Sitting Trader Style (When You're Not a Trader)
So the layout of my office is "trader-style" although I am not a trader. I only have two computer screens instead of four; a lone Bloomberg terminal now serves the entire floor. Austerity budget or something, they tell us. I don't care, if cutting extraneous costs increases my slice of the ever-so-elusive "compensation pool," it's generally agreeable to me.
However, with increased frequency, I find myself reminiscing back to the days when I had a cubicle. I was maybe two or three months out of college, otherwise known as the halcyon days of 2007. Then my job changed and I found myself in a different building - a building which fostered open communication and introduced "trader-style" seating to those who are not traders. I am a proud introvert, but I live in an extrovert's world. I need alone time to gather my thoughts; the cubicle helped by providing a necessary barrier against "distractions."
Nevertheless, when the "trader-style" get up presented itself I was initially open to the idea, naively figuring it may help me be more social at work. But yeah - a couple of years later, I can say I strongly dislike "trader-style" seating arrangements because it birthed three basic categories of nuisances (to me, anyway):
- #1. The Quintessential Over-Sharer:
No, I don't care that your kids aren't behaving. No, I don't want to hear you argue with your spouse again (at this point - I'm thinking - get a damn divorce, you should have made her sign that pre-nup. After all, you are supposed to be a "risk manager"). And no, I DEFINITELY don't want to hear about your IBS, although you're probably that guy that blows up the bathroom every day. But upon second thought, that's useful fodder for the rumor mill - I now feel oddly validated, something like how the "gang" must feel after unmasking the villain at the end of a Scooby Doo episode.
- #2. The Hoverer / Compulsive E-mail Reader: In my attempt to have some alone time and block out the aforementioned over-sharer, I often listen to headphones while I work. I'm pretty observant, but every now and then I'll look around to see someone who claims they wanted to get my attention, but found my e-mails/what I'm working on far more important to read than actually tap me on the shoulder. I mean, what I do is riveting stuff, but what if I was doing something really important, like updating my resume or reading about the Jets?
- #3. The Megaphone. I AM LOUD. I AM BUSY. I NEED AN OFFICE BECAUSE I HAVE SO MUCH TO DO. DID YOU KNOW WHAT I AM WORKING ON? WELL NOW YOU DO, BECAUSE NOT ONLY AM I TELLING YOU, THE GUY ON THE OTHER END OF THE RECEIVER, BUT I AM (inadvertently) TELLING HALF OF THE FLOOR. LITERALLY. Ugh. Although if you combine #1 and #3 and you do have some interesting stories.
So guys - cubicle or trader style? What's your preferred getup? Clearly, I'm waiting for my corner office…which I'm sure will come a year before I retire or the financial system implodes again.
First post, long time lurker.
Think it all depends on role.
If office doesn't care what you do during work, except produce bottom line.... then trader setup great. But typically you need to be a trader to fit that bill.
I don't mind hearing everyone elses personal problems, I just tune it out.
Is office a stay as late to look good and book the hours or get the work done and get out.
Cubicles have tons of privacy but no communication to pass time. I prefer open setup but then again it is with right firm. With wrong firm cubicle all day.
open setup > cubicles any day so much information can be relayed quicker and you bond with your co workers which is way nicer
Neither. I'll take a regular office every time. Four built-in walls and an honest-to-god door.
At my first firm, we had a cubicle set-up where 4 of us had triangular desks and there was a Quotron on a lazy susan in the middle. Anytime you needed a quote, you had to swing it around and pound on the spacebar to refresh. That place got LOUD.
Great post. I work for a #3 and they NEVER SHUT UP. I'd like to drug them just to get a few minutes of peace to focus and hear my own thoughts.
My office is full of #1s, but most of the chatter is about debauchery and disaster dates (sometimes both at once) so it's typically entertaining...
I hope you're only reading about the jets just so you have something to laugh at.
im trader style..but i have my headphones in almost all day...i dont think i could do a cubicle..it'd be too much of a drastic change..people pretty much know not to bother me unless it really matters, otherwise i'll give em shit for interrupting my listening of the Dierks Bentley greatest hits CD
Best of both worlds bro, cubicles with low walls, no one can see my screen but I can talk to my bros.
I have this set up as well... pretty tight
Molestias possimus earum ipsam incidunt molestiae repellat corporis maxime. Quod sunt sit ducimus ipsum nisi dolores. Minus explicabo est ex vel.
Autem aut perferendis sunt ea animi eum quas. Ut in exercitationem adipisci quis repellat. Atque ea pariatur officia dolore eum. Quam deserunt repellat accusamus modi inventore corporis. Assumenda aliquid dolor laboriosam nemo. Reprehenderit repudiandae rem asperiores qui molestiae autem. Voluptatem aut aut quisquam repellendus molestias perferendis sed.
Dolor nulla aut enim. Velit non optio velit. Quidem sed quis non. Distinctio neque quisquam dolor et. Debitis mollitia odit omnis minima similique magnam autem reiciendis.
Optio ut optio quis ut. Temporibus ut modi delectus similique laborum explicabo enim quos. Et qui sunt ut sed id. Quisquam atque quibusdam qui incidunt hic et. Dolore repellat est incidunt odio eum deserunt corporis. Aspernatur dolores nobis qui sit nulla. Iste ipsa quo dicta aut.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...