MS in Math student (non-target) with no internship (want to be a trader)
Graduate in December, never had a real internship, really good grad GPA, good undergrad GPA. I've been trading at an arcade since 2012. I was hoping to get an internship in trading somewhere, but it just hasn't happened. I'm interested in all kinds of trading, including physical commodities. I'm going to apply for FT positions in the fall, but I'm not optimistic based on my lack of real world experience, never in my life holding a real job. I'm thinking maybe I should try to learn R and C++ to get some programming skills or maybe I'll just give up on life and maybe I'll be lucky enough to land a job flipping burgers and fries at McDonald's, not sure yet, but the latter sounds less stressful. The constant rejections/lack of responses after getting excited about a job and taking the time to customize everything for that job has taken a toll on my mental health. Any advice will be helpful. Thank you.
It's tough out there.
As the resident forum quant, I have to observe that given your math and markets background, you'd be a prime candidate for an MFE and becoming a quant or a risk manager. Have you considered that?
Although I like both math and the markets I find programming kind of boring to be honest. If I were to become a good programmer and get a MFE I would want to go into algo-trading. Risk management doesn't appeal to me very much. In fact trading is the only part of finance I care about at all. I want to learn under successful traders and eventually use my knowledge to develop my own trading strategies. If I can't get anything FT for 2015 I think my plan will be to apply for internships and a MSF, MFE, or MS in Statistics at a top school for 2015. I think a MS in Statistics would help me with a backup career of something sports related (in game sports statistics, sports betting). Maybe then I'll pursue a PhD if I can't get anything after that, applying every year for the next 4 years. I want to save my money and get a job for 2015 though.
I find programming boring, too. I find excel spreadsheets even more boring (CC most entry level trading jobs). But it's all up from there.
CS is the most boring undergrad degree, but it offers the most interesting entry level jobs. As in, the jobs are no more boring than the degree. Finance is an interesting undergrad, but it's a very boring entry level job.
Look, you either want a job or you don't. Being a quant leverages your math major, and makes it a lot easier for you to compete on the job market. "Beggars can't be choosers"
You don't have to get an MFE but consider recruiting for a quant job. "It's your first job, not your last."
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