TT can be a good place, it mostly was to me!
Pros
I want to start this "pros" section by stating, I was only merely thinking about writing a review. And unlike 50% of the company that has been terminated in one form or another over the past few years, I left on my own free will. I feel that I left on great terms, I hope I did! After a terrifically written novel of a review popped up on this very site minutes after I started my new gig, the vicious rumor mill that swirled the halls of TT eventually made its way all the way back to me as a former employee. I was being congratulated for someone's writing- I wanted to set the record straight. However, Anon (seriously readers, give it a read too, less bitter Betty than some of the slander of TT with some pointed personal digs), you did a good write-up and I agree with many of your statements! Other reviewers seem to have been caught out in non-promotion land or layoffs and spew hatred. So read these things with caution. TT offered me a look into an industry I knew nothing about. I came, not knowing a long from a short. I didn't know a spread in Vegas sports books from spread trading. My immediate peers were terrific mentors, and the head of my group was the best mentor I could ask for. I was in a small prime-cut of TT that made the experience for me at the start. I fell into a number of different roles in the company while riding in the wake of my mentor (which nobody can complain about moves and compensation increases) and worked with many departments. TT offered this- if you chose to get involved (many don't) you can literally work with every department in the firm from any role. To steal a word from another review- at times it truly is collegiate with collaboration. The regular people in the trenches are the gems of the organization. The guys answering the phones in an under appreciated job of support, the never heard traders, the non-execs of any division are the heart beat of this place. There is some wild talent. There are a few talking heads raking in over-compensation doing good work, while others rode the mass of talent in the guise that it was their work and genius. Rare circumstances proved top-dogs were not in it JUST for cashing in when the place sells or padding the resume for a C-level job at some other firm. These few seem to be invested in really, truly, wanting it to be a good place. So if you want, there are a number. Attach to them and it will help your gig. The others will be gone in a revolving door of executive management. The office has been revamped, weird timing considering the company had just been cut nearly in half, but who cares- there never would be a "good" time. The place and culture needed something after every other person had been whacked. There was a new savior of a CEO in, and a new platform on the way. Why not new start? I wish they had waited to buy out an old trading pit and embrace the culture rather than build pool tables and bars (I did love me the pool table however), but it was awesome. Likely you wont get a job with a bar, pool table, mounds of free food, and bags tournaments in the game room- or yoga. Unless you go work at Google. Its very nice. And a huge thank you to the forgotten facilities people who make it happen and nice daily. I liked working for TT- and quite frankly though I felt mistreated by the company at times (job ambiguity out the wazoo and was twice told I might be laid off to not be) I grew and developed there.
Cons
I laugh at this section, its a free place to post up personal grievances. But here is one thing to kick it off I have thought was funny from moment one. When a former employee was terminated and went rogue tweeting up a storm of hatred in the company, it was a shock. Management sent out emails of how it hurt feelings and was not called for, how it was so terrible. This was a unique circumstance that rocked the boat for days. But on an hourly basis some blog somewhere, some tweet somewhere, some support person inside TT hears much worse things about the old-school platform losing them money/breaking and nobody really cares. Or so it seems- blindly going forward with the the thing and letting the old, well, be old. Feelings are hurt and egos are dinged and personal emails of panic go to the company. While when the face of the company is dragged over the coals by the smallest single prop trader to the biggest of banks-client for the umpteenth time, nothing is said. Or internal meetings and grudges arise saying they are a pain in the *** client. Interesting logic there. I almost said TT is an enigma, but that's a lie. Every company embodies weird politics, rumors, preferential treatment to less than terrific employees based on old friendships. And all places have not so nice people. TT had plenty of each. I certainly could write a laundry list of people that I disliked or that I wouldn't trust as far as I could throw them- in friendship and especially in business. These being from low positions to Ivory-tower high-places of power. I would prefer not working with these out-for-them-self, surface-level individuals again, but industry is small and crossover might happen. Thats why TT is not an enigma, everywhere has them...they are easy to spot. Especially if you are not REALLY buying into the new vibe. Its cold standing in the face of the wind...very cold. From reading other reviews: those who complained that development was dead, opportunities didn't exist, and opinions are not heard. I semi agree, but then again I don't. Cop out, to me. Like anything, navigate away form the bad seeds and your voice may be heard. Don't sit in a shell with headphones on typing away all day. Realize that some people there are great, and that anyone no matter what the title is a person- approach anyone. If you want talk to them- if they are "too cool for school," then move along. Its business, not high school. Realize that some of the people that you would assume would be your confidential source for help or complaints are a barely functioning themselves and you better go it on your own. Trust yourself in this place, and don't rely on others unless you REALLY know they are willing to help you as much as you will help them. My boss told me the first weeks, "you notice why nobody is answering your questions, its because they want something from you first." This is true in an individual profit group just as much as a company. Get it in writing. When you hear you will get a raise or a bonus of X dollars, get it written and signed. Don't wait for it. You may or may not get a different amount blamed on a typo, nothing, or have multiple months of horrific confusion whilst a carousel of confusion tells you they don't know your employment situation. All happened here. It built resentment and made me realize that networking would be my greatest achievement in any role. A place to bounce always seemed like it needed to be near... Finally. Great people have been forced to quit or have been terminated because they didn't perfectly fit the mold. While others who deserved to be fired within minutes of poor actions remained in the company much- much longer. Mind boggling. I guess make the right friends...
