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Why Sales & Trading?
Sales & Trading has always been my first choice. Fast-paced and drawing on the quantitative nature of financial markets, it’s an environment that aligns perfectly with my experiences. As a nationally ranked badminton player, analyzing my opponent’s shot patterns and adjusting my strategy to target weaker areas is commonplace. By recognizing patterns, capitalizing on predicted shots is almost second nature. That process of making quick decisions and acting under pressure mirrors the way traders interpret market signals and react in real time.
At the same time, I have developed strong exposure to the sales side through my work at a wholesale jewelry business, SilversmithsNYC. It was there where I communicated directly with recurring clients to confirm orders and resolve issues. The experience truly helped me understand the importance of relationship building and clear communication in closing transactions. The combination of analytical thinking and client interaction is what makes S&T particularly appealing to me.
What do Wall Street quants actually do?
This video really stood out to me as someone interested in finance, especially with my growing interest in more technical roles like quant finance. It showed how much the industry has shifted toward data-driven decision making, where success is less about intuition and more about building models and analyzing patterns. What I found most interesting was how quants combine math, programming, and finance to create strategies that can actually move markets. It also made me realize how demanding the role is, since it requires both strong technical skills and the ability to think critically under pressure. Watching it gave me a better understanding of how important quants are in modern finance and how much preparation and discipline it takes to succeed in that field.
These photos capture some of my experiences at professional events, competitions, and workshops where I’ve had the chance to learn from industry professionals,
Shawn Xia | Learning Portfolio 