Boris writing on bankers' bonuses in the Torygraph

purch

I left school after my A Levels and joined a Bank as an A Level Trainee. As I was the first of the 4 taken on that year to start, I was given a choice of departments and chose the FX Dept.

The boss of the trading room decided I was "dealer material" so I was on the Trading Floor within 2 months, and chose to come out of the Trainee Program and focus just on becoming an FX Trader.

By 19 I was trading my own book USD/DEM, and the rest is history.

By 36 I was basically 'shot' and found I couldn't face doing it anymore, so I took a year out and never returned.

chucky

purch wrote: »

The boss of the trading room decided I was "dealer material" so I was on the Trading Floor within 2 months, and chose to come out of the Trainee Program and focus just on becoming an FX Trader.

that would mean getting called all sorts of names being abused and sent to get the lunches and coffees.

once you get over this stage - it becomes much more interesting.

1echidna

Interesting Purch, thanks for the story. I feel possibly that it confirms a view that it is important perhaps for a good trader to be well grounded, willing to learn and not encumbered with excessive pride or graces, introduced into the job at a young age and if suitable will rapidly gain expertise in the job and drive himself hard, perhaps too hard for fear of losing the money and dare I say it typically burn out at a fairly young age.

inspector_monkfish

wish he would make his mind up as to which side he is on....

While warning banks that they could not return to business as usual after the events of the past two years, Mr Johnson said they must not be regulated and punished out of existence.
As well as being a substantial employer, the financial services industry paid huge sums in tax every year, he said.
"I know how unpopular these bankers are," he said. "I know how far out I am on this limb in sticking up for these pariahs.
"But never forget, all you would-be banker bashers that the leper colony in the City of London produces 9% of UK GDP, 13% of value added and taxes that pay for roads and schools and hospitals across this country.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8291197.stm

inspector_monkfish

purch wrote: »

I left school after my A Levels and joined a Bank as an A Level Trainee. As I was the first of the 4 taken on that year to start, I was given a choice of departments and chose the FX Dept.

The boss of the trading room decided I was "dealer material" so I was on the Trading Floor within 2 months, and chose to come out of the Trainee Program and focus just on becoming an FX Trader.

By 19 I was trading my own book USD/DEM, and the rest is history.

By 36 I was basically 'shot' and found I couldn't face doing it anymore, so I took a year out and never returned.

and so the mighty deutshemark fell.....
it could never carry on, knowing that purch wasn't there to 'bash it around'

lemonjelly

purch wrote: »

I left school after my A Levels and joined a Bank as an A Level Trainee. As I was the first of the 4 taken on that year to start, I was given a choice of departments and chose the FX Dept.

The boss of the trading room decided I was "dealer material" so I was on the Trading Floor within 2 months, and chose to come out of the Trainee Program and focus just on becoming an FX Trader.

By 19 I was trading my own book USD/DEM, and the rest is history.

By 36 I was basically 'shot' and found I couldn't face doing it anymore, so I took a year out and never returned.

Thanks purch, very enlightening.
I hope you don't find yourself "shot" now.
Your humour indicates you are not:cool: