EssexMikeSi

iTrader: (3)

I saw this when playing aroud online searching for jobs which require no previous experience. Ive always had jobs that are manual labour etc and dont require any previous training etc despite the fact i have gcses's, a level and a national diploma (is in art and design and i have no interest in this now). Anyway, at the age of 27 its starting to home in on me that i need to pull my finger out and work towards a proper career path and get somewhere in life. Im worried that ive already left it far too late.

Anyway, people in the know, have a look at the below link and tell me is this just one of those cons where they maybe get money out of you to 'get you started' then nothing progresses. I have so much drive to go far in a career, i just have never known exactly what i'd like to do in life.


http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/10156...nce-necessary/

Any advice, career guidance etc is greatly appreciated. Ive even been thinking lately would i fancy being a painter/decorator, then just got to start off by being taken on as a trainee with a building company. Another slight problem i face is i currently bring home £300 a week, but may well struggle to even get this amount as a trainee

Help! Cheers, Mike

focusv8

That's not working in the stock exchange, it's working from home.

Along the same line as envelope stuffing, and probably the same pay as well.

.

EssexMikeSi

iTrader: (3)

thats what i assumed. Its just one of those well worded things that lead you to think your going to do really well. A friend of mine a few weeks ago said you can get into working in the stock exchange and or working in trades with no previous experience or high qualifications. I dont believe that which why when looking online at jobs etc i thought i'd try and do a search regarding this.

neilscott83

Try and do some evening courses mate see what takes your fancy it's a start.

Markb_s1

Certainly not so much the case now IMO, although it certainly used to be the case.
When I first started up here almost our entire spot yen desk (not the most lucrative desk by any means, but at the time - about 15 years ago - it was doing roaring trade) was made up of ex-dockers.
It was more a matter of who you knew, not what you knew, and whether or not your face fits.

RichardPON

That sort of position is quite common although a lot of places like that scaled down during the recession.

Its no surprise its FX based as FX is very popular at the moment.

Typically, your role would be to learn from an experienced trader. The company fronts your capital, but takes a large percentage of any earnings, including desk fee and back office costs etc...

Eventually, once you are experienced enough, you rent your own desk, but provide all of the risk capital yourself, and are effectively self employed.

The turnover of "staff" in these places is huge, and for every person you hear who makes fortunes, 99 others are out the door within months.


I wouldn't panic about your age either. With some help of friends (including a few people on here), I got a new career path aged 28. Moved into the city, worked my arse off for the past three years, sold all the cars, cut all costs, pretty much stopped using sites like this, and am now about to open my own desk within my company trading the US Equity markets.

I had good office experience etc, but I would be certain you know what you want to do. As much as my job is fun at times, I was also up at 5 a.m. every day and home at 7 p.m., after spending minimum 12 hours highly stressed and not even able to get off the desk for more than a piss.

Let me know if there's anything else I can help with....

CossieRich

iTrader: (1)

Rich,

To put it bluntly you are going to be earning mega bucks then mate? Good for you.

Hope you are well.

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Wow, fair play PON
I remember reading on here how you wanted to get into the city, didnt realised you had managed it to such an extent though

RichardPON

Not necessarily at all mate. Equity markets are generally very very quiet at the moment (although it is holiday time), and a lot of people have taken their money off the table after getting stung over the past couple of years.

However, if I work really hard for the next couple of years and bring in some good clients, I'll do okay for myself....

RichardPON

With help and advice from the likes of Dave and Porkie (couldn't have done it without their direction)....

DaveEscos

Good news Ponster! as I said on IB, youve done well dude!


Equities is SNOOOZEVILLE at the moment.. especially the US!

Yesterday was the years all time trading loooowww.......

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Well like they say with such things, its all down to who you know

And a bucket load of hard slog of course! No good just getting some good pointers you have to have the drive and ambition to realise them.

EssexMikeSi

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for the replies so far.

I think thats half my problem- for some reason ive never known what i'd exactly like to do in life, it seems whenever ive tried to think of a career i'd love to pursue i have a mental blockage.

Don't get me wrong, im not unemployed and just sitting at home on passionford all day, i have this week as holiday and decided its the only real time im going to have to do some research.

Somebody has given me a number i need to called today for a company called seetec who help you get training and employment, although i had also been told that such companies mainly work with people who have no work atm.

I phoned job centre plus yesterday in Chelmsford and basically got told 'well you have a job, think yourself lucky'. Wasn't quite the advice i was looking for.

Richard- Are there any good websites that i can view which will provide me with a insight to working in the city and give me an idea of how to approach getting into working within the trades market? I do wonder if my biggest downfall may be that i didnt stay on at uni and do a degree of some nature.

Mike

Markb_s1

Huge congratulations mate!!! well done!!

BigNige

PON WEll done dude

Thats great to hear . We should do a beer at some point

NIge

DaveEscos

I didnt go to uni.. I just did some poky old A levels and am now a sales trader for a large US brokerage

Jobcentres? knock them on the head! unless you want to work in a fooking factory.

Ring up agencies in the city, get a job in the back office.. work your way to middle office, then build relationships with the traders and get on to a desk as a junior / runner / assistant

Its the way

EssexMikeSi

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for the advice etc Dave, is good to speak with people who are actually there doing the jobs and not some office pen pusher who just wants to sign u up to their agency and just send you jobs for the local wetherspoons etc lmao.

Can anybody send me a link or know of a excellent professional C.V template?

DaveEscos

Spend a few hours on here

www.CityJobs.com

EssexMikeSi

iTrader: (3)

Thanks Dave, i'll do some reading up on there today.

Alan_D

Interesting. I'm really looking for a career path to go down too. I'm 23 at the moment, have been interested in economics and investment for a while now and spend a lot of time reading up about it. Was going to do an open university economics degree because I like to keep busy working, so not a fan of the student life, but if it's possible to get a job at a low level and then work your way up, then that sounds the way to go.

Very helpful thread... I'm just looking at that CityJobs site now.

Dave - when did you go into the field you're in now? Or did you just start there after school?

Rolls

iTrader: (2)

Defo the way to do it IMO...
With with a degree, or more, is still very very tough to get the oportunity trade in certain aspects..

Rolls

iTrader: (2)

You may well find if you can get into the right area back office wise, (as a steping stone..) the company may be willing to help towards tuition costs chap.. - certainly the case here if you want to go down the accounting / ship broking route...

DaveEscos

Alan, did my a levels.. went in to the city in some shit office job, then moved through a few houses working in middle office. Then got on to a desk.

BigNige

Hey BJD how you doing


Long time no speaky too

Nige

Alan_D

Thanks for the replies. Very interesting stuff. The first thing I'll do is speak to my stockbroker about it the next time they phone. I've had a few lengthy chats with the guys there and I think they're under the impression I know what I'm doing, so that might be the best place to start trying.

I'll do anything to be honest, would clean the toilets if it got my foot in the door.

DaveEscos

If you've got a great relationship with your broker.. that is a possible foot in the door.

Who does he work for?

Alan_D

PM sent.

RichardPON

Alan,

I also came in a pretty low level.

Lot of pride to swallow, but if you have an interest in the subject (and I know you do) and are good with excel, and understand the concept, the back office could be a very good place to start.

All of our best traders worked back office before moving up - it gives you a much more rounded outlook on the role.

Alan_D

Thanks.

As I said, I'll take any job as long as there is a chance of progressing, so that's definitely not an issue.

Alan_D

Mike - Sorry for the thread hijack. Lol

EssexMikeSi

iTrader: (3)

Alan- your in a very good position already if you are in contact with them. I like you would do anything if it meant getting my foot in the door. Well apart from in my current job where when i joined almost 2 years ago they said oh we'll start you on this wage and we'll progress you through. 2 years later and im doing the sdame thing despite always asking if theres anything else i can do to further myself within the compnay. The reply i always get is dont worry give it time and continue doing what your doing.

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Mike, IME with regards to career progression (totally different field to what you are in im sure but may still be relevant) the correct approach isnt "what can I do?" and expect to be given tips its to work out where a requirement lies that isnt being filled, and then put yourself forward as someone who can fill the role that your company hadnt even realised yet that they needed someone for.
Maybe there are opportunities that you are missing by hoping others will spot them for you?