SII Exams and Employment

[DT]

Any advice on this plan would be much appreciated.

I'm currently in the UK on R&R, half way through an operational tour in Iraq with the TA. I finish my tour at the end of may and have been looking into the possibility of studying for the Securities Institute certificate in securities and derivatives whilst in Iraq and then sitting the exams in June/July after returning to the UK. I've been interested in trading for a while now and would like to pursue it as a full time career when I finish my tour. My plan at the moment is to sit the SII exams and then send out speculative applications to proprietary trading firms initially and possibly also to look for administrative type positions within other institutions if the former option does not prove successful (basically anything to get my foot in the door). I don't have a PhD or Cambridge degree so IB's and Hedge funds are most likely out of the question and I'm not rich enough to be self funded, though after my tour is finished I should have accumulated sufficient funds to provide for myself in london for a year or two. Prior to going to Iraq I was a computer programmer (a fairly boring career that I don't wish to return to) and I've just turned 24, which I hope isn't too old to still be considered for a position. Is this plan a viable option?

I've looked at the syllabuses and sample papers on the securities institute web-site, they also appear to offer a workbook for the regulatory paper however I couldn't find a similar book for the securities and derivatives paper. Could anyone who's sat the exams recently recommend some books for either paper please?
Any book or web-site recommendations to further my knowledge of trading in general would also be appreciated, so far I've read 'come into my trading room', market wizards and 'reminicences of a stock operator' as well as browsing various threads on the Trade2win and elitetrader forums.

Thanks

Dave

 

[Chrissy T]

I got my material for the exams from 7city (www.7city.com)... I did it as a grad a few years ago and the company paid... Id imagine if you email the SII they would tell you how to access study materials...

By getting the SII exams under your belt you are showing you are keen to get into the industry. Unfortunately its not easy at the moment - lack of volatility in the markets, etc... not aware of many people recruiting. Persevere though!

Any advice on this plan would be much appreciated.

I'm currently in the UK on R&R, half way through an operational tour in Iraq with the TA. I finish my tour at the end of may and have been looking into the possibility of studying for the Securities Institute certificate in securities and derivatives whilst in Iraq and then sitting the exams in June/July after returning to the UK. I've been interested in trading for a while now and would like to pursue it as a full time career when I finish my tour. My plan at the moment is to sit the SII exams and then send out speculative applications to proprietary trading firms initially and possibly also to look for administrative type positions within other institutions if the former option does not prove successful (basically anything to get my foot in the door). I don't have a PhD or Cambridge degree so IB's and Hedge funds are most likely out of the question and I'm not rich enough to be self funded, though after my tour is finished I should have accumulated sufficient funds to provide for myself in london for a year or two. Prior to going to Iraq I was a computer programmer (a fairly boring career that I don't wish to return to) and I've just turned 24, which I hope isn't too old to still be considered for a position. Is this plan a viable option?

I've looked at the syllabuses and sample papers on the securities institute web-site, they also appear to offer a workbook for the regulatory paper however I couldn't find a similar book for the securities and derivatives paper. Could anyone who's sat the exams recently recommend some books for either paper please?
Any book or web-site recommendations to further my knowledge of trading in general would also be appreciated, so far I've read 'come into my trading room', market wizards and 'reminicences of a stock operator' as well as browsing various threads on the Trade2win and elitetrader forums.

Thanks

Dave

 

[DT]

Thanks for the reply, I had looked at 7city and BPP. I also got recommended to look at FTC after one of my friends trained for his tax exams with them. I was originally planning on just getting a couple of books and using the syllabus and sample papers from the SII web-site - basically to save paying some training company £300 for one of their "distance learning" courses. Everyone I've talked to however does seem to recommend the various training companies .

As it is apparently not easy to get into the industry at the moment and my goal eventually is to be a trader would it be advisable for me to study for the Eurex traders exam as well?

 

[Chrissy T]

These companies are very good, but I suppose it depends on how much you already know and also how hard you are prepared to work. I would focus on doing the FSA one as I found Eurex to be ten times harder. I don't think you need Eurex unless you are actually trading Euro products for a big bank but then they would put you through that.

Could you not borrow the notes from someone and teach yourself?

 

[DT]

Unfortunately I don't actually know anyone who's sat the SII exams recently - people I know who recommended using the various training firms were friends from school who had used them for other exams - tax, accountancy, etc..

Thanks for the advice I think I will now order some material from one of the training firms.

 

[Chrissy T]

Send me an email Dave... I have my old FSA stuff still in the office that I can lend you...

Unfortunately I don't actually know anyone who's sat the SII exams recently - people I know who recommended using the various training firms were friends from school who had used them for other exams - tax, accountancy, etc..

Thanks for the advice I think I will now order some material from one of the training firms.

 

[DT]

Thanks for the offer

- e-mail sent -

 

[richfi]

I've got my old SI Certificate stuff too if anyones interested too, thanks.

 

[MrT8]

Hello folks, I'm looking to get my SI certs asap, I'm looking to do both papers (Unit 1 in financial reg. and unit 2 in securities) if anybody has their old study material from the likes of BPP and could save me some cash I would love to hear from you...

 

[mehta_y]

Hello everybody,

I am looking at doing the SII certification course for Investment Management. I would be most thankful If anybody has their study material from one of the training companies. I would need the study material for Unit 1 and Unit 5.

Thanks,
Yogita

 

[badgerbadger]

Unit 1 BPP Regulations

Hi all,

I have Unit 1 Workbook, Mock Exams, Review Exercises pack from BPP, worth a £100, but will take £45 as thats what I paid for it. All in mint condition and includes recent upgrades for Money Laundering Regs.

email me at [email protected] and we can sort any details out.

dave

 

[Stockjunkie]

What's the point of doing SII's if you do not have an employer already ? you don't the cert til your employer endorses it .

In fact , it is better if you took the exam and looked overseas for employment .

 

[badgerbadger]

how so

Overseas Junkie? In what way?

To be fair a lot of firms dont want to pay to do your exams if they have to teach you sales patters also. I've found its give and take. At least where some of the smaller City houses are concerned

D

 

[Stockjunkie]

Overseas Junkie? In what way?

To be fair a lot of firms dont want to pay to do your exams if they have to teach you sales patters also. I've found its give and take. At least where some of the smaller City houses are concerned

D

This is the effect you want:

By getting the SII exams under your belt you are showing you are keen to get into the industry

but it is not truly viable with the pre-job requirement in UK .

Overseas is different as the above effect tends to be more likely .

 

[amit_rwd]

hi
I am looking for sII unit 3 workbook secondhand securrities and financial derivaties any one intersted to sell please???

 

[rog1111]

amit, try PM'ing eatontrade, he has some

rog1111

hi
I am looking for sII unit 3 workbook secondhand securrities and financial derivaties any one intersted to sell please???