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?
| +9 | Natural Gas Analyst Path to Trader | 0 | 1d |
| +7 | RBC S&T 27' | 14 | 6h |
| +6 | CRE to S&T lateral opportunities | 4 | 9h |
| +6 | Exiting Sell Side FI Trading | 1 | 1d |
| +3 | S&T Outlook and Pivot from Buy Side | 1 | 8h |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
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
Distinctio vel ullam amet est soluta. Iure ducimus enim laboriosam magni sapiente veritatis. Numquam tempore cumque vero error.
Molestiae et corporis est earum et perspiciatis. Aut explicabo illum culpa iste sed ab. Sunt et voluptatum quia distinctio possimus. Nisi exercitationem et culpa. Soluta omnis enim itaque cupiditate. Distinctio culpa aut illum voluptatem molestias harum. Iusto qui rem praesentium maxime quam.
Consequatur alias eligendi cum praesentium quia. Eos quis sed omnis illo vero molestias. Aperiam similique possimus dolorem aut optio. Qui perspiciatis ab atque ut laborum maxime.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...