Sophomore (Non-Target) Dual Major Finance + Energy Commerce | Data Analytics Cert | Seeking Advice on Energy Trading / Energy Banking / Commodities
I’m a rising sophomore dual majoring in Finance and Energy Commerce with a Data Analytics certification at a non-target school for traditional finance. However, my school has very strong connections in the energy industry
Current stats:
• 4.0 GPA
• Freshman summer: Internship with the United States Congress (secured through my school; knew it was the only realistic option that summer)
I don’t have anything lined up for this upcoming summer and I’m feeling behind. My primary goal is to become an energy trader focused on hydrocarbons (crude, NGLs, natural gas, LNG, residuals). I’m also very interested in energy investment banking. I’d be open to ags or metals trading as well basically anything in the broader commodities space.
Feeling a bit lost and behind schedule any brutal honesty or actionable guidance is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
To break into energy trading, energy banking, or commodities, here’s a roadmap based on the most helpful WSO content:
1. Leverage Your School’s Energy Industry Connections
2. Secure a Relevant Internship for Next Summer
3. Develop Technical Skills
4. Focus on Energy-Specific Knowledge
5. Network Strategically
6. Prepare for Interviews
7. Be Patient and Persistent
8. Backup Plan
By focusing on networking, technical skills, and energy-specific knowledge, you’ll position yourself as a strong candidate for energy trading or banking roles. Keep pushing forward—your 4.0 GPA and dual major already set you apart!
Sources: Small Energy Trading Prop Shop vs Management Consulting, energy trader, do I move?, Refined fuels trading experience but lackluster Engineering GPA, Energy Trading: Career Path, Lifestyle, Wages, etc, Physical Commodity Trading career: If you started over again.
for oil trading type roles your options are at a bank or somewhere like BP/Shell/Exxon/Trafigura most if not all of them have a dedicated internship program which have been talked about on the site
make sure you keep developing your coding/stem background and network extensively targeting texas as most energy roles will be there
thing to keep in mind as well is that energy IB in houston runs first out of all the processes (wrapped up in december this year)
for ags big names are ABCD (ADM, Bunge, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus) and their main desks will be in the midwest or geneva I think
Do you go to Tech ?
nah Hustlers university
Current Sophomore who just went through recruitment, so I can shed some light here.
I assume you're in Texas, so you've got a leg up in terms of energy recruiting.
Read up on all the different internships/rotational programs that different physical shops have here on WSO. They aren't as widely known and can be kind of hard to figure out, they also don't really recruit during sophomore year. Midwest Ag internships are super weird and spontaneous, and I've never heard of a normal US student who isn't Ivy or Nepo getting anything in Geneva.
If you want to take the IB route, then you'll need to decide soon. Energy was always the first group to post apps when a bank would open up, often by like a month or two. I'd also say that the energy groups care more about networking than the other groups, if you don't start chatting in August you'll get cooked.
It's way too early to have something lined up for Sophomore Summer, so don't stress (almost nobody does them anymore anyway). I personally followed as many LMM IB/PE firms as I could on LinkedIn (had to be thousands of them) and just refreshed my phone a few times a day until I saw some super niche firm post about needing interns, and then I just cold applied (got lucky and went about 1/25).
Take the minimum amount of credit hours you can this year, and try to schedule 1 hard class a semester that you can devote alot of time to, and then 3 super easy classes that you don't have to worry about skipping when a call or interview comes up. Keep a 3.745 or better and you're fine.
Respectfully, nobody really cares about the data analytics certificate. I'm sure its useful, but don't overemphasize it. And get involved in some clubs, maybe a frat.
Also if you don't like energy IB could you hypothetically switch to energy S&T at a Houston bank
Extremely valid take, energy S&T is such a good place to start, leaves just about everything in energy open. Most banks will also have some energy seats in other cities, like NY, CHI, LA.
FICC trading/research or Macro research at a good bank is also something pretty cool.
Honestly much more interested in energy s&t in Houston.
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