So this question is more intended for guys that have already started as FT traders. A bit of background: Senior, Finance&Accounting Major, statistics minor, knowledge of VBA and some java. I have a job as a trader at a BB starting next year. But I don't know what I should be doing right now to prepare for the job / better myself in general.
I basically spent the first 3 years of college focusing on getting killer grades, learning a lot about finance/markets, getting a job, etc. Now I have exactly the job I want and I don't start for another 6 months. I told myself that I would use the first semester of my senior year to the fullest extent possible and do all this great stuff. What I actually ended up doing was spending a lot of time drinking with buddies and laying in bed watching Netflix with my girlfriend. I don't think that's a bad thing, but I just want to do more.
I realize this is probably a question everyone has to answer for themselves to some extent, but a little help would be great. I'm home for 6 weeks for Winter break. I do not want to spend this whole time getting drunk with friends and watching TV (what I usually do over breaks). I have some options for myself, and wanted to see what people think:
1. Learn a programming language (I was thinking Python - is this useful/will it stay useful)?
2. Pickup an instrument. I played violin for years and my Mom just bought a keyboard to learn herself so I was thinking about trying to learn.
3. Learn Tennis. I'm not particularly athletic but I enjoy playing squash so I thought tennis might be a good idea (note - I live somewhere very warm).
4. Read. I don't know what I should read. I was thinking of starting with Black Swan, but I would really like to read some stuff outside of Finance. As far as fiction I remember really enjoying stuff like Treasure Island, LOTR, Brave New World, etc.
5. Travel. But I don't know where I would go - doubt any of my friends would want to pay for a trip overseas
I know this is a fucking wall of text, but if you could go back to the beginning of Winter Break of your Senior year in college, what would you do for the next 6 months to make yourself not only better career-wise but just more well-rounded overall?
1 sounds more career related. I would learn something related to your field because you want to get to workplace knowing your job's ins n outs. google/youtube search your field N learn on your own. What challenges you may face in work n plan ahead how can u move forward 2 years into your role. what challenges you could face, etc etc...2 things often neglected by mankind, 1) free time 2) good health.
A few of the guys on the desk that I'm joining recommended learning Python - It's not like you'll really be developing your own code, but it helps you communicate more efficiently with the quant guys about the strategies they create for you to implement.
Learn Python, read any books that interest you - economics, mathematics, history, current events, etc. - just being well-read can help you tremendously.
Personally, I spent my time focusing on my PA and dabble into golf before I started.
PA?
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