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My name is Simon, and I have recently become a trainee trader with the Mako Fixed Income market maker desk. Having joined Mako from a large investment bank, I started life in the back office, where I worked with the Product Control team. Initially, the biggest attribute to hit me was the amount of trust I was given. Having been used to just being a face at a desk, it was both fresh and motivating to me to attain a level of importance that take several years to achieve in other companies.
The opportunities that Mako have provided for me since joining the company also sets my position apart from any other. Both inside and outside of work I have been given real opportunities to progress, which is highlighted by my ability to sit and learn from other departments and then move on to the trading floor from the Product Control team.
At no point was I discouraged from showing ambition. I have also received backing from Mako with my personal interests. As a keen sportsman, I approached Mako with the offer of sponsoring the hockey team I play and coach. Mako happily accepted my offer and as a direct result of their backing we achieved promotion within that season. The money they provide has also assisted our junior section and will hopefully help our stars of the future. Within work too I have been able to enjoy my interests, particularly rugby. Mako sponsor and play in the City Sevens tournament, which I have been a part of for the last 2 seasons. It is a great day out and, apart from one or two bruises, has been a fantastic day to be involved in.
At work, my primary daily function is to support the senior traders; making sure that the desk I am working with functions to the best of its ability. It is my responsibility to help maintain the book's positions and trades, liaise with brokers and deal with discrepancies that may occur. I also have an opportunity to learn from the traders that I work alongside. Aside from the Mako trading classes that I attend, I am actively encouraged to sit with the traders and learn from them the technicalities of the markets we trade. It’s great to see the theory in practice.
My role has also allowed me to see every function of the company, from risk through to brokerage; an opportunity I know I would not have had so quickly at a larger firm. My main concern was that the job may become monotonous, but because of the nature of trading and the design of the trainee programme, no two days are the same. The most rewarding part of the job is the encouragement I receive from the traders and support staff. The constant challenges faced in my role, and my key position on the desk, leaves me with a real sense of achievement and satisfaction at the end of the day. Mako has given me a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight in to the world of exchange traded options; to work with, learn from and become a leading options trader.
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