Deserpate to find a trader job...help?

You can also turn to one of the big banks (HSBC, UBS..etc), the tier 1 dealerships and perhaps land yourself a junior dealer job.
 
Quote from cstfx:

trading positions at REAL cuurency shops are hard to come by unless you have someone who can help you get your foot in the door. That being said, many firms DO have training programs that solicit recent college grads as opposed to experienced traders as they don't want to hire those who already have an opinion and such. A newbie is so much easier to break and think like the rest of the pool.

Suggestions:

(a) get the addresses of the major firms. If you want fx, look at major banks too. Inquire about their training programs. Play up your academic credentials (believe it or not, grammar is important and bad use of such will get your resume trashed).

(b) Even tho you have graduated, try to get an unpaid internship as a means to get in.

(c) Go to grad school

(d) save or borrow 5k and become one of the ubiquitous equity prop traders that this forum is geared toward (did you really think Goldman and Fimat traders come here to share their secrets?)

(e) find out where the hiring managers hang out after work and buy them a drink. Sleep with them. Can't hurt.


Seriously, tho, most firms are not hiring now. If you have picked up a newspaper other than the Onion, you would have noticed that WS firms are cutting back, not expanding, and there are considerably more experienced people out there than you who are also competing for the same job(s) you want (yes, contradicts what I said earlier, but a competition none the less). Unless you have something unique to offer, see c or d above.
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Sleep with them????
Even if they are guys????
Hmmmmmmmm...

:D
 
You need to figure out what you are looking for. If you go the big bank route you will eventually need to use your Ivy degree and get an Ivy MBA. If you are looking for a bankroll, hang out around the floor or pit and try to clerk for a while until someone gives you a chance. It sucks but may get you a way in.

There are shops who take "green" guys who are smart and can be taught trading skills.

Your only other option in my opinion is to throw down some of your own cash and develope a positve P&L track record.

Just let me know when you do and in what market.:D
 
hi guys,

i'm in a very similar position as the op. however i have been trading my own account with real money. i touch a lot of markets though. options, futures, vanilla equities, and forex. i'm trying to learn a bit of everything.

my strategy is more global macro, but i'm trying to learn to trade technicals.

any help with getting into a good shop?


i'm based in nyc.
 
Quote from hodeez:

oh, for the record, my account is positive.

annualized about 70%, net return of 22%.

started in dec of 2007
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That won't mean much to anyone without knowing your standard deviation.
 
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