FCTG Offers a Path to High-Octane World of Commodity Trading

As North America's largest wholesale lumber distributor, Forest City Trading Group (FCTG) succeeds by developing lasting partnerships with thousands of customers and suppliers. Their traders are the key players in forging these foundational relationships.

FCTG traders are selected for their drive and intelligence. They’re trained by the best in the industry, and they come to work each day motivated to move mountains for their clients. That's why they’re on a mission to find the next generation of traders and train them to keep winning the best prices for their clients.

Traders Wanted, No Lumber Experience Required

The best part? You don't need a background in lumber to get started.

FCTG is so invested in its team's success that it’s confident anyone with the tenacity to succeed can reach their potential. FCTG offers all the training and mentoring you need to get the job done right.

Ongoing support and a culture of encouragement and joy are two things you can count on when you're part of FCTG’s team. For instance, all new hires can look forward to Rookie School, a weeklong course held in Portland, OR, where they come together to get intensive on-the-ground training.

Don’t happen to live near any of FCTG’s subsidiary companies? No worries—FCTG offers reimbursement for moving their traders closer to the office whether you’re coming from the East Coast, the West Coast, or anywhere in between.

The company also has programs like 2x Double Your Business, designed to identify traders with untapped potential. Each 2x cohort is trained by seasoned traders who offer tips and tools to help growing traders take their sales to the next level.

Ongoing support and a culture of encouragement and joy are two things you can count on when you're part of FCTG’s team.

The Big Goal: Hitting 500 By 2028

FCTG leads the curve when it comes to the next generation of employees. 62% of all FCTG traders have been hired in the last 10 years, totaling 350 in all. But it has its eyes set on a bigger goal of 500+ traders by 2028. That means HUGE opportunities for hard-working folks looking for a new way to tap into their potential.

Relentlessly Supporting Recruits

It's no secret that other trading firms in the industry suffer from high turnover rates. Forest City Trading Group's philosophy on recruitment is different—it knows that when you succeed, it succeeds.

Recruits receive extensive training and support, ensuring everyone has foundational knowledge necessary to perform their job exceptionally well. New recruits go through one full year of coaching and training before they're turned loose on the floor—so when FCTG says it prepares its recruits, they're not kidding!

Work Hard, Play Hard, and Be Yourself

No one will turn their nose up if you come to the office in a collared shirt, but there's no pressure to be someone you're not if that isn't your style. At FCTG, traders can be themselves, eccentricities and all. Playing hard also means ensuring traders enjoy a peaceful work/life balance to offset the pressure of dealing with work and life commitments simultaneously.

Big Company Perks, Small Company Attitude

FCTG offers all the best perks of a big company and a small company all in one. The team may feel more like a big family than a sprawling corporate office, but this isn't the case regarding benefits and pay. Traders enjoy a comprehensive benefits package with no commission cap to hold traders back. This gives the team control over its own salaries—the sky is truly the limit.

FCTG Isn't Just Another Job—It's a Future Career

At the end of the day, the goal at FCTG is to bridge the gap between suppliers and customers to provide exceptional value in the experience and a level of care that the sawmills simply can't rival. FCTG looks for individuals who are:

  • Passionate
  • Team Players
  • Easy-going
  • Innovative
  • Gritty
  • Quick to respond
  • Dependable
  • Disciplined

It's true—traders at FCTG’s operating companies are a special breed. Do you have what it takes to thrive and start a career with FCTG?

Published by Darcy Mercer

Head of People & Culture at Olympic Industries

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