7 minute read
AMP
What's your job about?
I’m an options trader at Citadel Securities, where we take on the role of being ‘Options Market Makers’. This means that we have a contractual obligation to exchanges to continually provide prices at which we will buy and sell securities (options in my case). Unlike a lot of market participants who chose the exact trades they want to do, we specifically don’t get to do that – we always take the opposite side of what others want to do.
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My job is primarily about what happens during market hours. When the exchange I trade is open, I’m pretty glued to my trading monitor; adjusting our pricing in order to best manage our position, the trades we are doing, and what our smart pricing inputs are telling us. Out of market hours, my focus is to improve our systems and pricing so that we are as successful as possible during market hours. This ends up meaning I do a lot of talking about pricing and execution improvements with colleagues and teammates and coding up indicators and visualizations in Python.
What's your background?
I grew up in Dubai until I was about 16, at which point I came back to Australia (the Sunshine Coast to be exact) to do my final years of high school and go to University. I was always extremely keen on math and physics throughout school, so I followed these routes into Maths and Engineering at University. I spent quite a few years tutoring throughout university and spent a couple of summers doing professional engineering internships around Australia and in Dubai – but I never really enjoyed the Engineering grad role-type job, as it wasn’t technically challenging enough.
Throughout my degree/upbringing, I never really thought of trading as a job, but happened to stumble across it in my final year of University. I have now worked in this industry a cumulative of 3.5 years and it seems bizarre to me now that I never knew this career opportunity existed, but the decisions I made through my education oddly meant that I was perfectly suited for it.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes, the job of a trader is surprisingly broad strokes. I know traders of all different sorts of backgrounds,
Options Trader Citadel Securities
who mould their own jobs into what they want to get out of it – and what they are good at. My colleagues range from mathematicians and engineers to commerce and accounting professionals to computer scientists to lawyers (all of whom are working as traders now). While maths and statistics knowledge is definitely up there as very handy skills, there’s no set degree for a ‘trader’, so it’s much more based on being logical and working hard.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
I thrive on the constant competition and fast pace of trading, so for me, the best part is the rapid development of pricing and systems. I’m given a large amount of responsibility within my team and choose to pursue a technical and coding-heavy role, so I spend a lot of time designing and implementing ideas which we then push through to production, allowing us to directly experience their benefit (or loss, if things go badly!).
What are the limitations of your job?
If you crave excitement, then trading is a great job for you. A trader’s day is dictated by news events happening in the world, and what other market participants trade against us each day – we never really know what is going to unfold. Trading can be a stressful job, but if you want a technical and competitive job where you get a lot of responsibility, dealing with uncertainty is part of the equation.
3 pieces of advice for students
Go out and chat with people in the profession you are interested in. Professionals are generally very keen to talk to people who show an interest in what they do. Message people in the job you want and make it happen.
Apply and interview as much as you can. From the recruiting side, it is obvious who is well-versed in interviews. Don’t only apply for your dream job, use interviewing as a chance to learn. Stack the odds in your favour.
Your job isn’t everything. Find a career where you can still balance your life outside of work, and you have the weekends free to enjoy other things that are important to you.
Realise your ambitions
Flexible. Connected. Unique. The AMP Graduate Rotational Program provides the pathway to realise your ambitions.
The AMP graduate program offers you a personalised development opportunity like no other. As a graduate, you will complete a two-year rotational program providing you with the flexibility needed to realise your ambitions. AMP welcomes diverse thinkers with entrepreneurial ambitions.
Program Streams & Rotations
At AMP we trust our people and give our graduates the connections and flexibility to make a difference. We welcome and encourage applications from all undergraduate degrees and offer a number of business streams such as Accounting & Finance, Financial Services, Technology, Legal & Governance and Enterprise Risk Management. During the program you’ll have the chance to rotate through a number of teams in your selected business area, helping you to work out what’s right for you based on your skills and interests. The flexible nature of the rotational structure helps you get connected, build technical skills and take on meaningful work from the very start of your journey.
Professional Development & Support Network
A tailored development program including a series of workshops, technical skills training, insight sessions, lunch & learns and numerous networking opportunities with senior executives and mentors across AMP. In addition, you have the opportunity to work on a Business Improvement Project (BIP) with the chance to win funding towards piloting your idea. Sharing your graduate experience with a close-knit cohort, your new friendships and networks start from the day of offer. You’ll have access to a network of people who understand your value and are committed to your development and success. Graduates have a dedicated Talent Manager, Buddy, Graduate Champions in each program stream and the wider graduate alumni community to lean on. My reason for joining the AMP Graduate Program was to contribute to an institution that plays a huge part in the lives of everyday Australians. AMP is an organisation that is going through a significant amount of change, and the Graduate Program was a great chance for me to be part of a transformation with endless opportunities for self-growth.
The rotations on offer in AMP Bank, Advice and Wealth Management (and more) are extensive, allowing flexibility to experience different business units to find the area best suited to me. I’ve found that this program is more than just finding something you like. It is also the networks you create, targeted programs towards professional development, and continuous learning from leaders that care.
Liam, Financial Services Graduate – University of Sydney, Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies)
For more details: amp.com.au/ampcareers/ home/graduates
Contact us: graduates@amp.com.au
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE A GRADUATE TRADER WITH US?
As a Graduate Trader with Flow Traders you will follow an initial 4 to 6 months intensive in-house training program at our Headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, covering all intricate details of our trading processes. Upon successful completion, you will relocate to our Hong Kong office and begin to manage a desk together with a Senior Trader. Gradually you will take on more responsibilities, start to formulate strategies, trade and monitor markets at your own desk focusing on a wide range of financial products.
Who We Look For
Penultimate and final year students currently pursuing a Degree in Finance, Science, Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Engineering or a related field
A demonstrable interest in global financial markets and a keen interest in technology
Excellent communication skills
Eager to spot opportunities and assertiveness to seize them
Able to perform and deliver under pressure
Excellent numerical, analytical, and logical reasoning skills
What We Offer
4 to 6 months intensive in-house training
Excellent performance-based rewards as we reserve a high percentage of our business results in our bonus pool
Direct implementation of trading ideas
Exposure to a wide range of asset classes and financial instruments
Excellent company perks including medical insurance, catered meals, company trips, subsidised gym memberships and more!
