Which Products Place Less Emphasis on CS/Programming?

Which products typically require less computer science or programming knowledge? I am aware of the fact that trading is becoming increasingly electronic and most products will have quantitative/system/program trading specialist firms and traders, but I am curious which products are more macro and qualitative analysis driven?

To clarify, I'm interested in trading but I am not interested in computer science or programming, so I'm trying to determine if there are areas of trading that would be a better fit for me.

5 Comments
 
Best Response

Let me save you some time. You can't make it as a trader any more without some quant background. You'd just be putting yourself too far behind the eight-ball to ever make any money.

You don't have to be able to write the next OS for Microsoft (actually, based on the abortion that is Vista, that probably wouldn't be too difficult), just familiarize yourself with algorithms and how to write them.

If you're really interested in trading, you'll do what's necessary to at least level the playing field.

The WSO Guide to Understanding TARP

 
BusinessGreekI am aware of the fact that trading is becoming increasingly electronic and most products will have quantitative/system/program trading specialist firms and traders, but I am curious which products are more macro and qualitative analysis driven?
Actually, most won't, assuming you mean trading in a BB and not at a quant hedge fund.
 
Brown_Bateman
BusinessGreekI am aware of the fact that trading is becoming increasingly electronic and most products will have quantitative/system/program trading specialist firms and traders, but I am curious which products are more macro and qualitative analysis driven?
Actually, most won't, assuming you mean trading in a BB and not at a quant hedge fund.

but some quant background still needed ...

 

Officia quaerat et tempora repellat. Temporibus a et nobis voluptates consequatur aut cupiditate. Porro laborum et repellat ullam rerum. Qui quas sit ratione. Adipisci possimus minus explicabo distinctio pariatur. Optio ipsa corporis ut dicta ab accusamus.

Commodi ut asperiores distinctio. Maiores qui ex sunt impedit eum. Voluptate dolores modi nemo. Qui aut nihil id voluptatum alias voluptate. Est dolor aspernatur dolorem nostrum dolores consequatur eum. Est totam nostrum sed quidem qui. Animi cumque nihil molestiae veniam eius.

Jack: They’re all former investment bankers who were laid off from that economic crisis that Nancy Pelosi caused. They have zero real world skills, but God they work hard. -30 Rock

Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (48) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (83) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”