What is a desk strategist? Or trading strategist?

nauru — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 05:53:51 -0400

Just wondering what these positions actually entail. From what I can see it looks like the same thing as research, but just wanted to know what others think the following titles mean, and if there's any difference between them.

-commodity strategist
-commodity trading strategist
-options and structuring strategist
-desk strategist

Thanks

How do bonuses actually work?

nauru — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:58:10 -0400

Noob questions:

So I was just wondering, how many times per year does a BB typically pay bonuses?

And also, what proportions of the bonus at mid-bucket analyst level are typically cash, versus stock that can't be sold for x years?

Coming to America

nauru — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:43:33 -0400

So I'm going to NYC for training and just wondering how the ATMs and in-store debit systems work in the US.

1. Are you charged for using an ATM that is not owned by your home bank? If so, how much? I know the atms in nightclubs always rip you off but what about the major banks ATMs?

2. Are you charged for using a debit card to make a purchase in a shop? If so how much?

Which BBs are most/least elitist for FO...

nauru — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:13:23 -0400

Out of curiosity:

With regards to front office positions, when it comes to university name does anyone have an idea of which BBs have the strongest preference for students from top targets?

And which do you think are the most willing to hire from outside the usual group of elite schools?

This is only regarding front office positions.

Career development and planning, for traders

nauru — Wed, 21 May 2008 08:27:21 -0400

What are the most important goals for a new analyst on a trading desk over the course of the first 2-3 years? This is assuming that one wants to keep as many doors open as possible, especially internal advancement (but perhaps hedge funds as well). I'm thinking along the lines of whether to:

- specialise and learn something so well that you become an expert on a particular product or structure as soon as possible; or

- do whatever you need to do to build the best P&L possible, no matter what the product; or

- build a broad base of knowledge across products, structures and industries. Jack of all trades (but master of none) for the first couple of years, then specialise later; or

- take things as they come, and do whatever you enjoy doing and are good at doing (even if it's an area with little long term upside); or

- focus on being ranked above all the other analysts on the desk, regardless of what you are actually doing day to day.

S&T in Canada: CFA vs CSI designations

nauru — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:57:04 -0400

I was just wondering, what is the role of the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) in Canada? Is it an absolute requirement for working in the securities industry in Canada, equivalent to the Series 7 in the US and the FSA exam in the UK? Or is it a Canada-specific designation that teaches you relevant stuff, looks good on your resume, but is not an absolute requirement for working in S&T?

Trading: Gas&Power vs Emissions vs Ags

nauru — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:38:20 -0400

Hi folks,

Say you are a new BB analyst in London given a choice of three trading desks, all of them commodity derivatives.

a) Gas & Power
b) Emissions
c) Agriculture

1. Which would you prefer and why?

Canada! Specifically, Toronto. What's the deal?

nauru — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:44:34 -0400

What is the deal with Canada in terms of IB career, pay, opportunities, etc.

I ask because:

I'm Canadian, starting out as a BB analyst in London. Happy where I am at the moment, but looking down the road a few years and thinking I may want to return to my homeland, be nearer to family, have a higher quality of life, etc.

For those who've applied/attended top-3 b-schools...

nauru — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:18:51 -0400

What do you wish you would have done differently at the start of your career, in order to better optimise your top-3 b-school applications/experiences?

Are there things you found out later that were important, but years ago you hadn't really paid enough attention to? Wish you had gotten more involved in extracurrics, or community involvement outside work?

So what does BB really mean?

nauru — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 07:36:17 -0400

Anyone care to enlighten me on which firms are considered BBs? Which are "top BBs"?