Need insight into trading career

Hi guys,
I will be declaring my major in finance next semester, and i will be required to declare a concentration in finance as well. I am interested in a international trading concentration, however i am not entirely sure about what this path entails. Can anyone here shed some light on this concentration in finance and the possible career paths/aspects in this field?
Also, what would fit the typical profile of a trader?

Thank you.

8 Comments
 

Any major with "international" in it is pretty much useless fluff.

Your typical trader is: 1. hard-working 2. detail oriented 3. understands risk vs. reward 4. has great problem solving abilities

The need for a "quant" major tends to be overrated in this forum but is heavily emphasized in recruiting anyway because students from technical and traditionally "difficult" majors tend to have all or most of the skills listed above.

 

I believe your international trading concentration is more for physical trading (commodities), with training for jobs such as physical trading, trade finance, shipping etc in the commodities space. Companies that you'll be looking at are Glencore, Vitol, Shell, BP, Cargill etc. The other 'type' of trading would be financial trading in places like investment banks, funds etc.

 

I believe your international trading concentration is more for physical trading (commodities), with training for jobs such as physical trading, trade finance, shipping etc in the commodities space. Companies that you'll be looking at are Glencore, Vitol, Shell, BP, Cargill etc. The other 'type' of trading would be financial trading in places like investment banks, funds etc.

 

Honestly man, if that education focuses on physical trading and flows and you're interested in being in physical trading or paper trading commodities I think it makes sense and is probably a good move, but I don't know what other concentrations you have before you. Not many schools (outside of Texas and a few other O&G or mining-focused schools) actually have programs that rigorously focus on shipping/commodies physical flows though so I'd recommend that.

 

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