So you’ve graduated a fine \u00c2\u00a0university with a degree in math, economics, CS, or some other actually useful piece of paper showing you know (theoretically anyway) how to do something of use to society. \u00c2\u00a0Congratulations! \u00c2\u00a0At job fairs all over the country at the best schools, or perhaps the schools that company recruiters went to anyway, trading companies want to hand you the keys to a decent salary, possible ridiculous bonus, hot secretaries, and the best office digs money can buy. \u00c2\u00a0Oh, and a couple billion dollar trading limit if that’s what you’re into.<\/p>\n
Should you take it?<\/p>\n
Do you like money?<\/p>\n
Do you like money more than anything else in the world?<\/p>\n
That’s the question you have to ask yourself. \u00c2\u00a0You’ll make more than enough to live on. \u00c2\u00a0You’ll probably get a bonus ranging from a couple months salary to the type of money your parents wouldn’t be comfortable thinking about. \u00c2\u00a0The office will be wonderfully furnished, and the work will be interesting. \u00c2\u00a0They’ll only hire the hottest HR women, the prettiest secretaries. \u00c2\u00a0Free drinks, snacks, bar after hours, a car service, free insurance, paid breakfast lunch and dinner. \u00c2\u00a0It’s a crazy world.<\/p>\n
It’s also all you’ll have.<\/p>\n
Traders – you’re in it for money. \u00c2\u00a0That’s what you *do* after all. \u00c2\u00a0Play along for a couple of years, save your bonuses, and start a restaurant. \u00c2\u00a0Live a life of boring luxury if you want. \u00c2\u00a0IT folks, you’re my people. \u00c2\u00a0I don’t do it for the money – it’s sure as heck nice though. \u00c2\u00a0You probably do it because it’s coolest work you’ll ever find. \u00c2\u00a0You can use your beloved language (ahem, perl) because it’s what you’re the fastest and most productive in. The best, fastest, newest everything you can find. \u00c2\u00a0But you’re working for the traders. \u00c2\u00a0The traders make the company money, you are an expense. \u00c2\u00a0Sure, they give lip service saying that you’re all equal, but you’re not, are you? \u00c2\u00a0When they stay late so they can have more profits on their books it’s a measurable thing that shows up at the end of the year in their bonus. \u00c2\u00a0When you stay late, it’s so you don’t get yelled at. \u00c2\u00a0Uptime doesn’t measure to actual dollars.<\/p>\n
\n- There’s no place in the world like the financial industry. \u00c2\u00a0The companies nearly literally do nothing but create money. \u00c2\u00a0Salaries are good, bonuses are better. \u00c2\u00a0I don’t know of anyplace in the world you can make as much. \u00c2\u00a0Period.<\/li>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/ul>\n
\n
- Benefits<\/li>\n
\n- Benefits match salaries. 100% paid health, vision, dental, AD&D, life insurance policies. \u00c2\u00a0Free food. \u00c2\u00a0Paid transportation – public, light rail, parking passes. \u00c2\u00a0Drinks and frequent outings and parties. \u00c2\u00a0Snacks and gym memberships.<\/li>\n<\/blockquote>\n
- It’s interesting work<\/li>\n
\n- Figuring out low latency systems, writing programs that handle billions of dollars, tying systems made of dozens or hundreds of smaller programs together. \u00c2\u00a0New algorithms, different languages, the flexibility to change things. \u00c2\u00a0All make for time flying doing cool things.<\/li>\n<\/blockquote>\n
- Smart people<\/li>\n
\n- The smartest people money can buy! \u00c2\u00a0They’re not hidden in a think tank or back room either – they’re right next to you making your brilliant ideas sound silly and trivial in comparison. \u00c2\u00a0So many great people to learn from. \u00c2\u00a0Steal their book lists, read their favorite websites, pick their brains. \u00c2\u00a0Making you smarter makes the company money too, after all.<\/li>\n<\/blockquote>\n
- Office environment<\/li>\n
\n- Ever seen a trader’s station? \u00c2\u00a0The only limiting factor in the number of screens they get is their peripheral vision. \u00c2\u00a0Six 30″ lcd’s orientated vertically with 19″ monitors on top of that. \u00c2\u00a0Tech people get the hand-me-downs, of course, but you still get rather good hardware usually. \u00c2\u00a0Aeron chairs, anything ergonomic the office manager can find. \u00c2\u00a0Shiny toys bought by vendors for the company. \u00c2\u00a0Giant-screen TV’s everywhere. \u00c2\u00a0Kitchen to hang out in. \u00c2\u00a0Everything is beautiful and functional.<\/li>\n<\/blockquote>\n
- Cool toys<\/li>\n
\n- Brand new routers, switches, servers. \u00c2\u00a0Fiber. \u00c2\u00a0Network cards with their own operating system. \u00c2\u00a0Fiber fabrics that use different frequencies of light to get more bandwidth. \u00c2\u00a0GPS time servers. \u00c2\u00a0At least gigabit everything. \u00c2\u00a0Terabyte storage arrays. \u00c2\u00a0Entire floors of a building designed around cooling. \u00c2\u00a0Datacenters. \u00c2\u00a0It’s really freaking cool.<\/li>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/ul>\n
Why you should say no<\/h3>\n
\n
- You’re admitting you’re a whore<\/li>\n
\n- There’s no nicer way to put this one. \u00c2\u00a0You are saying that \u00c2\u00a0you value money over anything else. \u00c2\u00a0Health, morality, family. \u00c2\u00a0You’re only in it for the money, and the company you work for doesn’t do anything but make money.<\/li>\n<\/blockquote>\n
- You will burn out<\/li>\n
\n- Ten hour days will get you fired for not showing up. \u00c2\u00a0The pace is frantic, at the end of the day your brain melts. \u00c2\u00a0Adrenaline from the awesome parts of the job doesn’t do it after a while. \u00c2\u00a0Sleep is for poor people.<\/li>\n<\/blockquote>\n
- The work stops being interesting<\/li>\n
\n- Yes, you can spend another year working to make your system trade faster. \u00c2\u00a0Just like last year. \u00c2\u00a0There isn’t even a target to shoot for. \u00c2\u00a0Just “faster”.<\/li>\n<\/blockquote>\n
- Smart, but narrowly focused people<\/li>\n
\n- The mighty Wolfram is famous for this. \u00c2\u00a0“I’ll see you this weekend” “No, I’m watching the super bowl.” \u00c2\u00a0“What’s a super bowl?” \u00c2\u00a0The people around you (and you, by extension) focus so much on the ways to make the company more money that nothing else exists. \u00c2\u00a0You have to be so good at what you do to stay ahead that that’s all you can focus on.<\/li>\n<\/blockquote>\n
- Work-life balance does not exist<\/li>\n
\n- See also You will burn out, above. \u00c2\u00a0They buy you for the hefty fees you are making. \u00c2\u00a0Wake up early to get in before market open, work, then study your job when you get home. \u00c2\u00a0We were actually planning to put convertible couches into the conference rooms for sleeping.<\/li>\n<\/blockquote>\n
- Chaotic work environment<\/li>\n
\n- Ever been to a casino? \u00c2\u00a0That’s a lot like the floor. \u00c2\u00a0You don’t even have the token courtesy of cubicle walls to stop the ringing, talking, yelling, sheep noises, etc. \u00c2\u00a0Add to that constant interruptions and a lot of work gets done. \u00c2\u00a0Badly.<\/li>\n<\/blockquote>\n
- Paranoia<\/li>\n
\n- These companies are secretive, and for good reason. \u00c2\u00a0Everything from hardware, to network paths, to what programming language is fodder for the enemy. \u00c2\u00a0Trading is a zero-sum game, after all.<\/li>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/ul>\n
Is it worth it?<\/h3>\n
Hell yes. \u00c2\u00a0Or maybe not. \u00c2\u00a0Try it. \u00c2\u00a0If it doesn’t go against your ethics, you don’t mind taking a few years off from productive life, and can keep yourself broad enough while making it in the world there, it’s an amazing experience. \u00c2\u00a0And the money doesn’t hurt.<\/p>\n
At least if you can handle the negatives. \u00c2\u00a0And they’re real. \u00c2\u00a0You’re supporting traders. \u00c2\u00a0You can be the head of IT, the lead SysAdmin, the brilliant network engineer. \u00c2\u00a0Whatever. \u00c2\u00a0You’re a monkey who works for the lowest trader. \u00c2\u00a0If the company talks about work-life balance, it’s because they’ve had trouble with people quitting recently and that’s what they mentioned. \u00c2\u00a0If they don’t, it’s because they don’t believe in it. \u00c2\u00a0That said, it’s amazing work. \u00c2\u00a0It’s fast work. \u00c2\u00a0It’s educating work. \u00c2\u00a0It’s inspiring and depressing. \u00c2\u00a0If you can disassociate yourself from what you do, and be awesome at doing it, it’s really really worth it. \u00c2\u00a0Personally? \u00c2\u00a0I have no problems admitting I do what I do for money if the job is interesting enough that I’d do it anyway. \u00c2\u00a0Give more to charity if it bothers you. \u00c2\u00a0If you can’t handle time time, though, you’re not going to do well. \u00c2\u00a0All I can do is try to present it so you can make an educated choice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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