Hi,
Disclaimer: I mainly made this post to vent.
I am currently working at in a FO trading role at a BB bank. Our team focuses heavily on technology and using code to optimize both trading decisions and order flow for clients.
I just started the role straight out of school and I feel extremely under valued and that no one cares about me. My team is very resistant to change and gets very defensive at any criticism i give. I give constant input regarding how we can better improve the existing code base but people get very defensive and refuse to change their work. Since I began, I have contributed towards numerous individual projects out of my own initiative (because no one gives me any real work) but again people have mainly turned a bind eye.
I come from a quantitative background doing internships in portfolio theory and factor based optimizations. I always wanted to work on the trading floor so I gave job a shot and recently ive been feeling very discuraged and as if i am learning nothing in my new role.
Any career advice or input?
Dude wait like 6 months before you start really trying to contribute. The problem right now is that you don't know what you don't know. Take every opportunity you can right now to learn from those above you. Once you have some experience you will look back and probably think your ideas were not the best right now as well. People probably like that you are taking the initiative, but there is a lot more you should be focusing on than trying to change the entire desk right off the bat.
Have some patience man. It sounds to me like you just want somebody to tell you good job. It is not like school where you have an exam or get a grade. This is the new norm - you just need to adapt and roll with whatever responsibility comes your way. Eventually there will be something for you to do, or somebody will leave. You got the job because they want you there. Make sure you have enough goodwill and credibility that when your name is called you can step up and rock that shit. Then people will listen.