currency job question

Hey guys,
I've just graduated college and am applying for currency type positions in banks etc. I have some interviews coming up and I have prepared some fundamental along with some technical analysis that I have done in metatrader and fx. However I am a newbish...and was wonderinfg if any of you guys could tell me some things that I could prepare that would really impress the interviewer with. If there is anything I could prepare? Any information you guys could give me on what would impress them would be really helpful. Thanks.

G'day

My tip is .... dont tell them your a trader or have traded previously.

Express your passion for finance, and your interest to learn and succeed. However, do not mention - your have traded or have tried to trade - this is a big NO NO.

Banks dont want people who 'think' their traders - they want young, enthusiastic people, who they can mould.

Also - Banks are a big boys club. If you walk into an interview showing that you think you know everything, your probably going to walk out of the interview with no response.

If you are an established trader, with 15 years experience and proven record, they may take you on.

However, in most cases they only choose the younger variety - cause the shelf life of an average trader at a banking institution is 2-3 years.

Cheers

Rusty

thanks that gave me a really good insight. How do I balance it though? Cause I don't want to seem like I know everything but I want to show them how interested and motivated I am. any suggestions? If I was to take one thing in with me to show them what I could do that would blow them away and hire me what would it be? haha serious answers only to this last question and realistic haha. thanks guys.

I have never worked in a bank but I agree with rusty. They won't want to pay you while you learn what you want to do for yourself.

I would think they would be iterested to know that you are keen to learn more about Finance, Interests Rates and or Global Ecconomics.

Perhaps a snippet of info on your opinion of current Domestic ecconomic conditions. {Do you see a Growth in Bank Lending ?} The Boomers have particular banking needs and .... blah .... blah .... blah.


Good Luck. Hope you find what you are looking for.
But if you go in whith your six shooters slung low... Expect to keep looking.
Steady & Staid.

I would agree with Bemac.

Perhaps. also - you could take in something you have learned from your days at university. Something that interests you that helped you envision yourself as a trader in the future, that also sends across the message that you are extremely passionate about finance - and you are an avid learner who didnt stuff around at uni all them years and seriously took something out of it.

Also, mention extra-cirricular activities you have an immediate passion for. Sporting achievements, charity work. etc.

Its not about what you know, that will get you on to the trading desk. Its about the kinda person you are.

The people who are going to employ you, have to connect with you, and have to like you - for you to be able to get a role with them.

Cheers

Rusty

I do a fair amount of hiring at an engineering firm - so not in finance but I can tell you what I look for when I hire someone right out of college.

When I hire someone right out of college I know they're coming in with book knowledge but not much practical experience. So I look for someone who is motivated to learn and has a good work ethic. If they get through their schoolwork in a reasonable amount of time and with reasonable grades, then that's a good sign. If they have shown some kind of interest or work experience over the summer or internship in the job they're applying for, that's great.

I look for someone who both talks and listens in an interview. I like folks who listen to what I'm saying about our projects and ask good questions and get a dialog going. They don't just spout off knowledge, but they show that they are thoughtfully considering the projects we mention to them. They also don't just sit there and nod their head and say nothing.

I would say the biggest turn off is a fresh college graduate with a know-it-all attitude because I know I won't be able to teach them anything and they're probably not going to be willing to start at the bottom and learn the ropes anyway.

It really all boils down to attitude. I'll hire someone with a good attitude and an aptitude to learn over someone with more knowledge but a lousy attitude. If I hire someone experienced, it's a different story, but when we hire folks right out of college we're looking for potential more than current knowledge.

So my advice is dress well, be respectful, show interest in the work of the company, and above all show that you want to work hard and learn. Don't ask about pay and vacation. Convince the company that you have a lot of potential and you want to learn the way they do things, and you've got a good shot at getting a job. You'd be surprised how few and far between college graduates with really good attitudes are. And keep in mind that when you go in for the interview, the person on the other side of the desk wants to like you and wants it to work out.

One more thing - make sure that you research each company you interview with and know them well before you go to the interview.

Squid

Hey squid what engineering firm do you work for ?

THanks guys you are really helping me prepare. If you would have to say the top 3 qualities that an employer is looking for, what would you say?

I'd rather not say because I've seen some people at work get in trouble for using the company name on blogs and forums in what the company somehow manages to interpret to be in a negative way. Being a bit paranoid here I'll just say we're a large defense company and do ME, Civil, EE and CE. That narrows it down to a handful of firms ;-)

Squid

Hi jimred, you might browse NuclearPhynance forum: there are a number of headhunters (and traders) there, so it's a good place to get institution market information. Quite quant oriented however.
A more typical forum where you can get some kind of info is EliteTrader, but there you'll have to sort out the good advise from the BS.

Good luck!

Hey,

I'm going to do a little PPP NZDUSD analysis. Could anyone tell me where I can find the PPP data to make a graph the same as this one http://www.hussmanfunds.com/html/euro.htm but NZDUSD? Thanks.

Try New Zealand's equivalent of the US Treasury. Sorry I'm too lazy to go figure out what it's called...

Just my two cents.

I am a couple of years out of uni and have interviewed for three trading jobs over the past year and a half. Of the three, one asked me if I had traded before (it was a jr trader role on the interest rate derivs desk). After we spoke about how I wanted to be a trader, and wanted to learn to be a good trader, etc, they asked had I trader before. I answered honestly 'no' and I could tell that it did not go down well.

It was after that interview that I decided to try some trading on the side.