Energy Trading: Career Path, Lifestyle, Wages, etc

Question

We hear a lot on this forum about S&T at the large banks. I'd like to hear more information about what energy supply and trading careers are like at the supermajors (BP, Shell, Mobil, etc).

How do they compare to BB S&T in terms of the actual job, necessary background, career path, wages, lifestyle, and exit opps?

Objekt · Accepted Answer

The main role is securing freight for their traders and chartering in vessels to move their own cargoes. Charterers will need to have a good idea of upcoming freight requirements from their traders and closely follow the freight market to get an idea of current levels, what vessels are where, where the market is going etc. all done by constantly speaking to shipbrokers and charterers (owner side) throughout the day.

Rotterdam · Answer

I haven't worked at both but I have worked at a large physical trade shop and know quite a few people at a couple banks.

In my experience, the trade shop/major vs a bank is going to pay you less on the front end, you are going to work less hours, and you are going to have a longer road to ever trading a molecule. You commonly hear stories of someone either never making it to a trading seat or it taking 3-4 years. And to get that trading seat they had to spend 3 years at a major and then jump ship to a smaller shop somewhere.

BrianHunter · Answer

First of all is important to distinguish between physical and paper.

Career Path in those firm depends on the firm itself..  While some let you "trade" from the very first days, other put you in market risk or in shadowing position. I think BP's program is one of the best, under this point of view

Hours depend on what you trade and in which hub.

argtexas · Answer

Lifestyle is great. You won't work more than 60 hours a week, weekends off. The traders have strong personalities but you don't meet as many "I'm the alpha-male" types as you would at an investment bank. You benefit from all the perks of a large company, but working for a supermajor becomes political after a point, the same way it would at a bank. Expect plenty of mandatory HR trainings on ethics, workplace harassment, etc. etc...

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Energy Trading: Career Path, Lifestyle, Wages, etc

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Energy Trading: Career Path, Lifestyle, Wages, etc

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