I know it varies from person to person, and maybe even from firm to firm, but, could anyone give me an indication of how long it typically takes to go from TA to at least getting to trade a little bit? If anyone has information about shops such as SIG, DRW, or JSC, that would be quite helpful.
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You'll be able to do a little bit of trading as a TA, mostly when the traders take off for vacation. You'll be able to fill in for them, and hopefully make a good impression. TA usually last anywhere from a year to a year and half, but it all depends on how much info you can absorb and how fast you learn.
At SIG, it's anywhere from 8 months to 1.25 years
yes, it all depends on how you perform during mock (at least at prop firms who hold mock sessions) and on tests.
the best at mock will become traders first, then a few month later the 2nd group of best ones. eventually, if you still can't improve in say 1 yr, then you're fired. back when there is a need for clerks on the floor (CBOE, Amex, CBOT), some assistants were kept for more then 2 yrs. but now since everything electronic, clerk jobs are pretty useless and if you're not trading you're a big cost to the company with no value add
From what I've heard from people i know at the firms you listed, part of it depends on how fast/well you learn/pick up trading in general. The rest depends on the group and the need for adding traders. For example, i know of one group who's product is having lower than expected volume, which implies less of a need to add new traders. So their TAs will probably remain TAs for longer than in other groups. I guess there's nothing you can really do about that.
For quant/algo teams my impression is that the trading assistant/trader divide isn't as significant. as such i think their TAs turn over to "traders" just whenever they figure out what's going on.
practice "as if" on your own time, prep your own sheets for the morning trades as if you were going to do it, then you will be ready - make suggestions and be sure to ask intelligent questions ... someone will notice.
i have seen assist traders who do very well on their daily clerical tasks helping the trader during trading hours, making suggestions, asking somewhat intelligent questions and still end up getting fired because they suck at mock. this is especially true for the 3 firms mentioned sig, drw, js. and i've seen assist traders who do minimal work possible to get through the day, but clearly the best mock trader, and be the first ones to be promoted to trader.
Can i able to get a Trading Assistant if i dun have any internship and non ivy ?
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