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Strong in the south and midwest markets. Less prop/spec more focus on optimizing storage and transport. They are similar to a Tenaska. Every shop in Houston recruits heavily out of UH.
Thanks for the feedback. If one were starting out, is this a good firm to learn the fundamentals of the business. I'm assuming the entry level job is the standard scheduler position. I guess what I'm asking is would putting in a couple of years here provide a good stepping stone to the next level into a more spec oriented position?
The answer to that is no, Sequent back in the day produced extremely strong traders and to have worked in that shop during those days you would have really learned some innovative and extremely profitable techniques. They got hit hard over the past few years with vols taking a dump and moved into EMA's and AMA's, which are extremely intensive from a workload perspective, but have very little upside. If you really want to learn the fundies and learn the trading side (versus purely operational) try and get into a major or try and get into the risk group at any trading shop... once you see how the money moves and how it is made and lost, it will make the front office tasks that much more understandable. Don't get me wrong Sequent is still alive in a (up until recently) dead market so they are doing something right, but don't expect to go in there and learn everything you want, because 1.) traders dont care about your progress and 2.) they are called "trade secrets" for a reason, ie. a trader isn't going to show you how he does his job and create more competition than he already has.... final answer if you do go there get ready to work your ass off, for little pay, and far less appreciation. Also "scheduler" used to be an entry level position, nowadays there a veteran schedulers that can't find jobs so good luck getting into any shop without 3-5 years. With margins as small as they are one "small" mistake by an inexperienced scheduler could wipe out a year's worth of P&L...so the shops don't risk "training" entry level schedulers any more....
It's not impossible. 18 months into my career and I got a Natural Gas Scheduler job at a competitor company. I've been here for 4 months and they emphasized training and getting me up to speed.
I experienced what many would say, at least my boss, his boss, my two co-workers I work with mainly, etc., the toughest winter they've ever seen.
Still learning plenty though. But then again, I know for a fact they pay me below their mid-point rate of a Scheduler and in regards to industry's pay, I bet their midpoint is about 5-10% lower than a competitors mid-point. Nonetheless, for me, it's still a lot.
Thanks for the feedback. So it sounds like you are recommending to stay away from the physical shops (other then the big integrated firms like Shell, BP, etc). But I always read to trade natural gas well you need to "learn" the physical side to understand the market before you can trade it properly. Outside of the big integrated firms, the rest mostly trade financial no?
I've worked at Shell too. They aren't going to hire an entry-level person as a scheduler, but yes, most firms won't dare hire a physical trader who hasn't had extensive or some experience in scheduling + risk or ops or credit.
Right now they "want" 4 yrs + exp, but the two guys I know interviewing for it are 7yrs + and are Senior Schedulers elsewhere, and I believe...don't quote me, one of them got the job as of Friday.
When working at shell, I was an Ops Analyst and the routine was. Ops Analyst(2-3 years)--> Risk or Credit(2-3 years)-->Scheduling.
Even as an Ops Analyst, they were very selective. I was lucky to be interning at a PE firm, been to a good public undergrad(not-target but well-viewed down here in Houston). I quit cause I got a job as a scheduler elsehwere in October. A headhunter has already contacted me about looking into trading positions, I told him to hold back until I get knowledge on the subject.
So, if anything, I disagree with the assertion of staying away from the physical shops. Go to a utility, get the granular knowledge, move diagonally(meaning up & away) once you feel confident from a knowledge standpoint. 4 months in, I've learned a lot, I imagine much more more in the next 24 or 32 months. I have a boss that said he'll sit down at some point and go through the X and Os, and my trader takes me out random Fridays to go over high-level trading stuff.
This company's rivals Sequent.
Anyone have any thoughts on the firm Respol? They specialize in LNG and LPG.
Repsol is in the woodlands. I hear working their is rough, but nonetheless..it's a huge energy corp.
Ok with your background, you should be able to get a high analyst job at a major. I think since u have financial trading exp., utility companies should be an option for you.
You really think a major would hire a guy my age (39)?
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