Say goodbye to the dream

[Rotating Rabbit]

Jason

I work in the financial sector.

Take the derivatives one any day of the week and twice sunday, and its not close.

Basically because the intelligence required is greater (or is widely perceived to be), you are more likely to find it to be more of a meritocracy, where the best get promoted faster than the bluffers (a lot of financial sector employees just people taking up space who have superior juniors beneath them, you want to be in a area where results are plain for all to see, so you dont end up in a traffic jam). Thats if you're genuinly good that is.

RR

[Rotating Rabbit]

[ QUOTE ]
a,

"i-bankers actually work 14+++ hours/day their first couple of years"

Jason is not going to be an i-banker. What in this thread gave you that idea?


[/ QUOTE ]

Trading desks fall within the equities departments, which themselves fall into the sphere of Investment Banking in basically all global banks, both for compensation and financial reporting.

I.e. rather confusingly there is an investment banking department within the investment bank. Theyre not the same thing. So its easy to be ambiguous.

[dknightx]

anywhere to read online to learn more about a career in trading or i-banking?

[Jason Strasser (strassa2)]

Can you elaborate more on why these jobs will not be available to me later. I have a few ideas why and it definitely motivated me in the job search... But Im curious what you have to say about it.

[Yeti]

jason,

sounds like a great opportunity. poker will always be there. good luck.

[fish2plus2]

can someone tell me how or why some of these guys have to work 12hrs/day? how is that productive for the company? why dont they work normal hours?

[Indiana]

Yo Jason,

I always thought u were a great and intelligent guy so I'll give u my feedback on your decision. I think you are making a good choice given how things are going right now with poker. Ultimately, this will be very good for your resume...BUT...I think that a smart guy like you may get weary of big corporate politics over time and will return to poker. Go out there and enjoy this opportunity and try to make something of it...but my prediction is that the 9-5 (or 6-9) life won't be satisfying enough for you. Personally, if I lost my right to play online poker today...well I'd quit this 9-5 $100K+ job that I have right now and move to vegas simply for the intellectual stimulation and freedom I'd get from poker.

GL bro,

Indy

[PrayingMantis]

GL jason, I'm not surprised that you are deciding to go this way, especially at such times with the new legislation. I think you are the kind of person who in a way is more interested in the challenge than the pure money, and that makes it even a better decision. Nothing like a new challenge in life. Long hours and all of this is really insiginficant if you are doing something you find rewarding (in whatever way) and interesting. I'm sure it's gonna be tough tho, but you'll be fine.

(btw, I'm researching into forex lately, basically teaching myself with the help of some others. I find some superficial similarities to poker, mainly on the "mental level" (I don't have other name for it), that is - the ability to repeatedly make the best decisions without being effected too much by "luck" (good or bad) and pressure. I'm sure you have this ability and I hope it will work for you fine in other games than poker).

[PartyGirlUK]

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can someone tell me how or why some of these guys have to work 12hrs/day? how is that productive for the company? why dont they work normal hours?

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My suspicion is that part of it is a selection tool - succeeding in these jobs takes great mental toughness and dedication, single minded commitment to the job, and making these guys work insane hours is a way of weeding out the weak. When I did my internship, the people in Corporate Finance had some horror stories. Working until 01:00 was standard, and so was working both days of the weekend. One guy was working until 05:00, and only went home when his bosses told him he had done enough and should go home and get some sleep - but to be in for 08:00 as usual. Personally, dont see he could be productive working those hours, but he proved his dedication/stamina, I guess.

[lapoker17]

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can someone tell me how or why some of these guys have to work 12hrs/day? how is that productive for the company? why dont they work normal hours?

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kkf - 60 hours a week is at the lower end for most people who are successful in business/make a lot of money.