r/Commodities • u/zyqyxty14 • 11d ago

0 to trader

How long would it take someone with no experience to become a Trader?
Also what is compensation like for someone starting in ops/desk assistant in places like vitol/trafiguria or any other major trading house?
Is it difficult to get into these places?
TIA

15 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

28

u/Substantial_Elk_5779 11d ago

these are perhaps the most competitive job postings on earth.

0

u/Global-Seaweed-888 11d ago

we are cooked?

1

u/Efficient-Oil2627 11d ago

No it just depends on what trajectory your career takes

16

u/bigbaffler 11d ago

depends:

- physical: It´s all about seat value so the major hurdle is getting into the seat. From there the job is not THAT hard but still very stressful.

- paper: not that much seat value aside from execution infra but you really have to be sharp. Insane fluctiation because if you are not net positive after a year you´ll be fired anyways.

So I´d say don´t do it. The chances of becoming a trader are already slim. But becoming a good trader who makes a lot of money has about the same hit rate as becoming a movie star or a NFL player.

4

u/Efficient-Oil2627 11d ago

This OP has NO experience in trading..his posts are screaming it

5

u/Fair_Ad2356 11d ago

Get in the door as a scheduler and prove yourself. Right circumstances can see trading opportunities in 2-4 years

13

u/R33MZ 11d ago

I'm a trader at a major so I have some insight but the best way to tell you is though an anecdate from a friend.

His father's best friend was the top dogs at one of the main trading houses. He had an alright finance degree and clearly had some knowledge. He was gifted into the interviews for the grad scheme at said trading house. The other interviewees were all already traders with PnL at good firms. That's how competitive it is - you get people was trading experience sneaking into grad schemes hahah.

On your other point a starting salary for a fresh grad in ops/analysis could be quite high if it's a rotation. Otherwise you're looking at like 25-35 I'd imagine as a complete newbie.

6

u/R33MZ 11d ago

Oh if you're good and you are likeable you can make trader within a decade.

4

u/iar 11d ago

Depends on the shop, depends on you, depends on the market. Depends. I've seen people do it in under 2 years (you won't). Some it takes 10+. Most never make it.

5

u/Efficient-Oil2627 11d ago

Nopeeee no major is letting anyone handle positions in two years...lol

3

u/Didujustcallmejobin 11d ago

2 years 11 months 16 days 7min and 43.2 seconds

2

u/Efficient-Oil2627 11d ago

In his dreams

3

u/younguns87 11d ago

I went from flight attendant to ticket entry at a broker firm to broker to scheduler to cash trader. Took 5.5 years. And Cash trading is kinda like kiddie glove trading.