Would you mind taking a look at my CV?...

[Yuppie]

Hi All,

I'm going to start applying to selected trading firms soon and would like to see if anyone is kind enough to give some constructive critisism...

The low-down... I'm 26 and have been trading demo/small amounts for a year or so now and am starting to become profitable... I've pretty much gone through the [almost inevitable] holy-grail search.. the ultimate indicator setup search... etc... etc... finally managed to get through all that nonsense... and making headway... I currently work offshore on the oil rigs (a job which I got so that I had a lot of time off for trading - which has actually worked out quite well so far)... I'm aware that becoming consistently profitable and obtaining a track-record is probably the most sure-fire way into a firm and would most likely trump anything else - but I'm not quite there yet, and I'm thinking that there may be firms that prefer to take someone on who is [relatively] "fresh"...

Ultimately I am looking to get into a trading firm that is well-versed in taking on trainees and supporting/mentoring them through to reach consistent profitability with the firms funds and a profit split... but I'm pretty flexible and will continue to research all the firms out there (I have started with the excellent list provided on T2W and gone through threads where thay have been talked about - so I think I am pretty clued up on which firms to approach and which firms to steer clear of)...

I was going to put my CV up to be downloaded by anyone willing to help me out, but decided to put it within a post so that it's more accessible... I'll put it on it's own in the next post...

I'm not too worried about grammar or spelling, I'll polish that, and the structure, off once I have the content sorted... more like what to include/exclude... things I should/shouldn't mention...

I've taken out a lot of information such as my details, references, schools/university, etc...


Thank you for your help,

Magnus

Moderator note: cv is now removed by request, as thread has run its course.

 

[Yuppie]

Covering Letter...

I'm not sure if the CV will have to be tailored to every application I make as I will be applying for very similar positions... but would appreciate your comments...

Also, I feel the covering letter is very important, but will definately be specific to each company, so I'm still working on that... I think I may need some guidance, but will see how it goes...


Thank you again,

Magnus

 

[theSheik]

One comment Yuppie

I've always been puzzled by people who describe themselves on CV's as "entrepreneurial" would ever want to go and work for anyone other than themselves?

...be prepared for that question if you get to interview.

also, in the same vein, if you're proving a successful trading strategy, why would you want to go off and waste your time with a company taking all the profits...

also, search around on here for others looking for entry into trading desks/floors

if you don't have a very strong academic record, you'll be 1 in a million to make it into a City trading environment

and especially more so now that companies are laying off their graduates

 

[Yuppie]

theSheik...

Thank you for the reply theSheik... ...

One comment Yuppie

I've always been puzzled by people who describe themselves on CV's as "entrepreneurial" would ever want to go and work for anyone other than themselves?

I totally agree. I've had a number of jobs - and felt very stifled by them. I've don't have the stereotype qualities of a 'leader' or aspire to "climb the career ladder". But, from what I have read, and people I have spoken to, working for a trading firm is slightly different than most jobs. You're rewarded very directly on your performance and your performance is very much down to yourself. It's not really mentioned in my CV, but my thoughts are that one can get "bigger", quicker when working for a firm. That one of the reasons I look to get into a trading firm.

...be prepared for that question if you get to interview.

What do you mean "if"?.. It's only a matter of when...

also, in the same vein, if you're proving a successful trading strategy, why would you want to go off and waste your time with a company taking all the profits...

Perhaps my CV gave off the wrong impression, but I'm starting to attain consistency. I wouldn't say that I am "proving a successful strategy" just yet. But as mentioned above, a company will allow one to get bigger, faster than if one was to trade with their own capital (particularly if the starting pot is not very big)

also, search around on here for others looking for entry into trading desks/floors

if you don't have a very strong academic record, you'll be 1 in a million to make it into a City trading environment

I think you maybe be thinking more along the lines of getting into a big bank. Which is not what I'm looking for, as I'm well aware of the minimum academic requirements for such a role... but even if trading for a prop. firm is "1 in a million" then so be it - it'll just take me a bit longer

and especially more so now that companies are laying off their graduates

Thank you again for you feedback theSheik.


Magnus

 

[theSheik]

you're off to a good start; quitters never win and winners never quit !


I hope you live the dream Magnus and wish you all the very best with your conquest

 

[Yuppie]

you're off to a good start; quitters never win and winners never quit !


I hope you live the dream Magnus and wish you all the very best with your conquest

Thank you theSheik... Most appreciated...


Magnus

 

[PitBull]

hi magnus

Nice attempt. You should also write about what risks you've taken in your life and how you dealt with them. They will want to know how you react under pressure, how you've handled conflict in your life. Examples that show you are a resilient and resourceful person.
Best of luck

 

[Yuppie]

PitBull...

hi magnus

Nice attempt. You should also write about what risks you've taken in your life and how you dealt with them. They will want to know how you react under pressure, how you've handled conflict in your life. Examples that show you are a resilient and resourceful person.
Best of luck

Hi PitBull,

Thank you for the comments... I can think of a couple of examples off-hand, and will see what else I can recall... Will perhaps post here what I come up with... I'm not sure I'm heading in the right direction with examples of how I have dealt with risks, conflict, and such... I'm a bit more confident with the resilient and resourceful side of things... but I'll see what I can recall...


Thanks,

Magnus

 

[Yuppie]

Hmmm...

Hmmmm, I'm really struggling to come up with examples of the qualities that PitBull mentioned... dealing with adversity, coping under stressful situations, resilience and such like...

I mean, I'm a pretty laid-back guy, I don't tend to get stressed... I can think of frustrating times on my path to profitable trading, but I've not had any of that in a long time - maybe I'm not doing it right?! ... shouldn't joke, perhaps there is some truth in that... :-0

Resilience: maybe the fact that I still spend obscene amounts of time learning to trade, even after a year or two... some might call that ignorance to keep on going, but to see the vast improvements every week, and now finally getting somewhere, could perhaps meekly be called "proof"...

Risk: have purchased cars from a well-known auction site with out viewing them. Travelling sometimes up to 800 miles with a not insignificant amount of cash in my pockets. That could be a little bit daunting at times...


Perhaps the fact that there has only been a couple of comments [thank you theSheik and PitBull] that my CV is actually maybe not too bad to begin with...

Magnus

 

[Xeno]

I would agree with the comments on entrepreneur. The rest is not bad, although personally I wouldn't mention an active social life - that'd work with some people but not others. The most important part for many employers would be your job for the last three years. I understand why you haven't put that, but hard to critique the most important part. The other is your experience directly relevent to trading - what actual experience do you have that is directly relevent (maths, analysis, knowledge of products etc)

Good luck.

 

[gooseman]

personally not a fan of the waffle bits like goals and that sort of stuff and don't like them on a cv-i want to know what you've done, how bright you are and what you have done in your life that sets you apart from 3000 other grads. i don't really want to hear what a grad thinks they want a person like me to hear. if you get me....

 

[Yuppie]

Xeno and gooseman...

I would agree with the comments on entrepreneur. The rest is not bad, although personally I wouldn't mention an active social life - that'd work with some people but not others. The most important part for many employers would be your job for the last three years. I understand why you haven't put that, but hard to critique the most important part. The other is your experience directly relevent to trading - what actual experience do you have that is directly relevent (maths, analysis, knowledge of products etc)

Good luck.

Thank you for the comments Xeno... I think I see what you are saying about my mention of an active social life... that it might get in the way of progress?... or even prove to be a distraction?... or is it simply that it is of no interest to the person who ends up taking a look at my CV?...

As for my job for the last three years... Basically, after university I spent nearly a year on learning to trade full-time, went to NZ for around 7 months, spent another continuining on my path to trading, and now am currently employed in a job that gives me a reasonable amount of time off to trade... reading this back to myself, I think it actually comes off as not looking too enticing to a potential employer - a bit everywhere...

I'm concerned that I have now had two comments regarding the Entrepreneurial thing... it makes me sit up and take notice... I'm have to admit to finding it hard to see why it would not benefit me to mention it though... ?

Thank you again for your comments Xeno...

personally not a fan of the waffle bits like goals and that sort of stuff and don't like them on a cv-i want to know what you've done, how bright you are and what you have done in your life that sets you apart from 3000 other grads. i don't really want to hear what a grad thinks they want a person like me to hear. if you get me....

gooseman, would you be so kind as to elaborate on your comment, "i want to know what you've done"?... I struggle with that both as a concept and my actual lack, from my perspective, of having done 'things'... What kind of things are we talking about?...

My thoughts on having done things are along these lines...

I have never been into sports like football, rugby, or such... however, I am very much into cycling, running, weight-training, etc... quite individual activities... I challenge myself, pushing my own limits... but I can see how maybe if I took part in cycle racing events, or running events, etc may count as a lot... but I've never really had an interest in winning against others... which taps into something I think about a lot: What is being competitive - does this have to be against others only, or can it be against yourself? With respect to trading, is trying to "beat the market" being competitive?...

I don't, and have never really, taken part in sporting events.
Don't recall having entered any competitions in any capacity.
I've been to a few countries for holidays/travel.
Can't recall 'helping out my community'.
... are these the kind of things you talk about gooseman with having done something with my life?...

Thank you again for your comments...

Magnus

 

[Xeno]

Thank you for the comments Xeno... I think I see what you are saying about my mention of an active social life... that it might get in the way of progress?... or even prove to be a distraction?... or is it simply that it is of no interest to the person who ends up taking a look at my CV?...


I'm concerned that I have now had two comments regarding the Entrepreneurial thing... it makes me sit up and take notice... I'm have to admit to finding it hard to see why it would not benefit me to mention it though... ?

You have to write a CV that's not going to put people off. People vary, so you kind of have to exclude stuff that might put some people off (funnily enough, there may be people who wouldn't be put off, but might question your judgement in including it) Examples - I know of someone who took his earing out for an interview. Much later, after getting the job, the guy who interviewed him said that he had no problems with the earing wearing, and had noticed that the ear was pierced, but was glad the guy had thought it appropriate to not wear it. I interviewed a guy once who told me he'd got a 2/2 at university because he 'discovered girls'. I thought that was quite funny, and honest, but wasn't impressed at his judgement in putting it in an interview.

So, if you say you enjoy socialising, some people might take that as goes out drinking every night, turns up with a hangover every morning.

On entrepreneur - if you're an entrepreneur, why would you devote yourself to working for a company for many years? It doesn't really make sense - at least in an interview.

cheers
Xeno

 

[gooseman]

everyone has a degree these days-what makes you different and i don't really want to read i'm ambitious/entrepeneurial etc......that's just my take on things-HR departments might love that sort of guff. personally i don't.

 

[Depth Trade]

There's nothing you'll be able to do right for these people.

All they care about is money, the most narrow minded people on the planet.

There going to ask for a thousand applications, just to rub down there ego's.

 

[gooseman]

money is what trading for a company is about at the end of the day DT.

 

[Depth Trade]

I'll tell you how you get a job, you get so good, these guys come begging to you on there knees!

They're hiring you because they can't accomplish the job, therefore you make them jump through your 'hoops'.

You have them send you applications, for you to trade there money.

Your the one who knows what's going on, stay in control of the situation.

 

[Yuppie]

Xeno...

You have to write...
...
... least in an interview.

cheers
Xeno

lol... interesting perspective Xeno...

The entrepreneur thing I just assumed would be of interest purely as it is demonstrable of taking risks - of a kind... laying ones money/time on the line for a potentially bigger payoff... perhaps totally irrelevant to trading?


Magnus

 

[Depth Trade]

lol... interesting perspective Xeno...

The entrepreneur thing I just assumed would be of interest purely as it is demonstrable of taking risks - of a kind... laying ones money/time on the line for a potentially bigger payoff... perhaps totally irrelevant to trading?


Magnus

It doesn't matter what you write, there going to pick it apart and find a reason your incompatable, then stroke there egos.

Mark my words you won't find a trader that's been hired.

 

[gooseman]

DT what world do you live in? There is only one person here with a huge ego and that's you. Every post is about you being the best fx trader the world has seen.

traders do get hired-fact.
some make big bucks-fact.
some get fired because they are crap-fact.
some succeed and have very lucrative pay packets-fact.

all of the big hitters I know started at banks.