Say goodbye to the dream

[Jason Strasser (strassa2)]

If you asked me this summer, there wasn't much chance that I wouldn't be playing professional poker for at least a little while after graduation. Well, this year I decided to put some energy into applying for jobs, and it turned out to go way better than expected... You dont need to know anything about finance to get a trading job, and they really look fondly on good poker skills, and some firms don't get too caught up with grades.

I had a good long thought about my options and in the end it comes down to the fact that I am likely at my most "marketable" to the trading world now. If I took time off for poker, I'd have a lot less leverage and would not be as young or seem as motivated/engaged in the eyes of some firms on wall street. I'd also look very desperate perhaps (IE, oh look he failed playing poker NOW he wants a finance job, he probably is just in it because his first option didnt work out, how motivated can he be?) In addition, with online poker very much looking like a crappy option, poker is a lot more unappealing as a career. Plus, I want to be involved in social circles that extend beyond poker social circles. All these factors led me to aggressively apply for jobs this recruiting season... Plus I am genuinely convinced this would be a great field for me to be in next year.

So with my sub-3 gpa, but beautiful looks and schmoozing abilities, I have an offer from Morgan Stanley trading single stock equity derivatives, and an offer from JP Morgan on their Commodities desk. I also am in late round interviews with a third firm (Goldman Sachs). There is no doubt I will end up at one of these companies this July.

I guess this post is a little depressing in a way, but I feel like I am probably making the best long-term decision for me, at the expense of living the life right out of college.

Any thoughts about these decisions, or the 2 firms I got offers from (I am undecided at the moment), or HU bankroll challenges would be appreciated. Right now I'm feeling pretty good about a life in New York working for a pretty good firm. The hours are something like 6:30am to between 5-8pm at night, so serious hours. Pay is probably exactly what you'd expect for a first year job on wall street, I'm not going to post numbers but your first guess is probably correct.

-Jason