I recently had an insightful conversation with Yi (Elva) L., a professional in the physical commodities trading industry, about starting a career in this field. For aspiring students, here are my key takeaways from our chat:
• How to Get Your Foot in the Door: One of the best ways to enter this industry is through a graduate trainee program. It's important to remember that while knowledge, skills, and character are crucial, luck also plays a significant role — so to increase your chances, apply to all relevant roles that interest you.
• Importance of Soft Skills: As this is a people business, communication and interpersonal skills are crucial. Strong speaking and writing skills are essential for effectively conveying ideas and building relationships. During job interviews, being authentic ensures a good fit with the team and company culture. This advice—knowing and presenting true personality and character instead of following a generic template—is unique and certainly takes much of the pressure off trying to fit a specific “type” for an industry.
• Technical Knowledge: While commodity-specific knowledge is valuable, don't stress if you lack it initially—much of the practical expertise and knowledge is gained on the job. However, it's advantageous to develop strong skills in Excel, Python, and Tableau. Additionally, pursuing certifications such as CFA and CFI can be greatly beneficial.
• Learning from Experiences: Participating in competitions, getting internships, and building industry connections provide powerful, firsthand learning opportunities. I recently founded the Commodities Trading Club at Northeastern University which allows students to gain insights and network within the industry.
• Networking: Informal calls and coffee chats with industry professionals are valuable for understanding general industry trends, getting referrals, and learning from their experiences. However, peers at a similar career stage often provide more relevant hiring and interview insights. As they have recently researched similar topics or have fresh memories of hiring experiences, making their advice particularly useful.
So, I would like to leverage the power of LinkedIn — if you are also applying for roles in physical commodity trading or have recently been hired and are eager to share your experiences, I would love to connect!
Agile Consultant: Driving Business Transformation and Achieving Agile Excellence
3wBraulio Martinez M