What do traders ACTUALLY do? | Day in the Life of an Investment Bank Trader
Wed Feb 04 2026
What’s it really like to be a trader at a global investment bank?
Chloe Shepherd returns to the Market Maker Podcast to pull back the curtain on the trading floor. With nearly a decade of experience at Citi and RBC, she shares the real story - the workflows, pressure, client interactions, and the surprising skills that matter most.
We bust common myths about trading, explain the difference between perception vs reality, and break down what makes someone successful in this fast-paced world.
Topics include:
What traders do day-to-dayTrading floor culture & paceSoft vs technical skillsWhy emotional intelligence mattersAdvice for aspiring traders
Ideal for students, grads, and anyone exploring a career in markets or finance.
(00:00) Intro – Chloe returns to the podcast
(01:54) Explaining trading to people outside finance
(03:58) What is credit repo trading?
(05:59) Who are the clients & how big are the trades?
(12:32) Where credit repo sits in a big bank
(15:24) How to get into a niche trading desk
(18:40) Day in the life of a trader
(21:22) Reality vs stereotypes of trading culture
(23:48) Communication skills & client interaction
(26:40) Waitressing to trading: transferable skills
(31:01) From history degree to the trading floor
(34:15) Why emotional intelligence matters
(37:47) How traders build resilience
(42:20) Final reflections & advice for future traders
Listen to the previous episode with Chloe 'Breaking Barriers: Navigating Social Mobility in Finance'.
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What’s it really like to be a trader at a global investment bank? Chloe Shepherd returns to the Market Maker Podcast to pull back the curtain on the trading floor. With nearly a decade of experience at Citi and RBC, she shares the real story - the workflows, pressure, client interactions, and the surprising skills that matter most. We bust common myths about trading, explain the difference between perception vs reality, and break down what makes someone successful in this fast-paced world. Topics include: What traders do day-to-dayTrading floor culture & paceSoft vs technical skillsWhy emotional intelligence mattersAdvice for aspiring traders Ideal for students, grads, and anyone exploring a career in markets or finance. (00:00) Intro – Chloe returns to the podcast (01:54) Explaining trading to people outside finance (03:58) What is credit repo trading? (05:59) Who are the clients & how big are the trades? (12:32) Where credit repo sits in a big bank (15:24) How to get into a niche trading desk (18:40) Day in the life of a trader (21:22) Reality vs stereotypes of trading culture (23:48) Communication skills & client interaction (26:40) Waitressing to trading: transferable skills (31:01) From history degree to the trading floor (34:15) Why emotional intelligence matters (37:47) How traders build resilience (42:20) Final reflections & advice for future traders Listen to the previous episode with Chloe 'Breaking Barriers: Navigating Social Mobility in Finance'.