Petroleum Engineering > MBA > IBD

It seems like I can't PM you since you don't have points. Once you have enough, PM me. I work at a O&G IB so I might be able to help you out

Just spitballing here but you sound like a great fit for an A&D team. I can't remember which one but I heard recently that one of the BBs is looking for an A&D analyst.

Houlihan Lokey is looking for someone like you for their new Houston office.

Pm'd you.

Citi Houston does a ton of A&D stuff is one of the largest oil/gas teams in Houston. Hit some guys up via LinkedIn.

[email protected]

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I would check out JPM's A&D team.

Let me get this straight... you are not in college yet and you are planning on what type of MBA programs you'd attend?! This is kinda ridiculous! First attend college and see how the engineering program is. It'll be extremely unlikely you'll maintain a high GPA. You can't assume you'll do well until you get there. Also, since when did attending a particular college become "negative". You have alot of maturing to do and really look at what drives you. Finally, if your goal is to get a petroleum engineering degree you'll be fine.

The path you are describing is not unheard of but there's typically an X factor involved. You definitely will get credit for the technical background but based on my own personal experience, you'll still need to have that finance gig to get you in.

There are a couple of issues you'll have: - The energy/infrastructure PE/HF is already a small space and the good groups have their pick of IB analyst classes; there's absolutely no reason for them to take a former engineer (3-5 years) without finance background. Any good group would have either internal operating partners or external independent engineers who will assist them with the technical due diligence. And those guys will typically have 15+ years engineering experience. So again, not you. - Even if you go down the MBA route, the odds are against you for PE/HF but at least it is possible. - The GPA will continue to haunt you so you almost do need another degree to prove that you can handle rigorous work.

Again, in my personal experience, you will get huge credits for coming from a technical background but without the finance role layered on top, nobody will even look at you.

Sounds like a one year MsC might be in my future then.

Or would a one year MBA do the trick in several years? (And get a rocking GPA at that).

Thanks for your input.

Think about it this way: the path to PE/HF is a normal curve. There are definitely extremes on both ends but if you want to position yourself for the higher probability part of the normal curve, you have to follow the traditional path. At this point maybe a one year masters could help put you on the path for IB but from what I know that's hit or miss.

One year MBAs are still rather unrecognized in the U.S. so that's a whole other thing.

Yeah that makes sense ^^^. Would something like a CFA level I or higher help my case?

Would a masters in something such as geophysics work for this?

I'm still in undergrad studying engineering so I don't really have any credentials to give you advice, but I've been networking heavily with energy bankers and there are some things I've noticed that might be useful to you. Most engineers that are in banking now have completed an MBA. I've spoken to one guy who didn't pursue an MBA and he worked for a top defense company before doing banking... but in between the start of his banking career and working as an engineer he spent 4-6 years doing finance related stuff and slowly easing his way into banking, albeit as an associate at a BB. Although he's not in energy, but I guess the point still stands.

Actually. If I got a CFA would that be enough with the oil and gas experience?

I'm assuming those two together would negate the GPA...

CFA could help to show you are familiar/interested in finance. Second part will be key coming from a technical background. Technical experience is good up to a certain point after which it may start to hinder you a bit because people may see you as being solely technical. My advice would be to build up your finance knowledge (through online courses, clubs) to help demonstrate that interest and knowledge then try to put it on paper. Maybe try take a finance course or two in your final year if you can swing it and mention it as applicable courses your resume.

Fyi I graduated with engineering and worked for about 2 years (part time and full time) before switching into valuations so I can relate with a similar experience. I also did a business minor in undergrad which help my case a lot.

Awesome. Thanks everyone.

Former structural engineer/industrial construction superintendent here with 3 years exp. I wanted to career switch, so I did the MBA and am now in infrastructure PE having skipped the IB/advisory firms.

Based on my experience, I think the MBA and/or the CFA is your only way in. The CFA is great for knowledge but hard to convert into a job. The MBA will provide you the network and resources necessary to actually get interviews.

Why would you not pursue a career in Petroleum Engineering? You haven't even graduated yet and somehow have made up your mind that after a few years of school (and not changing course), you'd love to devote your life to ibanking. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume you've been seeing some sky high compensation figures and figured you'd be rich by 30. Between the two I'd stick with the engineering path and look for the most lucrative path within that industry. You'll be making bank in a low COL area.

Yes. Good point. I might look at it down the road. I'll stick with petroleum engineering for now.

if I decide to go into IB not out of UG, will the GPA have a huge factor?

Thanks everyone! Really appreciate the information.

Edit

First off, I work in materials rather than energy so take things with a grain of salt. My advice to you would be that although it's certainly a positive, your application would need to have all of the other boxes checked as it's no golden ticket. Most decent firms will have experienced, accredited engineers on staff so they certainly don't need to lean on your technical skills. That being said, having someone who knows what reserves are and how they're calculated etc. is certainly a positive and would get you up the curve faster relative to other candidates which is also attractive. Also, I'm not certain but your user name looks like it could be female which combined with a great CF and your technical background is a hiring managers wet dream in terms of a quality, sought-after candidate.

Good luck with things and I would certainly try reach out to different teams in Houston / Calgary etc depending on where your interests are.

Look into A&D (Acquisitions & Divestitures) Analyst postings if there are any online. Typically banks look for people that have 2-5 years experience for those types of roles, but I know of many people have have broken in with less. A&D is basically a combination of corporate finance analysis with engineering analysis (i.e. type curves, log interpretation, production analysis, reserves, etc.). I would caution you however, as some engineers that get into A&D with the desire of working in finance can sometimes feel pigeonholed into a technical role at the bank. This all depends on what bank you work at.

I also know of many engineers who have gone straight from undergrad into corporate finance focused roles in banking. So anything is possible.

Know the industry, do some finance related work in your junior year (can you start CFA? Investment clubs?), and start networking now.

The answer is yes, but I would focus on proper energy investment banking, not A&D. You should be well sought after with that profile.

If you're going to university in Texas (which I'm just assuming based on the screen name), I know a lot of the B-schools have specific energy management programs that act as a minor or specialty in your major. At least, that's the case at Bauer, McCombs, and I'm pretty sure Mays as well. So that's always a good option for getting an energy background if your school offers it. But, that aside, GPA is probably the most important factor academically. If you think pet. eng. would notably lower your gpa, then there's no need for it.

I think it would be a smart thing to do- I mean best of both worlds is the minor and getting good GPA- people in energy in Texas want you to have a genuine interest in that sector though, and it is tough to just say you are interested, the minor would be pretty good evidence

My thoughts: I've never heard of a Petroleum Engineering minor before. Reason being is that Petroleum Engineering (like all other specialities: Chemical, Electrical, etc.) requires a pretty solid foundation of higher level math, physics, statics, etc. classes. The only way I see that being possible is if you are already a Math or Engineering major, in which case, I would ask why you don't just switch over and major in Petroleum Engineering. I don't really see how it would be possible for a Economics/Finance major to do, but who knows these days... I could be wrong.

Now say you did get a minor in it, it definitely would be helpful having that extra knowledge, but probably not as much as you think. The real value add would come from 1-2 years work experience as a petroleum engineer for an exploration & production company.

So if you have a true interest in a career in Energy, definitely pursue the minor, the more you know, the better off you are... but keep it real and be aware that the minor won't buy you a free lunch, so don't kill yourself doing it.

the above poster is correct, you can't minor in petroleum engineering, I don't think you can minor in engineering period. that's like minoring in Medical School or minoring in Law School. Engineering is professional school, it just starts much earlier than most graduate schooling. Best thing to do is get an internship at an oil company and work in E&P for a few months in some capacity...