To the OP.
Firstly it depends on whether you really want to do this, I mean REALLY beyond anything else because that is generally what it takes, the skill set required, in my opininion, is the same skill set that is required to reach the top of any field. You have to be totally focussed, humble and have a lot of mental discipline to do the things that feel horrible but in the long run lead to success.
Secondly, and unfortunately this matters far more than the first point in the short term. Do you have what it takes to be hired by a firm? Trading companies are generally very snobbish about who they hire. Despite the fact there is virtually no correlation between academic success and your ability to be a prop trader (purely take speculative views on the market, i.e not trading off client order flow, hedging derivatives against cash etc) in my professional experience. Banks/hedge funds etc get to be as picky as they like. To get into a large trading house such as a bank or specialist commodity desk etc basically requires outstanding academics from GCSE to Degree (if not masters) just for your CV to get past first round screening. You will also be required to work incredibly long hours doing roles that are not related to trading a lot of the time for the first 6 months to a year... its just part of the game. But in return you will be rewarded well, you will have a lot more career stability than a self employed trader and once you are in the inner circle of these companies you can generally move between them reasonably easily.
Your best bet is to trade your own account for a Prop Firm. IF you are good the rewards are limitless. But it is a huge commitment. Most places will want you to put money down and therefore you are trading your own funds, minimum is about £10k. Unless you KNOW you can make money do NOT do this. In trading £10k is loose change, factor in £2k a month desk fees and after 2-3 months of slow trading your pretty much out the game.
What I would suggest is start trading your own acount, spreadbetting, currencies, stocks (not futures if you are starting out, again, you need deep pockets). Build up some consistency, it isnt about making money at this stage, if you try and make an income off of a £1000 account you will almost certainly lose your account because you are trading with too much leverage. Just prove to yourself you can finish up every week. Once you get to this stage you are already better than 90% of the people out there that got impatient at making such small amounts, increased their size and blew there account up after 10 losing trades in a row (which does happen). Stay small, get consistent, then send your returns to one of the many prop houses. Most of them will willingly back somebody that has proven their consistency as you are a low risk potentially high reward opportunity to them.
Hope this helps
