If u are going to be a bank trader, u will probably be given a book where u will have to make a market in - that is, to quote bid/offers to whoever that wants to see. I wouldn't imagine market making activities to be very much like directional trading (although a trader can accumulate/dump at his will), and u probably will need to be very good at hedging ur exposures or u will blow up ur book (since its marked to market).

I dont think TA (cups, shoulders and witchcraft) might be very much applicable especially for making markets in otc products - think submarine warfare, where u can only hear ur enemies and try to make out what they are doing... vs looking at past-data of what the enemy does and their hit/miss records.

A directional trader (presumably with a hedge fund) will of course do whatever he wishes and may be allowed to take copious amounts of risk.

(Not a trader but just my speculations, any real trader can come correct me)