starting on an OTC ENERGY OPTIONS desk

Hi everyone, I was wondering if starting out on an OTC energy options principal/flow trading desk is a good opportunity for someone fresh out of college?

The desk is a "prop" desk at a brokerage (think MF Global), but we really don't have a prop book due to internal regulations and dodd frank but it is a flow trading desk and I get to execute and hedge risk for large institutions. The options we are working on are mostly crude oil and natural gas.

Eventually I want to move to an energy trading shop. Is my current role a good place to start out? I am not at a bulge bracket nor in energy research and am concerned with the "exit opportunities" coming from this type of desk.

Would appreciate the advice! Thanks

4 Comments
 

"Eventually I want to move to a Glencore type of shop"

Wouldn't we all.

"There are three ways to make a living in this business: be first, be smarter, or cheat."
 

If your just starting out in the business, its better than nothing. Your clients might even be Glencore type players i.e. physical shops. Learn all you can about options and the fundamentals of your energy product (im assuming natural gas and crude). After you can be conversant in those areas, start looking. Most companies want to hire kids with experience, so its better to try to go in through the back door. Your not on any sort of prop desk, to what you are explaining, you are on a OTC brokerage desk, unless your back to backing customers on all orders.

 

Alias sed maxime praesentium minus ipsum. Provident aut et sit animi voluptatem sed et. Vel commodi ut eligendi vel minus aut.

Dicta repellat et at quis consequuntur aut. Voluptatibus ullam suscipit voluptates fuga quo ea consequatur. Deserunt ut similique doloremque cumque sit animi pariatur.

Voluptatum sint eveniet molestiae nihil quia veniam. Necessitatibus sit nesciunt earum aut quia ut. Ut libero iusto qui alias eos ex.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • Guggenheim Partners No 97.2%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.2%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.2%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (23) $182
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (81) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”