Guys,I am facing quite a difficult situation and would like to consider your opinion:Currently, I am trading cross commodity products (prop and flow) in the energy complex for two years, employed by an energy trading arm of a huge utilities house. Track record is excellent, by all means and very well paid. However, I find it a very difficult place for further development as a trader, since the trading is still dominated by former utilities people which makes life really difficult for any creativity. My goal is to move into a role with some of the major players, i.e. Vitol, Traf, Glencore or even banks.What would be your suggestion? Shall I stay and build up more "experience" ? One recruiter suggested to build up at least three years. Another even suggested to "enrich" my CV with a TOP MBA, which I didnt believe in so much, but he argued, that TOP houses, especially banks (i.e. JPM, Morgan Stanley, Goldman) mostly hire only TOP MBAs into front office??? What are your thoughts?Tx!

May I ask whether thats a European utility?Then, "or even banks"? Sorry, but the guys at Vitol are much much much bigger and better than the guys as most banks. From a "face value" point of view I would think HFs come in first, then the traders like Vitol, Glencore and so on, then banks, then utils. I have to agree with the first HH you mentioned. I rather think you should go for 3-4 years experience and then try to move. And concerning your track record: "Excellent" is very subjective and always depends and especially with utils is very different from a track record earned at a bank or even HF. I have seen lots of traders with excellent track records at utils where they were trading on the back of the assets and then more or less failing when it came to trading purely prop at a HF. Moreover: For what kind of "development" are you looking for? If you are trading xcomm, I dont see what development you are looking for trading wise. Are you looking for a bigger VaR or different products?

elite mba is valuable for getting job with elite bank and opens door to other possibilities besides trading. you sound like somebody who might want to opportunity to be a high level executive one day, right? then by all means, do elite mba.

deepvalue: dont see mentioning anything regarding management or similar in my initial post. the truth is actually the opposite: utilities are usually overmanaged, too political, too comfortable in their asset-environment, which is not ideal for risk taking...

Autares: it is an European Utilities. To keep it short, it is simply the environment, which is from my perspective not ideal for risk taking. I dont see the trading dynamic in utilities world-it's simply a hedgers's mentality, rather than risk taking. Maybe things changed a lot after the credit crunch?Anyone with similar thoughts/views? Probably can someone come up with own experience, "switching" from utilities->bank/HF/trading house or vice versa?

Hi Pocari77:Elite MBA / Ph.D. is a two edged sword.I recently had several interviews for an energy desk quant / energy trader position at two IBs and can give you some ideas / feedback. PM me when you have chance.- Edward

what are some top energy-focused hedge funds? bluegold, etc?

QuoteOriginally posted by: pocari77deepvalue: dont see mentioning anything regarding management or similar in my initial post. the truth is actually the opposite: utilities are usually overmanaged, too political, too comfortable in their asset-environment, which is not ideal for risk taking...Most utilities in Europe has physical asset and trading arm, so it's natural the trading is viewed as supplement. I think unsophistication stem not from type of organisation but more a combination of ex-civil servant employees and remote locations. If I'm trying to move and find banks hard, I'd move collateral to groups that eliminate those 2 factors:gaselys, RWE, EDF london,etcWhen relocated to another country I made the mistake of going to utility (without asset), now also find it hard to go back to banks (where I came from)

QuoteOriginally posted by: pocari77Currently, I am trading cross commodity products (prop and flow) in the energy complex for two years, employed by an energy trading arm of a huge utilities house. Track record is excellent, by all means and very well paid. take the money and count your lucky stars. he who tries to rise above his good fortune will get his weeney chopped off.

QuoteOriginally posted by: pocari77 I find it a very difficult place for further development as a trader... TOP houses, especially banks (i.e. JPM, Morgan Stanley, Goldman) mostly hire only TOP MBAs into front officeExplain. What would you like to do? Why do you think you'll be better off at GS/MS/JPM?QuoteOne recruiter suggested to build up at least three years. Another even suggested to "enrich" my CV with a TOP MBARecruiters want employees to move every 3 years - the churn is what makes them fees. So you have to be careful getting your career advice from them.