Becoming a Trader

[spurs4league]

Hi guys - sure you had this question many times, but i am looking to get into trading and wondered if you had any tips. basically i work for Bloomberg as an ABS spec at the mo, but am looking to get into commodity & forex trading. What do you reckon would be the best route to start off at, in terms of what i should apply to first in order to get on the right path... Cheers in advance

 

[Joey25]

If you haven't done so already, get 6/12 months of profitable live statements for your own account.

 

[Jaydee]

If you haven't done so already, get 6/12 months of profitable live statements for your own account.

Yes, once you've done that, you can go to all the prop houses and, if they like what they see, they'll give you a go. However, you would have to perform there for them to keep you (they will normally give you the boot after 3 months of poor results) and you're not likely to earn a salary (or much of one) as it's primarily done by a profit split method.

The other route is through banks and hedge funds. Banks are hard to get into for obvious reasons (usual qualifications - 1st class Oxbridge, 3A's at A-level, experience in another bank, contacts, etc, etc) and Hedgies are likely to put you into a pure execution role before you start managing money or they give you some size.