What does a real time trader do?
The duties of a real-time trader depend on one's industry or place of employment. Typically, they must monitor markets, make purchase decisions in adherence to the company's needs and policies, perform extensive research and analysis to find new opportunities, and develop sales and purchase strategies. There are also instances when they must share their expertise by participating in creating a company's business plans and strategies. Moreover, as a real-time trader, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Real time trader responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real real time trader resumes:
- Manage generation and load hourly in SERC.
- Procure gas on WBI and manage power costs against CIG and Cheyenne gas markets.
- Manage generation and contract resources for members and clients in the CAISO, SPP, and WECC.
- Manage risk and ensure delivery of power positions in NEISO and NYISO to protect and enhance value.
- Maximize the MW output of 8 gas combustion turbine generators while managing the real-time PJM LMP price signals to maximize profits.
- Manage daily trading activities for multiple portfolio teams encompassing domestic and international equities including Forex.
- Execute natural gas and electricity OTC and NYMEX trades.
- Tag physical transactions utilizing OATI tagging system.
- Design the UI using HTML and JSP.
- Trade short-term electricity within WECC region.
- Follow and implement all regulations set forth by NERC.
- Trade short term physical and financial power across WECC.
- Procure energy (power and gas) to cover BHP retail load.
- Market surplus (BHP) and unregulate BHE generation into the short-term markets.
- Term and day trading of natural gas and crude oil futures over the NYMEX.
Real time trader skills and personality traits
We calculated that 22% of Real Time Traders are proficient in NERC, Caiso, and Ercot. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Customer-service skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Real Time Traders that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- NERC, 22%
Created MISO and PJM desk protocols and procedures in accordance with Independent System Operational guidelines and NERC standards.
- Caiso, 9%
Managed 6,000 MW of natural gas-fired generation and 3rd party contracts in CAISO, WALC, and BPA.
- Ercot, 9%
Worked collaboratively with the ERCOT desk to schedule power to the North and East DC tie.
- Arbitrage, 7%
Negotiated power prices and identified and capitalized on regional arbitrage and physical flow opportunities across west/east markets.
- PJM, 6%
Maximized the MW output of 8 gas combustion turbine generators while managing the real-time PJM LMP price signals to maximize profits.
- Nyiso, 5%
Managed risk and ensured delivery of power positions in NEISO and NYISO to protect and enhance value.
"nerc," "caiso," and "ercot" are among the most common skills that real time traders use at work. You can find even more real time trader responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a real time trader to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what real time traders do because "to judge the profitability of potential deals, securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents must have strong analytical skills." Additionally, a real time trader resume shows how real time traders use analytical skills: "analyze ercot market conditions to optimize gpl's generation portfolio while meeting all commitments and maintaining proper documentation of all activities. "
Customer-service skills. Many real time trader duties rely on customer-service skills. "securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents must be persuasive and make clients feel comfortable with the agent’s recommendations.," so a real time trader will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways real time trader responsibilities rely on customer-service skills: "generated pricing for retail customers in all ercot regions. "
Detail oriented. real time traders are also known for detail oriented, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to real time trader responsibilities, because "investment bankers must pay close attention to the details of initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions because small changes can have large consequences." A real time trader resume example shows how detail oriented is used in the workplace: "developed detailed work equipment templates for future transalta thermal outage developments * scheduling software-primavera enterprise p6.7"
Initiative. For certain real time trader responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "initiative." The day-to-day duties of a real time trader rely on this skill, as "securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents must create their own client base by making “cold” sales calls to people to whom they have not been referred and to people not expecting the call." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what real time traders do: "structured products liaison in cross-selling initiative with the ms derivatives department. "
Math skills. Another crucial skill for a real time trader to carry out their responsibilities is "math skills." A big part of what real time traders relies on this skill, since "securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents need to be familiar with mathematical tools, including investment formulas." How this skill relates to real time trader duties can be seen in an example from a real time trader resume snippet: "designed an automated quantitative trading strategy using excel vba and a third party isv. "
The three companies that hire the most real time traders are:
- Amazon4 real time traders jobs
- New York Power Authority4 real time traders jobs
- ConocoPhillips2 real time traders jobs
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Compare different real time traders
Real time trader vs. Energy scheduler
A finance representative, also known as a financial advisor, provides sound financial proposals to clients. Primarily, financial advisors guide and plan the financial decisions of clients based on their needs, goals, and requirements. They recommend financial products and services to manage clients' portfolios. Their other duties include analyzing current accounts, interpreting data, and developing strategies to improve and manage their assets and portfolios. Also, they monitor market trends to identify potential leads. Finance representatives should have an analytical mind to analyze, assess, and make decisions based on the data they are given.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a real time trader are more likely to require skills like "caiso," "ercot," "arbitrage," and "nyiso." On the other hand, a job as an energy scheduler requires skills like "delivery points," "iso," "asses," and "floor environment." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
On average, energy schedulers reach similar levels of education than real time traders. Energy schedulers are 3.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Real time trader vs. Senior power scheduler
Finance associates perform various financial tasks for a company. These include managing accounting records, preparing payroll documents as well as financial and budget reports, and handling payments. Additionally, finance associates help with tax preparation, audits and reviews, and help with developing and implementing procedures, best practices, and policies for financial and accounting operations. The skills and qualifications for this role may include a bachelor's degree in finance or accounting, excellent communication skills, and attention to detail.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real real time trader resumes. While real time trader responsibilities can utilize skills like "ercot," "physical transactions," "unit availability," and "real-time market," senior power schedulers use skills like "outage," "critical path," "iso," and "scheduling software-primavera."
Senior power schedulers earn lower levels of education than real time traders in general. They're 9.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Real time trader vs. Finance representative
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a real time trader is likely to be skilled in "nerc," "caiso," "ercot," and "arbitrage," while a typical finance representative is skilled in "financial services," "customer service," "life insurance," and "mutual funds."
Finance representatives make a very good living in the health care industry with an average annual salary of $45,004. On the other hand, real time traders are paid the highest salary in the manufacturing industry, with average annual pay of $106,622.Most finance representatives achieve a lower degree level compared to real time traders. For example, they're 8.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Real time trader vs. Finance associate
Types of real time trader
Updated January 8, 2025
