Square mile start-ups reject macho slave culture to attract best graduates
Want to work in the City and still have a life?
A small number of trading start-ups have risen to the challenge of repeated calls for a change of work culture in the City.
Launched by groups of traders at the top of their game, they are challenging the Square Mile status quo by combining the culture of tech start-ups with cutting edge trading.
A face-to-face graduate recruitment strategy has also proven a hit with graduates.
Why doesn’t the library have this?
Instead of being forced to go through long-winded application processes and work internships with no guarantee of a job, prospective graduates are handpicked from on campus events at Oxford and Cambridge.
One of the start-ups, Maven Securities, was launched three years ago by a group of the best traders in the industry and has quickly established itself as one of the leading players in European derivatives trading.
Richard Aken, who runs their graduate recruitment, told The Tab: “We’re a young company, most of the traders are under 35 and the Directors sit around the trading floor.
Everyone knows they will get noticed and rewarded if they perform well. There’s no room for egos – we value a scientific, analytical and collaborative approach.”
Maven Securities are hosting drinks at Hotel du Vin on Monday night
The traders, who often have backgrounds in competitive sports or even poker, work using sophisticated, fast-paced and highly profitable trading strategies.
There is a strong emphasis on work-life balance, most traders are out of the office by 6 or 7pm most days and Maven told The Tab they would never ask a trader to pull an all-nighter.
Richard said: “All our graduates had an interest in financial markets before joining, but didn’t all have experience.
If you have a sharp mind, a strong drive to succeed and the ability to make decisions under pressure, but you don’t want to lose all your hair, then we want to meet you.”
Maven Securities will be hosting a Cambridge event on Monday 24th November 7pm – 9.30pm in the Ruinart and Library Rooms at Hotel du Vin.
If you would like to register to attend the event, please fill in the below form.
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