Refined fuels trading experience but lackluster Engineering GPA
Graduating from a non-target in May 2019. I completed a refined fuels trading internship this past summer and I have a bunch of other commodity related experience. I am very passionate about the energy commodity industry but I have a low 3.0's Engineering GPA. I feel like this is hindering my chance of securing an interview.
What can I do to get passed the GPA Hurdle so I can convey my experience and passion?
What did you do at the shop you worked at? Also, how recognized are they in their market?
If you worked hard and have a good reputation but they can't bring you on, I would look for entry level roles at other shops then ask the guys you worked with this summer if they can help put you in touch with anyone they know there.
Assuming you have commercial aspirations, the best way to get a seat is to kick ass in your current role.
I wouldn't rule any jobs out - there are people who get moved out of accounting, credit, etc. into roles that can feed into trading because they bust their ass and do a better job than their peers.
The ones that move from the "feeder" roles into trading get promoted for the same reason - they are ass-kickers. The company realizes these employees are exceptional and that they can make more money if they give these folks a trading seat to kick ass in.
I know "work hard" is about as generic advice as you can get and there is a lot of subtlety and nuance to moving into trading that is hard to explain. My point is that even with a sub-par GPA you should be able to find a role at a shop that is in the physical markets - just look and have nothing be beneath you. If you are cut out for it, it will show, and you will eventually look back on these posts and laugh.
Further, I think that the advice from Tandem and Butterbean about living in a weird geography is really solid. There are really solid places to learn outside of Houston that people can have a more difficult time attracting talent to. The first two that jump out are San Antonio or Findlay (pretty obvious who this would be with) but there are lots of others. Going back to the working hard, living somewhere that's not your top choice is just another factor in the personal profile of sacrifices you're willing to make for a given career path.
I'd say RT is turning into the Scheduling position of Gas. It's like 5-10 years, these power traders from '98-'02 blocks are just 42 right now. Some of the older one's are 50. They still got 15-25 years in the game. Until the '97-'02 graduating class go, this energy industry is held hostage. I lose job opportunities to these folks consistently.
But why would they? $100-300k a year, awesome hours, and for the most part very cool community.
RT use to be a stepping stone job.. now its a career job
Much like gas scheduling.
for sure...
I'd say for anyone trying to get in the commodity game. If it's energy, best course of action.
1) Logistics role in obscure place(NE Penn, weird ass cities) 2) Understanding how to play your cards into that future trader role. 3) Networking, 4) Patience 5) Consistency 6) Not being afraid to take risks and putting yourselves in different situations. 7) Discipline to not quit or doing something impulsive if you get passed over the first time, second time, third time for the trader role in front of you.
Other commodities, like metals/ags, I do not know enough. I believe in ags, you can get Jr Trader role from the get go.