c++ and london not bank

**Not So Wise** · 24 August 2005, 20:36

Can anyone advise anything?

Not really, it's a rather stupid and pointless trend that started about 3/4 years ago and is only getting worse. Now even got other sectors like retail doing it.

And of corse because they are being so narrow in their requirements a lot of placements are not getting filled (i assume as i keep seeing them reposted time and time again) they turn around and start crying "Skills crisis in the UK!!!"

**DimPrawn** · 24 August 2005, 21:27

Originally posted by cpp

Can anyone advise anything?

Yes. Moving to C# from C++ is not going to kill you. Bone up on .NET, take a few C# courses and broaden your horizons a little. Get some business skills.

Or move to India where all the plain vanilla C++ coding jobs have gone.

**BlasterBates** · 25 August 2005, 06:44

Read the adverts carefully, yes a lot of adverts require banking experience. This is necessary if you're working with traders or business people so you can understand them, however, if you have great technical experience there are pure technical roles jobs. Just read the adverts carefully, I think you'll find around ten percent of the finance jobs require no banking exp. though they often say its preferred. Don' t let that stop you applying vbecause they're after the technical skills, multithreading, tcp-ip etc etc.

**cpp** · 25 August 2005, 09:16

Thank you for your answers, guys.

Originally posted by DimPrawn

Get some business skills.

Is there a way to get any valuable financial skills not getting a job in finance first? Books, courses?...

**BlasterBates** · 25 August 2005, 09:44

The thing to bear in mind is that you need the knowledge, it is a bit like trying to be a taxi driver. Even if someone has 8 years exp. in banks, it might get them the interview but they can't answer the questions (and these questions are bl**dy difficult) they won't be considered.

So if you buy the right books, learn and understand it, then you'll do OK even if you don't have much banking exp., and the banks will accept the "I read a book" argument. However they will poke you in front of a trader, or an analyst to test you ability.

However without any experience at all, you need to get your foot in the door, so apply for jobs where banking experience is preferred, but your technical knowledge must be good; do BrainBench C++ and push for 75% plus, and make sure your multithreading knowledge is good. Also interfaces, so knowledge of Tibco, Corba and MQ-Series is useful.

Books...well John Hull - Options, Futures and Other Derivatives will give you sufficient knowledge.

c++ and london not bank