what's a disaffected megalomaniac to do
I've been working at a small (but successful) prop trading firm for about 3 years now, and am at a point where I'm looking back on my career, and realizing if I worked for google out of college my stock options would have been worth more than my entire cumulative comp at this supposedly higher risk/reward job. it's becoming increasingly clear that this isn't the type of place where one can make millions, and quite frankly I feel a bit frustrated.
is wanted to make the big bucks I always hear about like moving to hollywood to become a movie star, or can hard work and skill actually be rewarded like that? I don't want to sound hyperambitious and greedy (probably too late), but I want to make sure my picture of this business is hanging straight. I'd love to do quant/research based macro stuff at a top hedge fund, but I don't know how to assess whether/when to try and make the leap (not to mention how to even get the job).
do you other trader types ever feel this way, or do I just need to lighten up?
"realizing if I worked for google out of college my stock options would have been worth more than my entire cumulative comp at this supposedly higher risk/reward job.
Working for any startup is infinitely more risky than your finance job.
"Working for any startup is infinitely more risky than your finance job."
true, but I wouldn't call google in 2005 a risky career move. omega, I'm not familiar with first new york securities, but I guess I'd advise thinking about opportunities a few years down the line...if I had offers from a big bank (or goolge :P) I think I would have taken that route, but that's because the name/network gives you more flexibility. hard to know in advance what compensation potential is like after a few years, but also take into account the kind of trading you want to do, gotta balance money with job satisfaction. just my 2 cents.
If your firm is really a place where millions cannot be made, the firm must be pretty shitty. Millions can be made at any bank/HF. I am also thinking about working for a prop firm (first new york securities). In retrospect, would you recommend against this (ie going to a bank or fund instead)?
"true, but I wouldn't call google in 2005 a risky career move."
Fair enough. But then again in 2005, you most likely wouldn't have been given enough options to make your comp more valuable than all of your comp from the prop firm.
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