Carbon analyst with non-finance background interviewing for trading gig.
Any advice is helpful.
I'm a carbon analyst that prices closing bi-lateral trades for the voluntary US carbon market and the compliant EU ETS. I have a degree in journalism and a minor in finance. I'm making the transition to trading and IB aspects of origination & commercialization of environment, carbon and renewables and have several unsolicited interviews coming up this week.
I'm not worried about fit aspects. Most of these interviews happened following a dinner hosted by an exchange the other night and my cards were floating around the room. I'm worried about not having an MBA, or trading experience. I know everyone trading/brokering deals in the space, but no exposure myself.
The places i'm interviewing are rather prestigious and somewhere I could get the exposure and training in a junior capacity to be successful. What should I do to increase my position versus someone that has trading experience, yet not the expert knowledge I do in this niche area?
I'm open to book recommendations, harsh criticism, strategic/expert advice on my concern, drinks at the Brandy Library, job offers and encouragement.
~E
If you're applying for a junior role on a trading desk I don't know how much trading experience they're going to expect you to have. I recently interviewed for a similar role on a commodity desk and they were fine with me having no experience (I made it to the final two candidates, the one chosen did not have trading experience either). I presume you know the fundamentals of the emissions market so you're probably one step up on most guys already. I would assume your competition in this type of interview would be undergrads or I-bankers with one or two years of experience. So when thinking about how to prepare for the interview think about the types of skills those types of candidates present: how is your modeling? Teamwork capabilities? Experience in a pressure filled environment? Your communication skills are probably on an even playing field if not a notch above the competition.
If your competing against someone with a lot of trading experience (which I assume you wouldn't be, because that person would be a successful trader and wouldn't be interviewing for a junior role) then just determine why you want to do trading, there are A LOT of trading interview questions posted on this site, just search to the right.
If you don't mind me asking - how did you hear about the exchange dinner? Do you find these are good places to meet people (I'm currently exploring the job market)?
Finally, your competitive advantages seem to be clear cut - focus on them and let the good times role.
CC,
Thanks for the encouragement.
Any other primates have advice?
Bump.
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