I want to be an equity trader...How do I get on a desk?

Hello all,

I'm looking to get some advice/tips from the junior and veteran traders here.

After I graduated, I got an amazing operations position (sarcastic). I quit that position after a year, because I didn't want to get "stuck in op's."

I recently joined a local B/D who I was able to get my Series 7 and 63 with, but didn't feel comfortable with the lack of training I was given - and I didn't think it was right for me anyway.

I want to join a desk where I can start as a junior trader. I love trading and can't see myself doing anything else, Sh*t, I sit on my desk all day any way and watch my streaming news/quotes. But I want to make real $. Not the nickels and dimes I'm used too.

How do you get on an equity trading desk? I feel like many of these candidates haven't traded in their entire life I just don't understand, do BB's really hire people who have never traded before? I guess that's just what it seems like to me... I just know how many things I've learned by experience and constantly watching the market for years, and sometimes by losing some money, lessons better learned earlier rather than later.. There are so many intricacies to the market - its scary.

If you were hiring would I be someone you are looking for? What would you like to see?

Top 25 (undergrad b-school)
Series 7 and 63
Trading experience (equities and options)

 

Yeah your right ; ) I'll leave it off for now. I'd rather just hear what others have to say. Thanks

And to the poster above. Yes, I agree, networking has and continues to be key.

 

I also wonder how a lot of these kids get on those desks at BB. That's just how it works though, so take action and start networking. It's no longer about who you know but who knows you. Trading is not as easy as it looks. People achieve greatness all their lives and then begin to trade and are terrible. Good luck!

"I wanna Thank the Good Lord for Making me a Capitalist"
 

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