Is a 'quant/algo trader' job more similar to a programming job than a regular trader?

[jonny87]

I'm thinking of applying to the role of Junior Quant Trader but I'm not sure whether it would be my thing or not compared to a regular trader.

The basic salary is £50k roughly, which is great for a gradaute salary, but I'm wondering if perhaps regular trading would be more exciting and enjoyable than a quant trader since the latter is trading by creating algorithms on computers and I'm wondering if the role may be more similar to a programming job than a regular trading job. I also get impression that my fellow quant traders are likely to be more geeky than normal traders due to the heavy programming element of the job...and that puts me off tbh (I'm mooving to Londond and won't know anyone so its important fo me to be able to get one well with my colleagues).

Also would a basic salary for a regular graduate level trader (at thhose firms that give a basic salary) be as much as £50k?

Can anyone shed some light on this for me please?

Thanks

 

[Benj1981]

I'm thinking of applying to the role of Junior Quant Trader but I'm not sure whether it would be my thing or not compared to a regular trader.

The basic salary is £50k roughly, which is great for a gradaute salary, but I'm wondering if perhaps regular trading would be more exciting and enjoyable than a quant trader since the latter is trading by creating algorithms on computers and I'm wondering if the role may be more similar to a programming job than a regular trading job. I also get impression that my fellow quant traders are likely to be more geeky than normal traders due to the heavy programming element of the job...and that puts me off tbh (I'm mooving to Londond and won't know anyone so its important fo me to be able to get one well with my colleagues).

Also would a basic salary for a regular graduate level trader (at thhose firms that give a basic salary) be as much as £50k?

Can anyone shed some light on this for me please?

Thanks

Apply and worry about those problems if they materialise

but if its excitment ur lookin for, u could apply to be private security in iraq or afghansmokethedopestan.

 

[Rhody Trader]

The short answer is yes, quant jobs are very heavily biased toward programming, model development, etc. You're really just setting up a computer to do all the trading. If you're looking for something more discretionary (you do your own analysis) then this isn't the sort of thing you're after. That aside, also consider the position requirements. They tend to be very math/stat intensive, sometimes even requiring PhDs.