Career Advice Please -- Trading, IB, O&G

Hello everyone. I've been browsing this website for a few months now, reading a lot but never posting. In the next 3-9 months I"m looking at switching up jobs and trying to find something that fits me a little better.

About me: Three years out of undergrad, finished my Masters in Accounting a year ago and have my CPA.

For the past year I have been working at a good sized investment firm (20+ B in AUM) as primarily an accountant, but also some finance elements in my job. I work closely with analysts, associates and PMs. We had a variety of investment products, but hedge funds and high yield fixed income is our primary focus and what I am most familiar with on a "non-accounting" level. Work with hedging instruments and FX cash as well.

I've decided that accounting probably isn't my future, but really enjoy the trading and investment side of our business. Unfortunately with my current employer, I would have to make a geographic move to join the trading side and that's out of the question right now for me.

Right now I'm looking at a few different options.... potentially as an investment analyst for a smaller investment firm here in Fort Worth, maybe look into private equity (there are a few of them in FW), but also potentially interested in the Shell trader development program in Houston, or another O&G trading job. Investment banking has kind of been put on the back burner... 80-100 weeks won't really work for me.

So, basically, what career advice can you give? What's a good route to trading? Any good options I should be looking at? In general, or specific to Fort Worth, DFW or Houston?

Preferably I would find something that is a trader development program for a fixed income strategy, but I haven't had much luck finding anything.

Thanks in advance

5 Comments
 
Best Response

The Shell TDP is ridiculously competitive. You're not going to get it unless you are dead set on it. Same goes for any trading job to be honest.

Trader Development Programs for fixed income trading are called S&T analyst programs at investment banks.

Given your background, if you're really interested in O&G, you could try joining a smaller E&P firm or refinery which has some logistics capacity. That could be a first step to networking towards are biz dev/trading role.

 

Thanks for the info... is the Shell program competitive to get into or competitive once you are in it?

Fixed income trading is probably what I'm most interested in and have at least some applicable exposure to... I work with FI portfolio managers,associates and analysts most every day... About $4b is my area, so not small numbers. I would just like to get to where I can move into the trading path instead of primarily back office work

 

Ipsam facilis sint qui sunt et fuga cupiditate perspiciatis. Labore numquam nisi sunt mollitia quos officiis voluptas.

Hic quod ut sint quam et voluptatem voluptas. Omnis nisi et id laborum. Eos magnam esse atque commodi in illum corrupti. Suscipit laborum repellendus odit ipsam natus. Pariatur recusandae hic quis ut nisi modi minus. Est et aut aspernatur quibusdam fuga nemo dolore quis.

Temporibus pariatur quas quidem rerum dignissimos aut ut. Omnis delectus aliquid facilis dolores eveniet commodi. Totam facilis sunt nemo maxime neque et. Ab voluptatem vel dignissimos illo ut iste dolor accusantium.

Nesciunt enim est illo. Asperiores et nostrum voluptates quam dolores. Et qui molestiae velit eligendi ut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (56) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”