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The career path to trading

  • 24-06-2010 02:17AM
    #1
    Xios
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,073 ✭✭✭


    Hey guys, i'd like some advice on choosing my career path.
    In 10 years, i would like to be trading on the market for a living, either as a broker, advisor or most preferably, a day trader using my own portfolio.
    But i'm only on the first step i believe. I'm currently doing an honours degree in general business, just finished my first year and got 3 left. But then what? Should i apply for positions in the irish stock brokers? I don't know many of them, i've found dolmen and goodbody using google briefly, who else is there?

    I was also considering doing a Masters in Finance, in london business school, do you think it's worth my while. Would it be possible to get into a junior position in a broker with just a leaving cert as qualification (i highly doubt it possible in this work climate, but could be possible)

    Can you tell me how you got into your careers? What skills and qualifications did you get and where you went on to work?


Comments

  • #2
    ixus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,435 ✭✭✭ixus


    There's a nice sticky called Careers where Idu explains his daily routine as a day trader.

    Also a list of trading firms here.

    You'd be limiting your chances with just a leaving cert. Most have a Masters applicants have a Masters of some sorts these days though it's not the be all.

    Take some time to search through old threads.


  • #3
    Xios
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,073 ✭✭✭Xios


    thanks ixus, had a good read through the old posts, but the careers sticky on the forum only has 4 posts in it, about posting on the leaving cert forum, so that's why i set up this thread.


  • #4
    hmmm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,205 ✭✭✭✭hmmm


    Graduate programs are a good entry point. Competition is tough however. With only a leaving cert you're not going to get in in merit, however if your daddy is a big client you never know ;)


  • #5
    Xios
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,073 ✭✭✭Xios


    hmmm wrote: »
    Graduate programs are a good entry point. Competition is tough however. With only a leaving cert you're not going to get in in merit, however if your daddy is a big client you never know ;)

    No chance of daddy helping, i'm from working class family, and my interest in this career is only a recent idea, so i haven't had much time to research many aspects of it, but ya gotta start somewhere, hence the questions.


  • #6
    gulf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 80 ✭✭gulf


    Xios wrote: »
    No chance of daddy helping, i'm from working class family, and my interest in this career is only a recent idea, so i haven't had much time to research many aspects of it, but ya gotta start somewhere, hence the questions.

    What's a "working class family"?


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  • #7
    gulf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 80 ✭✭gulf


    I guess what they're looking for is good lads with a bit of cop-on.

    Degree from a good university is a prerequisite. You'll need some maths/stats too.

    Also, expect to be working 14 hour days. Not for the feint-hearted. You'll also need to be able to have the banter and work well in a team. If you play rugby or similar, you'll be comfortable with the locker-room banter. Good appearance and inter-personal skills are the norm in banking circles.

    You need to be able to show that you can take responsibility at an early age, you don't just faff around waiting for others to make things happen and you can interact with clients in a professional way.

    I know a lad who got a degree from DIT, worked in a Dublin back-office for 4 years and moved to London where he's on the FX desk. Good presentable guy who's not afraid of hard work and has evidence of solid reliable work experience under his belt.


  • #8
    ttmd
    Closed Accounts Posts: 81 ✭✭ttmd


    Xios wrote: »
    I was also considering doing a Masters in Finance, in london business school, do you think it's worth my while.

    Just a quick word on that Masters in Finance in LBS. Its really an MBA level course in some ways ie. not for someone just out of college, they require (high level) experience. It appears to be extremely well regarded and would be a huge boon for anyone's CV, but it does not sound like the right option for you. It also v. expensive!

    I read around the topic because interested in the Finance field, but to be quite honest I am going in a different direction because I feel I have little chance of gaining any sort of foothold with my current degree, but I think even a good masters wouldn't improve my chances.


  • #9
    Xios
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,073 ✭✭✭Xios


    gulf wrote: »
    What's a "working class family"?

    Thanks for the replies, by working class, i mean no one in my immediate family owns land/business or has any real political or financial connections, have a few cousins running small trade based businesses. So i'm starting from scratch in this area.


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