Leaving S&T after 4 months? Am I making a mistake?
I currently am a 1st year S&T analyst at a BB. I won’t say what product I trade, but I’m in fixed income. I come from an engineering background and thought trading was going to be an interesting career. The work itself is somewhat interesting, but it doesn’t exactly excite me.
I also struggle with the lifestyle. I fully understand how easy I have it compared to IB, but it’s quite a change coming from tech and the limiting WLB/PTO of high finance, especially when my only true passion in life is backpacking/mountaineering. Small side note, but I really don’t want to live in NYC, and the product I trade is extremely limited to here.
One thing with trading I was told about but now see is how limited the skills you develop are. Yes, you learn how financial markets function and how firms/traders position themselves in them, but beyond that, most of the skills you learn (at least in my product) are so hyper-focused that you only become a domain expert who can’t really venture into industries/areas outside of that.
I do have an offer from an old job of mine that would push me back into a SWE/Data Science role in a MCOL city. I would be earning less, but I think for all the reasons I outlined earlier that it would be worth it.
Would leaving so soon be a bad decision? How do you let yourself be okay with giving up a career you worked so hard for and with such a high earning potential?
I don’t think you’re necessarily making a bad decision but I would take time to think about this. The grass is always greener and I’ve personally considered going back to my old role as well— think about why you made the move to trading and how this role fits into your life. Are you getting what you want out of it when you think to the reasons you made the switch? If not, and if compensation progression is not a factor, (which I think it absolutely should be— money makes a lot of things easier) I would say dropping the role for something you find more interesting is not the worst decision in the world.
So far I have been getting much out of it at all. I’ve honestly thought I would feel more stimulated when pricing especially since it’s a long only product. Compensation isn’t a necessary part to me. I would be doing well in my old role (130k starting out in MCOL) with pretty solid TC growth, though obviously not quite like being in a BB. I also already have around $400k through a side venture which got bought out. So I have a pretty comfortable base already. Totally agree with your point on thinking it over more though
stick it out. i tried to bail 4 months in to S&T but couldn't. thank god. 20yrs later and it rules.
one thing to note, i was math geek but in credit which did allow me to move to lots of other fields. I'm guessing you are in rates/mortgages/structuring but there are still plenty of ways to work in other areas if you are successful. feel free to dm me if further questions.
I wouldn't quit your first job after four months. More likely than not you are just lashing out to the adjustment period that happens after you graduate and start your first job out of school. I would just wait until the two year mark so that you can make an informed decision and leave with savings and marketable experience.
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