Commodity trading : Internship or Summer School ?
Hi all,
I'm seeking a gap-year internship and it's really hard to find one in Europe due to the fact that commodity trading houses only recruit fresh graduates for graduates programs and there is nothing in terms of internships. I talked to several Glencore traders and analysts and all of them told me to go back to them when my studies are finished.
I'm turning mad not doing anything except filling applications and not receivinng anything positive so I thought about summer schools ! LSE, Texas A&M or University of Chicago might be relevant in the commodity trading business in order to network or maybe even add value to my resume. What do you think ?
Thanks
I'm not in commodities, but personally, I wouldn't do a summer program if the program had an exorbitant cost that you have to pay back in the form of student loans...I'd rather seek out something with a prof or even a local firm that loosely tied to commodities than go into debt to do a summer program
You'd have better odds of landing a gap year internship at a smaller shop set up by ex-Glencore traders opposed to Glencore itself - it will likely be informal and you'd have to structure it yourself.
Thanks for your answers guys I appreciate. I can also cancel my gap-year and go for my last year of study at North Carolina state university as my school owns a campus there.
What should I do ? I really want a scheduler/traffic/trader assistant internship but I can't find any offers and speculative applications as well as networking don't seem to work. I already tried to canvass commodity hedge funds.
How much will it cost you to go to NC State and do your last year of study? If no more than normal, I'd do that and seek out a professorial internship or apply as a TA for a professor there.
Were you referring to Post-Completion Optional Practical Training ?
Thanks for your help.
No extra cost. I think skipping the gap-year and therefore being eligible ASAP for a FT/Graduate offer would be great but there's something that disrupts me : I only have a 6 month-internship as a trader assistant for a niche commodity firm. I also have little experience in consulting but will it be enough when i'll graduate ? What did you mean by applying as a trader assistant for a professor ?
I meant apply for a teaching assistant for a professor, do research for him/her etc. The research part if it pertains somehow to your field would boost your resume.
A 6-month internship is a lot. Most people do less than that during a summer. You interned for a commodity firm, which is directly applicable to what you want to do. That's a good boost to your resume as well. Focus on maintaining contacts, networking with people in the field so that you can have a solid group of people to reach out to for help in the full-time job hunt once you graduate.
Thanks, yes I found the details on my school website and I could work up to 20 hours (paid) per week for a teacher. I'll definitely do this.
I'll keep on networking hard in the USA. I'll be there in 3 months.
.
Dude... this obsession with physical commodities leads nowhere. You should be casting your net everywhere.
Don't listen to this guy.
Hahahahahaha no please don't, he should listen to you.
Work experience over school.
The quicker I graduate the quicker I'd be able to apply for graduate programs. As I know the field I want to work into I doubt that interning in MM banks (considering I'm recruited) and such would be relevant because I can skip this gay-year and in the physical commodity business it's an other animal.
I normally recommend work experience over school. If you can find something that's not at a trading house, ie, a processor, a freight company, a broker, or anything else that gets you contacts and exposure to the field you want to be in, take it. You don't have to be at a trading house to get relevant experience for trading.
If you can't find that, finish school as fast as possible and do whatever it takes to leverage your Glencore contacts into a graduate program.
I'd second this and would also add the obvious note that school and work aren't entirely mutually exclusive. You could spend some time interning at a metals broker/ freight house etc during the year and submit all your assignments in the last moment. Might be a riskier path, but its certainly worth it, especially if you aren't attending a LSE type target.
Thanks for your answers I appreciate. I'm going to finish studies ASAP and try to leverage the little experience I have in order to get FT or Graduate program offers in Europe or in the USA next year.
If I encounter any problem I'll always have the possibility to do a MSc or Certificate in Energy in an university such as Geneve, Houston or Texas A&M.
So wait a second, are you implying you are on your undergraduate studies ?
You are an alumni of my school. Come on I only talked to you once or twice and I remember you work in Europe in energy (Power.. am I wrong ?). I'm so sad you forgot who I am haha. And no I was referring to those universities because they are well regarded in the USA in the commodity world.
Where are you based out of?
NC
Stop looking for an internship w/ a trader, and start emailing logistics companies, warehousing companies, futures brokers, quality surveyors, etc. These ancillary industries are not on many internship seekers radar, and wil provide MUCH more valuable experience than a summer jerking off in Holborn or Hyde Park...
Seconded. If you can get a gig in ship chartering logistics, inspection company, even if it's a shipping clerk reviewing BOLs, it'll be a greater boon than graduate studies.
Hey guys, currently filling red tape for Visa and health processing.
As I still have free time, what do you think about passing the Series 3 exam ? Is it worth it and well-recognized in the USA ?
Could be an asset when i'll canvass commodity firms in Houston and Chicago.
You generally only need it if you're interacting with clients in a brokerage role--I've never seen an internship or entry-level position that requires you to have it before you get hired.
Thanks
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