I have an offer from Microsoft/Amazon/Google as a new grad, and I also got an offer from a prop trading firm (IMC/Optiver). The prop firm is paying more (130,000 base in Chicago, 40k signing, ~50k annual bonus), but I'm not sure what to do. Is trading/HFT a good place to start my career? The place definitely isn't as famous as a the big tech companies, will this be worse for my resume/future prospects? Should I start off in tech or trading?
would ask about prop trading / the specific firm on wall street oasis. might help to balance out the bias and relative lack of knowledge here edit: ah noticed you already have ;)
I've read about the form in WSO, but it doesn't seem like there's a "right" answer. I'm just trying to see what insights people have.
There is no right answer to this. Completely different industries - but the same function assuming you got an engineering role in Trading.
Yeah, the role is engineering. I'm just wondering which one is better from a career perspective e.g. how hard would it be to switch to tech somewhere down the line?
You can probably switch either way, although I think it's harder to go from tech to finance than finance to tech. Either way, you'd be down leveled when switching industries, but probably more so when going from tech to finance.
Google will be more impressive on resume. Better to go with that option get it on resume and exp there then can go into finance/trading if you want. Much easier than the other direction.
I'd go with Google. The pro of prop shops is the pay is better and you will likely have high impact work. The con is that relatively smaller places will fire you easier and they will work you to death. Also, if you're not quant then IT will be less respected.
Trading shop. They are more selective and could be a good experience. Googke is not going away any whete. Come back if you dont like trading
I never understand why people put "from x/y/z" instead of just what it is. The only thing people get from that is that it's not whatever the most prestigious of x/y/z is (so not Google), or you would have just said it. It also makes it harder for people to give you a good answer. If Amazon? Take the HFT. If Google? Harder to say. Etc
Point taken. The tech company is Google, if that helps.