How do i strengthen my resume? (trading)

First of all I want to say happy holidays to everyone and I appreciate all of the good discussion here in the trader's train section. There are some really helpful people here.

I want to be a trader (quantitative/algorithmic) and I would appreciate any advice you all can throw at me.

A little BG info on me:

Turning 25 in may, two years out of school (I feel old). BA in economics from a third tier large state school with a 2.7. I am not incompetent in the classroom, I was just unmotivated/immature. I aced most of my upper-division econ classes including intermediate micro/macro, game theory and econ stats (a very weak stats class).

I spent one year working for the govt in a non-finance position and I spent another year traveling. The only relevant experience I have is a 3 month internship I did for an edward jones advisor back while I was in school. Should I include that with my resume?

Next month I am packing up my bags and moving to nyc where I hope to make enough money (probably working in a restaurant or other menial job) to pay rent and maybe if i'm lucky, enough to pay for college courses. I want to take some extra pre-requisite math and programming classes and eventually apply to MFE programs.

My question is: how can someone with a less-than-desirable academic and work history better his chances at getting into a good MFE program and eventually into a trading position? Should i try and get my CFA designation asap? What kind of internship opportunities should I be looking for? Ideally I'd like a trading internship but that is highly unlikely based on my weak resume. Are there other good internships for future traders or should I just look at whatever I can get just as long as it's in the finance industry?

thanks for reading

4 Comments
 

Have you traded your own money before? The reason why I ask is based on the simple notion that any sort of immediate experience may give you a shot at making it. If some how you can prepare a portfolio and show promising knowledge within the industry, someone may give you an opportunity for an internship.

 

mdeanda, yes I am trading a live account with both successes and failures. certainly not profitable enough to warrant a firm offering me an internship position based on my p&l. If things start turning for the better than I might try and go that route. But for now I'm looking for something a little more certain.

 

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