresponsibly quit my previous job, I'll say life is about risks... I saw an opportunity, analyzed my situation, evaluated my options from different angles, took a calculated risk, accepted the consequences, and then moved forward with an entrepreneurial spirit. How can the interviewer say no, we're not interested in someone who thinks like you??

Don't even worry about returning to work.

You've got the perfect setup for a trader to go independent.

Just maintain your focus and discipline at this point, STAY POSITIVE ... and the rest will come.

Best,

Jimmy

 

[dchang0]

Quote from rimshaker:

... moved forward with an entrepreneurial spirit. How can the interviewer say no, we're not interested in someone who thinks like you??

You'd be surprised. Only entrepreneurial companies would value your entrepreneurial spirit. I found out the hard way that bureaucratic companies aggressively persecute entrepreurial-minded employees within their ranks.

The best advice for job-hunters is to find a company whose values and organizational culture matches yours. Since most traders are entrepreneurial types, it's likely that they would hate giant megacorps and would prefer smaller, fast-moving entrepreneurial shops. Hell, most of us probably turned to trading BECAUSE of the bureaucratic companies we hate working for.

 

[andread]

Quote from ajau:


OTOH, whats the deal with the harda$$, unforgiving employers who look down upon anyone who steps out of the "career track" even for a moment? Jealousy?

Check danoXP's posting. He is right. Even in the European market, where I am. And I might add one more reason: after two years are you still good at your job? The longer you stay out, the less your experience counts. I would stil consider 2 years fairly safe, though
Managers are simply scared, and they tend usuallly to play safe. They also tend to avoid people who talk too much (even if this is something that I believe many very bright people do), and people who change too often.
In a market where they can probably find someone else who is "safer", they will probably choose that one. Is he better? Not important: he just has to be good enough

 

[rimshaker]

Quote from danoXP:

The interviewer probably wouldn't say that, but a many of my clients would will fear that:

1) The candidate is not passionate about what they were trained to do (BSEE).

2) The candidate may leave his new employer high and dry like the last one as soon as they save enough money to begin trading again.

3) The candidate may even spend "work energy" on outside trading interests. The internet/cellphone makes this risk higher today.

Many (BSEE) have done what you are contemplating over the years. I saw the first in 1986.

Your shelf life is probably less than one year trading ... after that you would be considered "damaged goods" in this economic climate (BSEE / North American market).

I made sure to lessen this risk by getting out of college with an MSEE instead. Bachelors degrees are like high school diplomas nowadays. While everyone in 1999-2000 was jumping for joy at getting multiple job offers.... I hunkered down and dove straight into grad schoool instead. A good decision now that I look back.

But even still, in reality, BSEE.. MSEE... doesn't really matter most of the time. BUT what you do get from having a masters is the benefit of the doubt in many situations, and maybe a raised eyebrow or two when you really need it.