Institutional desk or Risk management

[darkhorse]

Hi Guys,
I am interning at a large inter-broker dealer (think MF Global/Newedge).It is of a rotational programme where I am getting to move around different areas such as assisting sales traders in daily execution functions , experiencing the job responsibilities of both a retail and CTA clerk,Standing in the pit assisting brokers with checking trades,counts etc.
There is also a Risk Management team and I am interested in that area since my background matches more towards the quantitative side(pursuing MSc Finance) . I might get a FT offer but dont know in which department and therefore i want my supervisor to know as to which area i am inclined towards ..as in sitting on an institutitional desk or in the Risk management division.
IMO institutional sales/broker will be looked down upon when i try for a job in BBs which is my ultimate aim.
What do you guys think ?

 

[darkhorse]

plz reply guys..i am confused

 

[Andy Nguyen]

If your goal is to work in risk management at BB, then starting it in RM group now makes much more sense.
If your goal is to work on a trading desk later, having worked with traders work but I don't see anything technical or relevant in what you currently do.

 

[darkhorse]

If your goal is to work in risk management at BB, then starting it in RM group now makes much more sense.
If your goal is to work on a trading desk later, having worked with traders work but I don't see anything technical or relevant in what you currently do.

Thanks Andy for replyin..

i agree that i dont have anything technical or relevant that i am doing in my internship..because these people are no traders..just brokers..executing trades..therefore i feel that that i wont learn anything that could get me on a trading desk later..
But then i am scared that Risk Management might pigeonhole me and i will never be able to do anything but more risk management...what could be my exit opportunities if I start in risk management..will i be able to move to a quantitative research type role??

 

[vvarma]

Couple of points to consider:
1. A P&L generating role can be more financially rewarding than a risk-control function
2. An execution role on broker side might give you more understanding of market-micro structure to help you develop your own models for later
3. If you eventually want to trade, an execution position that puts you in touch with buy-side traders calling you with orders, may not be a bad start