Trading

Your interest in the world around you, coupled with your analytical mind and decisive nature will enable you to capture opportunities for our clients and the bank before anyone else has even thought about them.

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HSBC Graduate Programme Episode 2

Duration: 1:32

Speakers:


[Matthew]

Hi, I'm Matthew from New York.

[Text on screen]

Matthew

New York

[Afrika]

I'm Afrika in London.

[Text on screen]

Afrika

London

[Stephanie]

And I'm Stephanie in Hong Kong.

[Text on screen]

Stephanie

Hong Kong

Meet our graduates

Trading

[Matthew]

I'm a foreign exchange trader which means I trade currencies from the world's largest economies.

[Text on screen]

world's largest economies

[Matthew]

My team manages FX exposures across the world.

[Afrika]

I help our clients access global derivative markets

[Text on screen]

Access global derivative markets

[Afrika]

and obtain best execution on their trades.

[Stephanie]

I've done four rotations across different teams.

Right now, I'm trading FX options.

[Text on screen]

I'm trading FX options

[Matthew]

I majored in finance for both my undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

I've been interested in trading since I was a teenager.

[Stephanie]

I studied accounting and economics, and then I did a master’s in financial mathematics.

[Afrika]

I studied natural sciences.

There's actually a lot more crossover than I thought between my studies and a trading desk.

[Matthew]

Unlike most graduate programmes, you won't just be working from the background.

You'll be hands on working with experienced traders and bringing your ideas

[Text on screen]

working with experienced traders

[Matthew]

to the table every single day.

[Stephanie]

Before I joined, I was worried that trading might be too competitive or stressful, but for me, everyone here is super nice

[Text on screen]

everyone is super nice

[Stephanie]

and they are willing to share their advice.

[Text on screen]

willing to share

[Afrika]

There's a huge variety of experiences on offer and you always feel like you're part of a team with mentors to guide you.

[Text on screen]

part of a team

[Matthew]

It doesn't matter what your background is.

What does matter is your ability to learn and hit the ground running quickly.

[Text on screen]

your ability to learn

[Stephanie]

It is important to develop confidence for decision making.

[Text on screen]

develop confidence for decision making.

[Stephanie]

Always be brave to express your own views.

[Text on screen]

express your own views

[Stephanie]

That is the best way to make progress on the trading floor.

[Text on screen]

Be part of something bigger

Join us at HSBC

HSBC | Opening up a world of opportunity

© HSBC Group 2026

Support the buying and selling of financial assets

It’s a high pressure, fast-paced area and things change quickly - you’ll be processing lots of information and thinking on your feet. You need to respond quickly to changes in the financial markets as you look for opportunities for the bank and our clients.

Skills you’ll develop

Your skillset is your passport around HSBC. You'll continue to develop a core set of behavioural skills that will enable you to have a long and varied career with us - think skills like collaboration, learning agility and communication.

These behavioural skills form the foundation you need to continually develop industry-relevant technical skills. Your technical proficiency will evolve as you assume greater responsibility and take on new roles. The skills below are an example of what you’ll learn.

  • Macroeconomic analysis

    Studying the wider economy to understand business impacts.

  • Pricing and valuation methodologies 

    Working out the financial value of products, services or companies.

  • Risk analysis, management and governance

    Spotting and managing business and legal risks that could affect the bank and our clients.

  • Deal execution

    Helping customers commit to buying assets or making investments. 

  • Financial analysis

    Examining numbers to check how a company is doing.

  • Basic programming

    Writing simple code to solve problems or automate tasks.

Frequently asked questions

View all FAQs

No, we encourage applications from students from all backgrounds who are passionate about this area and willing to learn the technical skills needed to succeed. The learning curve is steep, so having a real interest in this area is important, but we’ll provide all the support you need as long as you’re willing to put the work in. 

The financial markets can be unpredictable and that will affect your work schedule. Aspects such as world events and financial month-ends (to name but a few) can spark peaks in trading activity. Your hours and workload will also vary depending on the products and markets you’re trading. This area isn’t recommended for someone looking for a consistent 9-5.

In general HSBC supports hybrid working. As someone new to the team, we encourage you to come into the office as often as you can to interact with your peers and learn from your colleagues, however we support you to work across home and office locations.

Once a programme is open for applications you will find it listed on the Find a programme page.

Application opening dates vary for different programmes and markets. To be emailed when programmes open, join our Talent Community(opens in new window) (opens in new window).

We don’t offer all programmes in all markets, and in several locations our graduate programme places are filled via our internships. In locations where internships are available, they are the best route to securing a graduate opportunity. Our insight programmes (where they are offered) are also a great way to fast-track to an internship programme.

The best way to know when we open applications is to join our Talent Community (opens in new window).

You will receive a monthly email which will advise you which programmes we are actively recruiting for.

Working environment

Every day is different in the financial markets – sometimes you’ll be working alone and sometimes collaborating with others on trades that could have global impact. A competitive edge, calmness under pressure, resilience and great communication are key to thriving on the trading floor.

Our teams

You’ll be plugged into the latest financial trends and tapping into the knowledge of colleagues with a range of specialist skills across the world. They’re here to support you and inform crucial decisions for clients.

Trading programmes in your location

Explore opportunities

Samuel

Role: Quantitative Trader, Electronic FX Joined: 2017 Location: New York, USA Studied: Computer Science and Quantitative Economics

I had an outstandingly positive experience on both my internship and graduate programme. I learnt so much and developed strong relationships.

Step by step application guide

  • 1

    Apply

    Answer simple eligibility questions and potentially provide a copy of your CV.

  • 2

    Advise of adjustments

    Tell us about any adjustments you may require during the application process.

  • 3

    Access support

    Join our Candidate Zone which will guide you through the application process.

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