Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Securities and Commodities Traders
Securities and Commodities Traders buy and sell securities and commodities to transfer debt, capital, or risk. Establish and negotiate unit prices and terms of sale.
Table of contents
What they do
Securities and Commodities Traders buy and sell securities and commodities to transfer debt, capital, or risk. Establish and negotiate unit prices and terms of sale.
- Make bids or offers to buy or sell securities.
- Monitor markets or positions.
- Agree on buying or selling prices at optimal levels for clients.
- Buy or sell stocks, bonds, commodity futures, foreign currencies, or other securities on behalf of investment dealers.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Securities and Commodities Traders monitor markets or positions. They make bids or offers to buy or sell securities.
A typical day for a Securities and Commodities Trader will also include:
- Agree on buying or selling prices at optimal levels for clients.
- Buy or sell stocks, bonds, commodity futures, foreign currencies, or other securities on behalf of investment dealers.
- Analyze target companies or investment opportunities to inform investment decisions.
- Review securities transactions to ensure conformance to regulations.
- Receive sales order tickets and inspect forms to determine the accuracy of information.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Securities and Commodities Traders also reconcile account-related statements, such as quarterly or annual statements or confirmations. They may also prepare financial reports, such as reviews of portfolio positions.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Securities and Commodities Traders devise trading, option, or hedge strategies. They might also make transportation arrangements for sold or purchased commodities.
In addition, they develop or maintain supplier or customer relationships.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them receive sales order tickets and inspect forms to determine the accuracy of information.
To some Securities and Commodities Traders, it is also their responsibility to report deficiencies in account payments, securities deliveries, or documentation requirements to avoid rule violations.
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What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
63% said they were satisfied with their job and 42% said they found their job meaningful.
I was a Cash Equity Sales Trader. The clients I served were mostly traders with institutions i.e. mutual funds, hedge funds, insurance companies, sovereign funds, etc, and helped them execute their trades in equity markets throughout Asia but primarily in Taiwan and Hong Kong. I used to work at CLSA, Sanford C Bernstein and Deutsche … Read More
My typical day can be either incredibly stressful or really relaxed depending on the movement in the crypto market. The day usually starts with waking up, making a coffee, and kicking back on my couch while catching up on crypto news. Most of the work consists of checking periodically for spikes and price fluctuations of … Read More
Having graduated from UCL in 2019 after studying Economics, I was able to land myself in a graduate role at IG Markets; the UK’s largest OTC Derivative provider. I am currently a Sales Trader at IG focusing primarily on the Futures and Equities Dealing Desks. A typical day in this industry will be very face … Read More
Pros
Suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.
Suitable for people who value achievements and are results-oriented.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.
One of the highest-paid careers in the world.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Securities and Commodities Traders with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $36,910 to $45,930 per year or $18 to $22 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $208,000+ | $100+ |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $116,020 | $56 |
| Median | $64,770 | $31 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $45,930 | $22 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $36,910 | $18 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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