Market Analyst

Originally Posted by bookwormm

There is the possibility of that being a trap and your words coming true. I feel that the interviewer is extremely skilled and well-thought when handling interviewees like myself, but I am leaving this problem till later while I send more applications and more importantly, if I do get the phone call at all in a month's time.

But in your opinion, how can a fresh graduate break into the energy trading side? If not for confidentiality, I would love to share my background to facilitate my request.

I am the guy who has been answering your queries earlier. I will use the ID sofozen going forward to avoid confusion.

Generally speaking, a trading process can be split into 3 main players:

1) Actual Traders = People who actually do the 4-6 screen trading, the only realisitc way to get in there straight is to have a mentor introduce you to the game and its key players. You can' just out of the blue put up your hand and say you want to be a trader and hope that people will be impressed in interview - this is just not the way the game is played in this field.

2) Trading Operations = People who handles the hustle and bustle of traders. These could range from execution of trades, liasing and ensuring compliance of contracts, supporting the traders in book management etc. Less difficult to get in, but very difficult of someone to just get a genenric business degree and apply for it as a fresh grad without related experience. They seem to prefer people who have worked in sell side brokerages for a few years.

3) Support / Research = This is where your market analyst job sits. Although it supports the trading side, it is basically a normal coproate support job no different from Finance, IT, Marketng, HR, Procurement etc in terms of pay & progression. Generally many people who take up these jobs harbour delusions of becoming a trader in the future, but it probably doesn't work out 99% of the time. So the poster on top is correct, if you had answered yes you want to be a trader during interivew they would have dumped you on the spot.

As a fresh graduate armed with just a degree without honours or any leverage in connections, my advise to you is to widen your choices and apply for as many normal corporate analytical jobs you can find in the market. No point getting hung up on selecting jobs that are closer to trading, you will just narrow your opprotunities significantly without really lifting your chances of beocming a trader in the end.

[bookwormm]

Originally Posted by sofozen

I am the guy who has been answering your queries earlier. I will use the ID sofozen going forward to avoid confusion.

Generally speaking, a trading process can be split into 3 main players:

1) Actual Traders = People who actually do the 4-6 screen trading, the only realisitc way to get in there straight is to have a mentor introduce you to the game and its key players. You can' just out of the blue put up your hand and say you want to be a trader and hope that people will be impressed in interview - this is just not the way the game is played in this field.

2) Trading Operations = People who handles the hustle and bustle of traders. These could range from execution of trades, liasing and ensuring compliance of contracts, supporting the traders in book management etc. Less difficult to get in, but very difficult of someone to just get a genenric business degree and apply for it as a fresh grad without related experience. They seem to prefer people who have worked in sell side brokerages for a few years.

3) Support / Research = This is where your market analyst job sits. Although it supports the trading side, it is basically a normal coproate support job no different from Finance, IT, Marketng, HR, Procurement etc in terms of pay & progression. Generally many people who take up these jobs harbour delusions of becoming a trader in the future, but it probably doesn't work out 99% of the time. So the poster on top is correct, if you had answered yes you want to be a trader during interivew they would have dumped you on the spot.

As a fresh graduate armed with just a degree without honours or any leverage in connections, my advise to you is to widen your choices and apply for as many normal corporate analytical jobs you can find in the market. No point getting hung up on selecting jobs that are closer to trading, you will just narrow your opprotunities significantly without really lifting your chances of beocming a trader in the end.

Hi sofozen, no wonder I sensed something was different.

I wonder my chances would have been bigger if I had stuck myself to maritime back then, but nonetheless no point looking back. It is true that I should widen my choices, "beggars can't be choosers", that's pretty much my situation I guess.

While I am attempting to take my first step into the working world, I'm glad to have received your helpful feedback constantly. I am definitely exploring my options but I will be sure not to limit whatever path that is available (not to forget that I have a debt to repay and the interest compounds like crazy).

Originally Posted by sofozen

I am the guy who has been answering your queries earlier. I will use the ID sofozen going forward to avoid confusion.

Generally speaking, a trading process can be split into 3 main players:

3) Support / Research = This is where your market analyst job sits. Although it supports the trading side, it is basically a normal coproate support job no different from Finance, IT, Marketng, HR, Procurement etc in terms of pay & progression. Generally many people who take up these jobs harbour delusions of becoming a trader in the future, but it probably doesn't work out 99% of the time. So the poster on top is correct, if you had answered yes you want to be a trader during interivew they would have dumped you on the spot.

As a fresh graduate armed with just a degree without honours or any leverage in connections, my advise to you is to widen your choices and apply for as many normal corporate analytical jobs you can find in the market. No point getting hung up on selecting jobs that are closer to trading, you will just narrow your opprotunities significantly without really lifting your chances of beocming a trader in the end.

Market risk and market research are two different things right?

Originally Posted by bookwormm

Hi sofozen, no wonder I sensed something was different.

I wonder my chances would have been bigger if I had stuck myself to maritime back then, but nonetheless no point looking back. It is true that I should widen my choices, "beggars can't be choosers", that's pretty much my situation I guess.

While I am attempting to take my first step into the working world, I'm glad to have received your helpful feedback constantly. I am definitely exploring my options but I will be sure not to limit whatever path that is available (not to forget that I have a debt to repay and the interest compounds like crazy).

Sure, glad to be able to provide some perspectives. All the best in your job search! You might yet find that there are many lucrative career paths less troddened.