Trader

Trader job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Key responsibilities include:

• collating relevant information and data
• liaising closely with sales staff and inter-dealer brokers
• determining market sentiment via research, valuation and data analysis
• monitoring UK and international market performance
• making prices in specific products
• providing key parties with daily trading information
• interpreting financial/market reports
• informing sales staff about market movements/prices
• executing trades
• gaining information from sales staff about client issues.

Trading offers high levels of responsibility, good promotional opportunities and impressive financial rewards including generous salaries and large bonuses.

Typical employers of traders

• financial houses
• investment banks
• exchanges such as The London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (LIFFE)
• treasury departments of major companies.

Vacancies are advertised by careers services, city or financial recruitment agencies, in The Evening Standard, The Financial Times and specialist publications such as The Economist. Investment banks start recruitment very early in the academic year. Sector and company research, attending presentations, and networking are essential.

Qualifications and training required

A good degree (2.1) in any subject is required for entry into the profession. Qualifications in economics, politics, business, financial or numerate subjects can be useful. Relevant experience gained via job shadowing, placements or vacation work (internships) is beneficial.

Key skills for traders

• confidence
• numerical skills
• IT skills
• communication skills
• analytical skills
• interpersonal skills
• teamworking skills.