Trading at work...best way to not get noticed?

Hi all,

I work at a computer all day in an open plan office.

I use a browser based chart(Oanda) to trade currencies with in my spare time and while at work would like to be able to bring up the charts every hour and spend 5 minutes looking for potential setups.

What I'm worried about is that our internet usage might be monitored and I don't want to get into trouble for spending too long trading. So from the point of view of trying to not be noticed by the IT guy and any monitoring setup they have, would it be better to just have the Oanda platform running all the time, or to visit the site every hour and then close the internet browser after 5 minutes once I'm done?

Thanks.

Better just to trade using EoD data?

Maybe, its just that I am looking for very good setups eg a pin bar touching a strong s/r level. Also, even if I trade on the daily charts I want to be able to look at the hourly charts to refine my entry.

At the moment I'm finding I keep missing good trading opportunities which happen in the day.

Get a smart phone and trade via that?

I don't mean to cause an upset, but...

we buggers who do this for a living are looking at hourly charts - all the time. If you can't dedicate your day to trading, then forget about trading intra day. What is it you think we do, watch daytime TV then stroll over to the computer on the hour every hour?!?!

(NB: this is actually what Arabian does. Except it's not charts, its the orderbook, because the other dozen people trading EuroSwiss have long boozy B'fasts/Lunches/Dinner)

Sorry to be abrupt, but this seems so bleedin' obvious to me I had to point it out.

Trade EOD and run your positions. I will wager that looking at hourlies - every hour - means your winners are closed prematurely.

Moreover, you will only ever a) be good at your job and trade badly, or b) be sh!t at your job and trade well.

If you need the job then you really should try and keep it...

MrGecko said:

Moreover, you will only ever a) be good at your job and trade badly, or b) be sh!t at your job and trade well.

If you need the job then you really should try and keep it...

Click to expand...

I can personally vouch for that being absolutely true. There is a third way though: be sh!t at your job and sh!t at your trade which is probably the most likely outcome.

Hi bfd

Why not leave your charts running on your home computer and view from work with logmein.com ?
You visit the logmein website so IT only see that & it's free.

Good luck
Richard

ps. the reality for most of us is, that we have to work while we learn to trade - no shame in having a job IMHO.

Trading at work...best way to not get noticed.

Best way to get fired, if I'm your boss and I catch you.

what is it with people trying to be legends in their lunchtime? Just do your job...properly, you greedy fooker, and stop wasting your employer's time and money.

Most large companies monitor how much their staff access the internet and have policies indicating how much usage is deemed acceptable.

You could find that your IT department is monitoring your usage over a period of time and could then present this at a later disciplinary hearing.

Probably not worth the risk.

I agree with Black Swan, someone is paying you to do a job so you should be doing it and not fannying around trading. If you want to trade either trade EOD or go part time... I hope your job is not public sector!

bfd said:

Maybe, its just that I am looking for very good setups eg a pin bar touching a strong s/r level. Also, even if I trade on the daily charts I want to be able to look at the hourly charts to refine my entry.

At the moment I'm finding I keep missing good trading opportunities which happen in the day.

Click to expand...

My best trades on the daily chart were when I didn't look and fiddle with them. Have a stop, have a target, let it go.

forget it

MrGecko said:

I don't mean to cause an upset, but...

we buggers who do this for a living are looking at hourly charts - all the time. If you can't dedicate your day to trading, then forget about trading intra day. What is it you think we do, watch daytime TV then stroll over to the computer on the hour every hour?!?!

(NB: this is actually what Arabian does. Except it's not charts, its the orderbook, because the other dozen people trading EuroSwiss have long boozy B'fasts/Lunches/Dinner)

Sorry to be abrupt, but this seems so bleedin' obvious to me I had to point it out.

Trade EOD and run your positions. I will wager that looking at hourlies - every hour - means your winners are closed prematurely.


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agree

If you are piddling about with small deals, you will eventually start trading with larger sums.

Ive tried it. Your day and you will become overpowered by the trading, you will not get any proper work done. I was £1500 down (manual mode) in a trade and my boss came over and asked me a question, I was extremely angry and was about to knock him out - not good.

Mobile devices are the same.The new company I work for i cant even get you tube on my pc, its blocked.

You would be better off getting all the trading software on your pc blocked before you get sacked.

Try eod trading, set up your orders the night before, finish work have a pint, check your trades when you get home. You are getting more trading experience, whilst holding down your day job, if you start doing well, wrap your job and go full time trading

K

:smart:

Click to expand...

Jesus, this place seems to be full of human resorce managers!!

I trade all day at work! Always follow your ambitions!

ffsear said:

Jesus, this place seems to be full of human resorce managers!!

I trade all day at work! Always follow your ambitions!

Click to expand...

I agree, thought this site was for Traders to help Traders, not constant snipes & digs

Mind you, a chart looks a lot less suspect than arsing about on facebook and wasting your life that way.

I trade all day at work! Always follow your ambitions!

Click to expand...

You must work in the Public Sector then ......

or are you a full time trader ?


Paul

ffsear said:

Jesus, this place seems to be full of human resorce managers!!

I trade all day at work! Always follow your ambitions!

Click to expand...

Totally agree with you about following your ambitions but, as a former owner of a business, it's pretty annoying to pay someone to do a job when all they do is spend their life on a PC (paid for by me) doing no work at all.

Hi all,

Trading while working in an Full time employment:

I wanted to discuss this briefly, in the forex market things can get really exciting and in return your emotions can be very high .You have to understand the difference between a part-time and a full time job. The Full time job is one that puts the food on the table whereas your part-time job is the one which pays for your extra expenses. YOU MUST REMEMBER TO NEVER MIX THE 2.

I have heard many horror stories of demotions & disciplinary of people that have been in very good jobs. The regions of £40000-£70000 and how there whole life has gone down hill due to trading.

If trading takes over your life you have failed at the very instance. YOU HAVE TO CONTROL TRADING NOT THE OTHER WAY ROUND
If you want to become a serious trader there is nothing to stop you but you should be able to use time management Principles and this will only come with a plan...

What is a plan? Over 50% Traders fail because they jump into this market without a plan and understanding of how this market works. Just because you get your first 15 trades right does not make you a trader. Now when you are in full time employment and trying to trade you are basically doing something wrong. hence the reason for minimizing the screens,Alt tab's sneaking out to speak to your broker to close the deal...I could name 100's of scenarios All of these have a negative impact and in the process you could loose the respect of fellow managers, colleagues etc

Also by law they could fire you because this is breach of contract an misuse of the internet policy at work..
ARE YOU REALLY WILLING TO RISK THIS...THINK TWICE..

So now you will say that you have shown us the situation but what is the solution:

1. Planning your trading week on a Saturday

2. As a part time trader you should keep your trading between the hours of 5:00p.m and 2:00 a.m
Now you will say rav are you crazy....nope I am not. For Newbie’s in the market this is these are
The times when the market is less volatile and I call this technique night time trading. Can you be
Successful. Yes you can I have achieved quite good results trading only one pair between those
Times and that is the USD\JPY Pair.. There are certain strats that I will mention some time next
Week but it can be done.

3. Your objective needs to be decided in the plans...I will personalize some plans for you upon request but please don't expect them to be done straight away..

4. Realize the importance of your Full time job and remember that trading takes at least 2-3 years of hard work so till then you need your full time job to put food on the table.

The more you get involved in trading the more far away it will take you from your normal life so learn to tame you trading from the very beginning

I hope this little snippet was useful to all the new Forex traders out there.

Happy Trading
Rav

agree

ffsear said:

Jesus, this place seems to be full of human resorce managers!!

I trade all day at work! Always follow your ambitions!

Click to expand...

I would trade all day at work and into overtime, but cant........

depends on your trading style, time scales etc, time spent looking at thew screen

K