MS ElectricalEngineering Trader

So Ive been interested in IBD and trading for a while but pursued my engineering degree and was on track for a PhD when i decided the world is much more exciting when your not around the (poor) lab rats all the time.

Hence my formal financial knowledge is lacking however i have gained experience from building and running the financial model, market analysis and financials of a startup, i was the CFO amongst other things where my engineering and data analysis education really shined.

Ive long lost interest in IBD only to gain some in trading where i have a few(2) friends. Since i was going for a PhD im not 22, and it will be a step backwards career wise as Im a good engineer, but i would like to try trading to see if i fit outside of engineering.

What would you say my fit for a S&T position would be with my resume: http://www.razume.com/documents/17131 would i stand out like an eye sore amongst everyone? One of my friends is also an MS EE in trading at a BB but took the long way of first being a mid-office IT/Quant, id like to skip that. Thanks!

 
Best Response
happypantsmcgee:
Use the Yale Alum network man, as far as 'skipping' the lower level stuff in the beginning, probably not going to happen especially in trading.

Point well taken about the YCN, have been using it. About the low level stuff, friend was mid office and not on a trading desk, so its not like he was stuck with booking everyone's trades, he was making apps and models for the traders. After 2 years he found a trading desk that took him as a trader. I do not see myself as a quant, personality wise it would not be a good fit even though i can do the work (part of reason for not sticking to the PhD).

 

well if your "personality doesn't fit" then you're screwed because with your background getting an IT-related job first would be fairly easy. But getting a trading position immeadiately would be much more difficult.

 
Seigniorage:
well if your "personality doesn't fit" then you're screwed because with your background getting an IT-related job first would be fairly easy. But getting a trading position immeadiately would be much more difficult.

Whats 'easy' is probably not worth it. In any case im not interested in any IT positions.

So what makes it more difficult to obtain a trading position in my case? As far as i can tell there is no prior education that can determine if your a great trader or not. Two of whom i know are both engineers (ME and EE).

 

That being said dude Seigniorage is right. A lot of it is about personality etc. especially since you're trying to come in above the standard 'bitch work' type position. The IT route isn't a bad way to go man. Getting the 'in' is crucial. As someone who is trying to break into trading with experience in a different field, anyway you can get in is a good way.

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

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