Should I learn poker before S&T
I don't want to look like an idiot in front of my team. I've heard poker is a marker of intelligence. Do people in the industry play with each other a lot?
Poker can indeed be a valuable skill to learn before entering Sales & Trading (S&T), but not necessarily for the reasons you might think. Based on the most helpful WSO content, poker is often appreciated in the industry because it demonstrates traits like risk management, decision-making under uncertainty, and understanding probabilities—skills that align closely with trading.
In fact, there are anecdotes of poker being a conversation starter during interviews, with MDs showing fascination for candidates who can articulate how poker strategies relate to trading. For example, discussing concepts like +EV (expected value) situations in poker and how they parallel financial decision-making can make you stand out.
However, poker isn't a mandatory skill, and you won't look like an "idiot" if you don't play. While some professionals might enjoy poker recreationally, it's not a universal activity across teams. The key is to focus on developing the core skills that poker represents—analytical thinking, emotional control, and calculated risk-taking—whether through poker or other means.
If you're interested, learning poker could be a fun way to build these skills and potentially bond with colleagues, but don't stress over it being a requirement.
Sources: From poker to prop-trading, Poker playing experience in buy-side interview, How to be a good S&T Intern, Updated 2022 S&T Compensation
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