Too old to get a trader job ?
- Thread starter skanan
- Start date
I'm also a software engineer.
Did you go for prop-trading or start with trading desk ?
Did you go for prop-trading or start with trading desk ?
Quote from RedManPlus:
35 is young.
You may have 30-40 productive years left.
An engineering background is perfect.
I switched from software engineer to trader at age 34.
That was about 300,000 trades ago.
Go for it. And never look back.
rm+
Quote from RedManPlus:
This is really funny...
And embodies the attitute that will get you exactly no where:
"I'll get someone else to put up the money and take all the risk... then I will reep the rewards".
Yes it's funny but
what's different between this and someone fresh out of college start out at trade desk ?
I don't mean to have bad attitude and try to spend other people money. My philosophy is to think of the risk first.
No risk, no reward. We take risks most everyday of our lives ... crossing the street, driving, etc. But when it comes to money a lot of people get gunshy as it's a natural fear to not want to lose money that we've worked for (in the past) and saved. But if you were starting any other type business you'd need capital up front to get up and running. And the same holds true if your desire would be to be your own boss and trade for yourself. You'll go through anxiety, fear and a lot of other emotions if you pursue trading. But if you decide to go it yourself come up with a business plan first, think out worst case scenarios (if you blow out the account what would you then do) and set realistic goals as far as expected income. It can be done .. I was in engineering in the corporate world. At the end of April I'll be celebrating 10 years as an independent trader. The fear and anxiety will dissipate over time as you achieve goals and realize some success. Success most likely won't come overnight and you'll have lots of ups and downs but it can be done.
Having worked at a trading desk as a "hacker" yes that was the title they gave me at BoA and Robertson Sevens (ex-BoB trading firm) I can tell you this. Getting a job as a contractor might be easy but full time is hard. I am not sure what the current market is in cities like Chicago, NYC or SF for contractors but they like prior experience. I also worked at Schwab and Morgan Stanley DW during the dot con boom so they liked that on my resume. Getting the first job is the BITCH!
And>
What kind of a job do you want? A prop trader is by no stretch of any imagination a real job! So you want to get a real job on a trading desk somewhere?
That is funny shit Bro-
You rip on prop traders and claim that is not a real job......than in your next post you state that you need to work in a Casino for a pay check.
I have never traded firm capital nor worked on a desk and started as a prop trader 7 years ago and cut my teeth with some very good traders from the floor and than worked on the method and plan over the last 5 years...so it is a start for most and is one way to go.
By the way, I do pay for my own Insurance out of my trade account and have some shillings left over to take the family once a quarter to the movies.........but barely so we go to the matinee
What kind of a job do you want? A prop trader is by no stretch of any imagination a real job! So you want to get a real job on a trading desk somewhere?
That is funny shit Bro-
You rip on prop traders and claim that is not a real job......than in your next post you state that you need to work in a Casino for a pay check.
I have never traded firm capital nor worked on a desk and started as a prop trader 7 years ago and cut my teeth with some very good traders from the floor and than worked on the method and plan over the last 5 years...so it is a start for most and is one way to go.
By the way, I do pay for my own Insurance out of my trade account and have some shillings left over to take the family once a quarter to the movies.........but barely so we go to the matinee
if you want to take trading seriously- you can start at any age