My job is great on paper, but I am totally fed up. Does anyone have advice?
I am a traffic rep/scheduler at a mid-sized O&G marketing/producer services shop. I am considered a very good scheduler here, and have always gotten glowing feedback. My eventual goal is to become a trader. I have been in this job for about 2 years now; I worked as a supply analyst at a major before. I graduated 3 years back.
In terms of compensation package, advancement opportunities, etc. I am totally happy with my job. I have gotten to do some fundamental analysis, and they have discussed me doing some higher-level blending stuff to get a start. Although my shop (& firms like ours) don't particularly get affected by flat price, I am pretty damn lucky to even have a solid gig right now, given the whole Covid19 and oil collapse scenario.
With all that being said, I am just not very happy in my job currently. The biggest thing is I don't really feel like I'm learning or growing at the moment.
The other scheduler(s) I work with are totally hopeless. Pure 9-5er types, which I realize is about half of schedulers (the others being young aspiring traders). However, I am constantly getting pushed into cleaning up their mistakes. I am getting pretty resentful seeing other people basically get a free ride.
My trader is definitely struggling right now. He/she is certainly not one of the top people out there. I worked with an extremely successful trader before, and I just felt that I was learning way more, and getting a lot better experience. Note - I expect my shop to pick up a few very senior people in coming months, so this can always change.
Feeling that I get screwed a bit due to age. Since I'm a ~26 year old guy, even if I do move into a trading function, I feel like I will never escape scheduling here. This probably sounds self-absorbed, but I think they'd have a tough time replacing me, especially as they won't pay top-of-market to get a hire.
Just sick of scheduling BS. Dealing with extremely stupid people at counterparts or in transportation. As the marketing/trade/producer services shop, having to abide by the facilities' rules. Late night/weekend calls.
So, the gist of it is that I'm pretty sick of my job itself, but everything is going well on the bigger scale. Very good pay, positive feedback reviews, and I am inching closer to a true trading post. On the other hand, I have been considering getting out. I'd likely try to go to a major integrated again. I know my career progress would likely be slower, but I am wanting a more regimented work environment. I'd be happy doing scheduling or trading analyst jobs.
Does anybody have any advice, or at least tips to stay sane in the day-to-day?
When you wrote that you want to become a trader, how different is trading physicals compared to derivatives. I trade natural gas but it’s all paper. Is that what you want to lean towards or does the physical appeal to you more?
Definitely physicals. Ideally doing crude-by-rail or something of that nature.
While trying to stay as anonymous as possible, my shop is great at that. I'm just sick of the actual working stuff with my group at the moment.
Gotcha. I wish I can offer more to help but I know nothing about scheduling or trading physicals. But what I do know that I see a lot more schedulers going the trading route than the trade supports and the middle office personnel’s of the finance world. Good luck.
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