Using an Ops position to my benefit

So I was just extended my first job offer since graduating.

It's a long term temp position in the FX Operations department. I'll be working in the account management area.

Nothing to glamorous, but I am indeed happy to be employed and at least its in finance.

I have other things still in the works for some other ideal job opportunities that I will still pursue. Ideally I would like to end up in equity research or IB.

With that in mind, how can I go about using this position in operations as a stepping stone to reach my ultimate goals.

If I have been in contact with somebody in IB there, can I inform them and offer to stay late and help? Ask if I can shadow when I'm done with my hours?

I'm really not sure how to go about this, so if you guys could give me some tips that would be great.

 
Best Response

Compliance will make it difficult to shadow IBD or ER, even if you find someone willing to let you sit there with them. I had to go through a bunch of bs and approvals to make it happen. It is very difficult to get everyone on your side and the odds of you succeeding are very low.

I have heard about a few cases where BO kids would come in at 6-6:30am and sit with a trading or sales desk for a couple of hours before going to their real job.

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

I think you should learn as much as you can from traders but you also need to be realistic in terms of your chances of simply 'networking' your way into the FO. It's awfully unlikely. However, your position might be a stepping stone to an MO role somewhere else, preferably where the divisions between FO/MO/BO aren't as strong. One example would be going from your BO position to BO/MO at a commodity trading company or certain asset managers where FO personnel at least somewhat often comes up through the BO. Whatever you can learn from traders at your current job will help with networking with other traders but remember that bouncing around in small increments is probably your likeliest shot at getting closer to a FO role at this point.

 

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