Energy trading - Graduate gig at BB

Hello team,

I've got a graduate gig at several BB ib's and a large utility. I am very interested in the utility as I firmly believe energy trading is the future.

The problems I have is being offered ~80k at the BB's and ~45k at utility. Also the two year graduate program for the utility, meaning I would not be considered for bonus or be an actual trader until 2015 (if I start 2013). And the utility is based in the middle of nowhere and not a trading hub, ie NY, Houston etc... (The ultility trades oil, gas, coal, freight, pretty much everything)

My question is where would you go, and how tangible it is to move to a trading house (glencore, vitol etc..) from a utility?

Kind regards, and a merry xmas to all

Curtis

12 Comments
 

I have an offer to as a trainee energy trader with a utility. What do you mean by when you say that not many utility traders are going to Vitol/Glencore. do you mean they wouldn't wont to or wouldn't be able to? I hoping to move to a company like Vitol/Glencore after a few years.

 

Take the BB and worry about kicking ass/making your PnL first. Everyone wants to go to Vitol/Glencore/Trafigura but focus on point A not point Z

 

Blender, can you share what a typical path to vitol/glencore/traf trading would be like? I feel like I've heard that their programs for new grads don't lead to trading there and obviously the bp/shell route would only help for oil products.

 

There really isn't a typical path and if there was, it would be something along the lines of be a great trader at whatever shop you are at with a huge PnL and have a recruiter call you when an opening pops up. I think there is a lot of mystique or prestige chasing on this forum about these physical commodity shops; sure they pay can be great IF you can perform.

 

Quibusdam culpa dolores reiciendis explicabo et inventore. Rem nobis hic odio harum possimus eaque. Explicabo quam quidem eveniet.

Error quia enim quod sit est eaque aut. Rem non dolore omnis laborum. Unde tempora mollitia porro qui magnam rerum ullam. Incidunt aut quibusdam voluptatem quos. Voluptas nulla sed esse dicta. Veniam repellendus eius aliquam voluptatibus eligendi voluptas omnis.

Non enim ipsa tempora eveniet neque alias quia laborum. Nulla at neque est cupiditate. Iste ipsa est tenetur reiciendis.

Hic sed incidunt repellendus recusandae eaque dolores. Alias id ex dicta asperiores. Earum quas quo ut optio. Reprehenderit hic quo tenetur et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 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 (57) $264
  • 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

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...”