From IB to BB trading or prop trading (junior level)

Hey guys!
For the context, I'm French, 24 y.o., top 3 French engineering school and top 3 MSc Finance in the UK!

That being said, Im coming to you as I plan to redirect from IB - where I was doing Project Finance - to trading. I feel like it's the only field of finance where it will be quantitative enough for me and not too repetitive. I chose Project Finance as it's really technical and complex but I already feel like things are gonna be repetitive. I'm young I might as well try something else!

I have a few questions! Some help will be appreciated :) 

1) From what I have seen preparing for interviews, they are gonna differ a lot between prop trading firms (Jane Street, Optiver...)  where it is mostly brainteasers and mental calculation without much financial knowledge and BB (GS, JP...) where it is going to be way more technical with proper finance questions. Am I right?

2) What are the differences in the daily lives of a prop trader vs a BB trader? 

3) How is job security in the field? I understand there is a high turnover in prop trading firms, partly due to layoffs. Should be lower in BB I would guess? For a trader getting fired after ±1 year, is it hard to find a job again? 

4) What are the possible exits from this field? 

5) How will my story be seen by recruiters? I have tried to explain my path and choices in my cover letter and I hope my absence of experience in the field will not prevent me from getting into trading. Do you think I stand any chance?

6) If you guys had any resources to share for interviews, it would be really helpful! I have already done everything on graduatetrader and plays rankyourbrain daily for the mental math/brainteaser aspect. 

Thanks everybody!

TheBerth

2 Comments
 

Job security much lower at prop firms like JS/Citsec etc, you’re taking more proprietary risk earlier on and make way more than a trader at a BB. You’re a larger cog in that sense so have more room to fuck up.

 

Dolorem est et incidunt cumque. Quibusdam sint consequatur provident et.

Non ut quia doloribus. Iure deserunt quos delectus libero rerum facilis nam. Maxime numquam voluptatem sint tempore et. Laboriosam qui rerum aspernatur officia reprehenderit quo assumenda maxime. Voluptas dolore eaque ut voluptas facere aut et ullam. Aspernatur enim quis et laborum porro.

Praesentium dolores delectus in veritatis et labore. Ratione harum itaque minima non. Libero libero repellendus facilis veniam quia et earum. Aliquid sit expedita in et.

Saepe cumque impedit aut. Fuga delectus vero qui totam iure. Nobis officiis non doloribus quaerat dignissimos harum. Accusantium placeat voluptatum est atque sed vero natus. Excepturi qui commodi ut aut ea distinctio et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (47) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (24) $180
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (82) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”