October 26th, 2009, 4:18 am
Hey, man. I think your situation isn't completely uncommon. I graduated in 2008 with an MFE from a top school, and I took the one any only trading job I was offered, which was in FX (spot, forwards, currency swaps, NDFs). The fact is, though, I was lucky to get a first-year analyst job. Most of the kids in my class weren't so lucky. A few had better luck than me, and a few had worse.I ended up leaving after my analyst programme ended because flow FX isn't where I want to be. Whilst it might not be market risk, I also don't use any math skills whatsoever. Ideally, I want to be an options trader, but options simply wasn't an option this past year. Very few kids got the chance to start on a good market-making desk in any sort of options-related product because those desks were shinking as structured products became less sexy. And most of the kids I know who started on options desk didn't do anything. I mean...I got coffee for people. I got teas, breakfast, and lunch too. I would move people's cars. I would get their groceries for them. I was a 'go-for' ('go for some burgers today,' for instance). At the same time, though, I got to trade. I traded a lot. I traded prop because no one could potty-train me on one of the franchise books, so I had to make money for myself. There was a bit of luck involved. I was given responsibility because people thought I could handle it and they liked me. I was given more responsibility because I was good. Most importantly, though, they liked me. You won't be given a shot if people don't like you.In your case, you need to figure out a way to move into the front office. No one is going to come to the backoffice looking for a trader. I wouldn't (mostly because our back office guy couldn't remember my name despite talking to me EVERY DAY for a year--Winston, if you're reading this, you're a moron). You have to somehow get to work with the FO guys. They have to want to bring you onto their desk, because they have to want to train you. They have to want to hang around you.Since you're a young man who (presumably) has debt associated with his MFE, I think you have two options: 1.) Finagle some project work out of your boss that lets you interact directly with the traders whilst applying for analyst/associate programmes right now. I don't know what bank you work at, so I don't know if you are based in the same physical location as your trading floor, but you need face-time. Someone needs to see that you're not just another BO jubb. And eventually, you need to ask to get on the trading desk. You have to make it known that you want to be a trader. After working with someone on the desk, you're going to need to speak with the desk head, and you're going to have to ask to move onto the desk. Some people respect pluck. You could do it tomorrow, if you wanted (and you know someone--otherwise, why would they listen?). And it's a lot harder to tell someone 'no' in-person than over the phone or by e-mail. I mean, asking straight up if you can join the desk of someone you've never met nor had any interaction with is unlikely to be a successful tactic. But if you've had some contact with them, and you have an honest conversation with them, asking if you can, say, sit with them for a few days to learn more about the business, they're going to have a hard time turning down your request.2.) Talk to your current boss about your goals, and see what he thinks and (hopefully) if he can make some introductions for you. It might be hard to talk to him, but what do you have to lose? A shitty job in the back office that you don't like, and which isn't adding value to your CV in a meaningful way? Unless you're desperate for a paycheck, I don't see the downside. If he doesn't understand your situation and refuses to help, quit and try your hand at applying to analyst programmes right now. You're not too old to start on a sales and trading analyst programme. Most of the people on options desks don't come straight out of undergrad anyway. I don't see how you could get an associate role on a trading desk without any trading experience, so I don't think that working for another year, then applying to b-school, then applying for associate roles is going to do you much good. Also, since you already have an MFE, an MBA doesn't add much value to your CV in the eyes of a trader. The job market isn't as bad as it was a few months ago. It's certainly nowhere near where it was a year ago. Banks under-hired in the past 2 years, so they're now looking to beef up their ranks a bit. And we always need coffee-runners (I actually like getting the coffee--most of the time, you get a free cup of coffee out of the deall; also, the coffee order doesn't get F'ed hard when I do it), so there will always be a need for analysts.I think, though, that if you have a competitive CV, and you're already inside a good firm, I would talk to your boss. Jobs are about connections. Use your existing connections. Who do you know that actually trades? Anyone from your MFE? Do any of your professors know industry insiders? Your boss in the MO/BO must know some people in the FO. If he advocates for you, and is willing to allow you the chance to sit with the FO guys for a week or two (perhaps offer to use your vacation time for this as opposed to asking him to make the introductions and then pay you whilst you're trying your best to defect). Talk to headhunters, and make sure they know you are looking for a FO analyst position. Make sure of it. Don't waffle. It won't do you any good.Anyway, I hope this helps.