Where traders work
| Employer | Roles | What they look for |
|---|---|---|
| Banks (treasury, markets desks) | FX dealer, sales trader, fixed income trader | Finance or economics degree, numeracy, communication |
| Asset managers and pension funds | Analyst, portfolio manager, dealer | Research skills, CFA progress |
| Hedge funds | Analyst, trader, quant | Strong track record, programming, statistics |
| Proprietary trading firms | Junior trader, quant trader | Maths, quick decisions, risk discipline |
| Brokers and fintechs | Dealing desk, risk, market analyst | Market knowledge, platform skills, compliance |
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Questions people ask
Do I need a degree to become a professional trader?
Most banks and funds require one. Prop firms and funded programmes focus more on results and risk discipline.
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Educational content only, not financial, investment or tax advice. Trading forex and CFDs carries a high risk of losing money. Look up any term in the trading glossary.