How to learn about different desks, products?
Hi everyone,
I will starting my S T internship at a BB this upcoming June and I would love ti if you guys could tell me how I could prepare for this, in terms of how to advance my knowledge, etc..
I would also love to know how to learn about different desks. COuld anyone tell me in detail what some in structuring would do on a daily basis? I heard only math geniuses would dare going into that desks?
For the trading desks: there are cash, derivates and ETFs
There are also the distribution desks ( sales) and management (risk management, strategy), which I am not very interested in since i heard the latter is like MO/BO work? could anyone elaborate in this. Moreover, what does someone in the prime brokerage desk does? Is it just operations work for hedge funds?
I know that that's alot of questions but I know that choosing the right desks is very critical. Does anyone have any advice to know which desk is suitable for you.
Thanks,





So I assume you're only
So I assume you're only looking at Equities?
The answer to your main question is simple: the best way to learn about these desks is to go visit. Email one of your contacts at the banks (preferably an alum), tell them you want to check out some desks, and hopefully they should be able to set you up for a day of desk visits. The most important thing for any desk is the people, not the product. This is good advice for your case, because it seems from the way you listed basically every desk in equities that you have no idea what you want to do.
Also: no, you don't have to be a math genius by any standard to do structuring, though you should be comfortable with quick, basic math for S&T in general. Prime brokerage handles stock lending and other services for institutional clients. But seriously - Wikipedia that shit.
Hi, Thanks for your reply. I
Hi,
Thanks for your reply. I did wikipedia, and read alot on everything. Trust me, I had to have certain kind of knowledge to land that offer ( months of reading researching and networking). However, choosing a desk is a totally different story since I never trade before. right now at the moment I am interested in derivatives trading, but how can i know that the desk is suitable for me?
I lived far away frm NYC so it might be possible for me to go and have a tour before the internship starts. I am reaching out and talking to many people at the firm to get a sense of what they are like. I hope that this is enough?
So for you traders out there, why did you choose your product? How did your interest spark start? Are there any good books you recommend to know more about your products?
THanks