PwC Management Consulting vs ExxonMobil Trading Analyst Intern
I currently have two different offers for a summer internship, one offer from PwC to intern in their Houston office as a management consulting intern, and the other from Exxon to work as an analyst on their up and coming trading floor. I have experience working on another energy trading floor, and know that I really enjoy the industry.
It sounds like there's a variety of projects at PwC, but given my background there's a good chance I'd be working in their commodities trading/advisory practice or else on some oil and gas project. I'm posting this in both the sales and trading as well as the consulting forum to get a perspective from different people. I know that historically Exxon has been nonexistent in the trading world, however I've heard/seen first hand that they're really ramping up their trading activities, and it seems like an incredible opportunity to get in early and learn with some of the talent that they've pulled from other firms.
At the same time, interning as a management consultant would give me a bit of a different experience, building maybe a little more breadth instead of depth. Plus, management consulting seems to be a really good place to start a career and I think I'd enjoy the work a lot. Does anybody know what the reputation of the Houston PwC office is for management consulting? One concern is that I'd end up getting some project that I'm not super interested in, whereas at Exxon at least I know that I'll be interested in the work they're doing.
I’d take Exxon, sounds like a sweet ass gig and as you mentionned they’re building up something interesting and being part of that would be super cool experience.
Personally, I’d never take a job at the Big 4s
What reasons do you have not to take a job at any of the Big 4s?
Why would you ever if you want to be a trader? Doesn’t make any sense. A completely different career path. Even if consulting were your chosen career path, big 4 is on the bottom tier of that industry.
I’d only recommend big 4 if you were an accountant.
Unless the consulting gig at pwc is actually with strategy&, in which case that’s good if you want to be a consultant. But the point is there is zero reason to choose big4 over a trading floor if you want to be a trader.
I don't know for sure yet if I necessarily want to be a trader.
Well I guess youre posting on the wrong forum then lol.
Although commodities traders only focused on specific products, that doesn't mean the work itself lacks breadth. For example, let's say trader A only trades grains (corn, soybeans, wheat). I'm not sure how familiar you are in commodities, but there's a lot to learn to trade grains. For example, understanding different types of wheat (Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City) or the usage for each product (corn for ethanol & animal feed or soybeans for soybean oil and meal). Next, you have to consistently follow the supply and demand for these commodities, ranges from forecasting production via balance sheets and comparing your forecast with USDA reports to anticipating which macro factors (gov't policies, FX rates, etc.) that may have an impact on your current positions.
I can go on forever but I will let you do the research yourself. Of course, if consulting is truly what you want to do, go for it! But if your decision is based on breadth of work, then I can tell you commodities trading does not lack breadth at all.
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