Hi everyone,I need some advice from people who has the same background.I have an engineering degree. However, I love trading. Was hoping to become a professional trader and has found the position as a trainee trader. My other interest is software development but as I am not trained in my course, what I have is basic programming skills.The dilemma here is Trader or Software.If i choose either, I will not be able to re-enter at entry level if i wish to switch back (i think) and I'm not really very keen on general engineering. I am really at a loss. Hope someone who can give me some advice. Thank you in advance!

Unless you are a top notch Silicon Valley guy, forget about software.

Some trading jobs are pretty awful dead ends, but generally I'd pick it over s/w

its probably easier to trade for you job & stay interested in/good at software than vice versa. you might be able to trade & do useful & relevant programming projects on the side if you have time; you almost certainly can't develop software & seriously trade anything as a side project.

Odusseus, DCFC & samyonez, thanks for responding to my thread. Seriously I'm lost about my career path. I'm 26 this year. Just graduated last yr. didnt like my first job and quit. I'm not a silicon valley guy. My programming skills are just basic though i have interest in reading up about the technical side of programming. However, the truth is out in this world, soft skills count. I have this habit that once i get into programming, i will lost myself and my autistic symptoms will surface. Typically, I spend a lot of energy trying to appear normal. I certainly cant afford to stay as a programmer for long as I started out on programming in my 20s, so I'm way behind. And nowadays, with jobs outsourced to India, this job doesnt offer security. I may work really hard to upgrade but in the end, i may just get kicked out.As for trading, I started earlier then programming. However, I haven't really traded to any true success. Similarly to programming, trading is a job where performance and not hard work count. I'm kinda of worried that I may be dropped out as a trainee trader after 2-3 years and I will have to look for another job. To be honest, besides trading and programming, I dont really have any skills. Anyone been in my shoes b4?Geez, I'm really feeling alone right now!

If you want a chat PM me, and we can talk through this stuff.

QuoteOriginally posted by: LoveTradingOdusseus, DCFC & samyonez, thanks for responding to my thread. Seriously I'm lost about my career path. I'm 26 this year. Just graduated last yr. didnt like my first job and quit. I'm not a silicon valley guy. My programming skills are just basic though i have interest in reading up about the technical side of programming. However, the truth is out in this world, soft skills count. I have this habit that once i get into programming, i will lost myself and my autistic symptoms will surface. Typically, I spend a lot of energy trying to appear normal. I certainly cant afford to stay as a programmer for long as I started out on programming in my 20s, so I'm way behind. And nowadays, with jobs outsourced to India, this job doesnt offer security. I may work really hard to upgrade but in the end, i may just get kicked out.As for trading, I started earlier then programming. However, I haven't really traded to any true success. Similarly to programming, trading is a job where performance and not hard work count. I'm kinda of worried that I may be dropped out as a trainee trader after 2-3 years and I will have to look for another job. To be honest, besides trading and programming, I dont really have any skills. Anyone been in my shoes b4?Geez, I'm really feeling alone right now! Except for menial jobs, can you cite any examples where hard work counts over performance?

That may be a good definition of "menial work".However, it must be said, that having talked to IT people at a number of banks the most important factor they perceive in their bonus allocation is the hours they do.When I mention the notion of real delivery, they look at me as a naive fool (I get that a lot).,

LoveTrading, I am in similar shoes to you. I graduated last year w/ a BS in Comp. Eng, and have been working for a tech consultancy at a bank. I want to trade, I am a decent programmer, but unlike LoveTrading, I def. prefer trading over s/w. However, unlike LoveTrading I haven't found a trader assistant job, so I could def. use all of your help in this area, I looked on efinancialcareers and careerbuilder but there were not that many posts. So if anyone can tell me where to look and which headhunter help entry-level (i dont have any experience with hhs), I would really appreciate it.Also, I am enrolled in the CQF (no this isn't a plug for CQF for those trying to break into trading) to get a good understanding of various products/models and how to use them.DCFC, I emailed you yesterday with more of my questions at Dominic@PaulDominic.com, please let me know if you would like to be contacted at another email regarding this.

software's a dead field, unless u r in war-torn or overpopulated third world country, and r willing to come to US on h1b