wilmott.com

Hey, one question about starting a career in derivatives trading. If you had the choice of starting at a top tier IB or at one of the boutique style places, e.g. the optivers, liquid capitals, imcs and so on... - where would you want to start? Who offers the better training? Also, anyone heard of the differences between the boutiques or do they all have the same corporate culture?Thx, for your lines.

IBs. They have better reputation and you will be more employable in a few years time assuming that both roles are exactly the same. Smaller firms may offer you more stuffs to learn since you have to get your hands dirty on a lot more stuffs. Roles in large IBs are a lot more specific plus they have more support staffs so their trading staffs seem to be a lot more relax (Other ppl may disagree but that is what I see personally).

IB. You meet more people, make better connections. Training is equally good in both places but better to have a name on your resume.

but you can jump to an ib from a boutique. much harder the other way around.

thanks for your comments - that helped. there seems to be a clear hierarchy