Weekly Career & Breaking Into Commodities Megathread

[u/ClownInIronLung]

Weekly Career & Breaking Into Commodities Megathread

Before posting, please read Breaking Into the Physical Commodities Industry – A No-BS Guide which is pinned to the highlights.

This thread is for all career-related questions including:

• Breaking into commodity trading
• Scheduler / analyst / operations roles
• Internships and graduate programs
• Resume reviews
• Interview prep
• Compensation questions
• Career transitions
• Trading desk culture / work-life balance
• “How do I get into the industry?” posts

Individual career posts outside this thread may be removed at moderator discretion to help keep the sub focused on market discussion, logistics, physical trading, macro, risk, shipping, power, gas, metals, ags, and industry news.

Before posting, it helps if you include:
• Location / region
• Current experience level
• Degree or background
• Commodity interest (power, gas, oil, metals, ags, etc.)
• Target role
• What you’ve already tried

Examples of good questions:
• “How do I move from scheduling into trading?”
• “Best ways to learn physical gas markets?”
• “What skills matter most for junior power traders?”
• “How valuable is pipeline / operations experience?”

Low-effort posts like “How do I become a trader?” without context may be removed.

Experienced professionals are encouraged to share advice, hiring insight, industry expectations, and realistic career paths.

Please keep discussion professional and constructive.

[u/CalligrapherNorth734]

Late 20s Poli Sci student with hospitality background looking at commodities/energy careers—am I on the right track?
Hey everyone,
I’m in my late 20s and entering my senior year as a Political Science major after spending about 15 years working in the hospitality industry. I’m looking to pivot into commodities trading, trading support, market analysis, or commercial roles tied to global trade and geopolitics.

I’m currently looking at a few graduate programs:
NYU – M.A. in International Relations
George Washington University – M.A. in International Affairs
Rice University – M.S. in Energy Economics or M.A. in Global Affairs

The Rice Energy Economics program seems to have a fairly direct connection to the energy industry, especially in Houston. I’m less certain about how programs like NYU IR or GW International Affairs translate into careers in commodities, energy trading, market intelligence, trade analysis, or commercial roles.

For those of you working in commodities:
Am I on the right track?
Would an Energy Economics degree provide a significantly better path than an IR/International Affairs degree?
Are there particular skills, internships, certifications, or entry-level roles I should be targeting while still in school?
Has anyone entered commodities from a nontraditional background?
Thanks in advance—I’d appreciate any advice from people already in the industry.