Petroleum Engineer to Natural Gas Trader?
Hey I just wanted to get some advice on applying to natural gas trading jobs. I have an undergrad degree in Geophysics from a top school and am working at a National Lab doing research on fossil fuels (subsurface energy resource engineer). I also did an internship at an Oil Major and am currently a part time graduate math student at a top university. I have been interested in breaking into natural gas/energy commodities trading at a big bank, but is this realistic with my background? I do a bit of economic modelling for oil & gas and carbon capture storage projects at my job but have no other financial experience. I've also been coding for 5+ years. So I have the right quantitative and energy background, but do they even care about those things if I don't have a finance background? Let me know.
Breaking into natural gas trading with your background is definitely possible, but it will require strategic positioning and leveraging your unique skill set. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s what you need to know:
1. Your Background is a Strength
2. Finance Experience is Not Always a Dealbreaker
3. Steps to Break In
4. Tailor Your Pitch
5. Be Persistent
Your background is highly relevant, and with the right approach, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for natural gas trading roles.
Sources: Entry-Level Natural Gas Scheduler, Q&A: Director of Energy Trading, State School to Trading Physical Gas My Story (Long), Breaking into Oil & Gas / Energy as a UG
Great background, no one particularly values a ‘finance’ background in the industry more than anything else. Lot of business, econ, finance majors just because there are more of them in college and they are more likely to be interested in the job. Lots of engineers as well. Think you’ll be in a great spot for roles. But there’s no reason to limit yourself to banks. There aren’t a lot of them active in the space, and there are way more jobs with strong upside at trading focused majors, funds, and independents.
Thanks for the reply. Whats the best way to find roles to apply to? I just search like "natural gas trader" on linked in, for example, and theres not that many roles. Do you have any suggestions for job boards/ types of roles I could apply for? Would I just be looking at analyst level roles?
Unwritten rules of the game are that career switchers from outside firms tend to have most success into graduate or entry level roles. So graduate level jobs and TDP programs are your best bet in my opinion- and always good to reach out to people to express your interest. Find someone that works in the same office that the posting is for then make it seem like you are strongly motivated.
Agree with the above comment. You’re fine to get into gas trading, but prob need to do some scheduling first. I’ve seen engineers at majors go from the engineering side to commercial into gas mid-front office roles. Straight into gas trading, not likely. But gas analyst/scheduling, probably can do that.
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