stockbroker

Who are they and what do they do? The work of a stockbroker is to work in securities (shares, bonds, etc.). A stockbroker may be employed by a bank or an investment company engaged in trading with securities or may work directly in a brokerage firm engaged in trading with securities on behalf of other individuals or companies. S/he may also be an independent business person in this field.

What are the activities of the job? Work activities include - monitoring and analysing the developments on the market - analysing selected companies which are being monitored - accepting and evaluating precise information about the current developments in capital markets (i.e., in securities markets) - ensuring ongoing direct contact with the respective capital markets, business partners and companies - informing customers about the situation in capital markets and about its possible development, potentially recommending commercial transactions - negotiating and concluding all kinds of securities transactions for individuals and companies on the national capital market and abroad - acquiring the information necessary for those transactions - keeping records and special databases of clients for whom transactions have been undertaken, records of securities and related transactions, including the necessary printed output - proposing, elaborating and evaluating a strategy and a plan for the securities trading of a specific bank or investment company.

Where is it done and under what conditions? The work environment includes offices, meeting rooms, and space at a counter, in fairly comfortable surroundings.

What tools/equipment do they use? The work is carried out using computer technology and regular office equipment.

What do you need to succeed? You need a university education, or to have completed secondary education and to pass a professional stockbrokers' examination at the end of a specialist training course for stockbrokers, as well as an ability to make good and fast judgements, to put facts together and interpret them, intuition, a business sense, ability to deal with people, ability to learn continuously from experience.