I've recently been offered a couple of jobs for assistant/trainee trader with SIG, IMC and, on a different note, a cancer research group (as a senior researcher). The cancer research group pays about the same as the base for the trading jobs and my skills are extremely valuable. I was wondering how pay increases for places like SIG/IMC as a trader after a couple of years and if I ask, will they give me a realistic answer? I'm *incredibly* interested in trading and would jump at the jobs if it weren't for this particular research job (world class team that has made huge *real* progress). Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
That cancer research job sounds like a really exciting opportunity. However if you are just after money... There is probably more room for career advancement in trading if the cancer research job is strictly a salary based position. If as a cancer researcher you get a stake in any breakthroughs the group develops, there is more profit potential there if you get lucky.
Thanks for the reply Not sure if you meant money or career advancement in terms of benefiting from the cancer research stuff. It's with a government institute, so definitely not in it for the money. In terms of career advancement, the kind of stuff I do (data mining) is definitely where it's going so I can see a relatively stable, but not so much money, career in cancer research. The other option is to do trading for a while and then move across. To be honest, I'm not really sure how much traders in these sorts of companies make. I've heard anywhere from ~200k (incl bonuses) to 150k + 150-500 in bonuses. Not sure what's realistic
A prop group would hire a failed cancer researcher.... Would a cancer research center hire a failed trader...?
I think your question is already answered. You know you want to try trading, it appears to be a good passion, so go for it. no regrets. good luck as a trader. late