desk shadowing

[dblock21]

I have an interview coming up for a summer internship where I will also be meeting some of the members on the trading desk and shadowing some of them. I am search for some advice on how to best prepare for the interview. In particular the shadowing segment.

I am assuming I should be abreast of current events and what the markets have been doing, but what else?? What are some good questions to be asking and what are the not-so-good questions?? Any help would be great. I just know it is with the capital markets group and I am not sure which products I will be covering. thanks in advance

 

[nunrgguy]

Questions I think you need to ask at the desk:
Do you use the 123 setup and the Ross Hook?
How do you use pin bars and how do they differ to the other type?
Which moving average is best for support and resistance and should I use the straight one or the exponential one?
What risk to reward ratio do you incorporate in your trading?
How do I become a vendor?

 

[Hotch]

Good questions would be asking about things you want to know about which they might be able and willing to tell you, less good questions would be those that you don't want to know the answers too or those that they won't provide you with answers to.

Seriously, don't sweat it, ask what you want and don't worry about what people will think. It won't help in the long run.

 

[sinimini]

Show an interest in the fundamentals of the trade. Also perhaps how a trade idea may be born with the researchers, who then inform the sales teams who run it out to the clients who then come back to sales with a response and maybe an instruction for the traders who will try and get the best price. Dont be asking about what technical analysis really, most of them believe it to be utter ********. What you will probably find it is that you are getting a chance to make an impression, they will then report back on what you were like and whether they could put up with having you hanging around during the summer. Be friendly, dont be scared to have a laugh, listen and ask questions that are related to what they are talking about. They will not expect you to know everything about everything.

 

[sinimini]

Oh, might be worth saying how you're sick of hearing bad things about bankers in the papers. Should be endearing stuff and get them talking about their opinion on tax rates and how unfair they are. Putting the world to rights and all that! :clap:

 

[traderman1]

You have two ears and one mouth.
Use them in the correct ratio and you will be fine.

And remember that the more you speak, the more chance you have of showing what you don't know. It is better to remain quiet and keep them guessing.