Oliver M.
About me
| Oliver M. | |
| Physics | |
| Physics with Philosophy | |
| Taught Postgraduate | |
| Halifax | |
| 2015 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| LNG Market Analyst | |
| International Oil and Gas Major | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Environment and energy |
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A day in the life of a LNG Market Analyst in the United Kingdom
Don't be put off by failure, but make sure you do your best to find out why you failed.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
International Oil and Gas Major
What do you do?
I am an LNG market analyst, responsible for forecasting supply and demand of liquified natural gas with the view to forecasting price movements and communicating that to my traders to generate profit.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
My mathematics background from studying Physics was extremely valuable, also the logical abilities employed in both physics and philosophy were very valuable. Nothing specifically about physics necessarily led me to oil and gas, but the area was attractive due to previous work experience and an interest in global energy markets.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
In ways, yes. I didn't really know exactly how interesting the job would be from the outside but it turns out that energy markets are extremely dynamic and very interesting to try and model. Otherwise I would say it's probably quite similar to what people expect, hard work but very rewarding.
Describe your most memorable day at work
I was sent to Spain to visit an LNG carrier in my first year of my grad scheme, that was pretty memorable. I also remember getting in "trouble" for missing a piece of news, which at the time felt like a massive deal. Turns out it wasn't but I still remember that day very vividly.
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
Time management is a key challenge, you need to be able to quickly prioritise your tasks.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
The work environment is very supportive, as you're surrounded by intelligent people who are all quite driven. The culture in some companies is guided by their values, and generally you're around people who are mature and a pleasure to be around. Generally you are not micromanaged, there is an expectation for you to finish your work but minimal expectation for you to do that in a specific way, you can work in your own way. You are generally expected to stay late if you're required to, but equally if you want/need to take a 2 hour break in the middle of the day, that's fine too.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
I was part of the University Frisbee team, which actually was great for developing some team building skills and also some leadership skills. I didn't do too many other societies to be honest, but I wish I had done. They're all really good for developing your personal skills.
What would you like to do next with your career?
To be honest, I want to continue on my current path and keep progressing. I've recently been given a lot more responsibility for managing our global team and working with colleagues all over the world which is very exciting.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Apply for grad schemes early. Don't be put off by failure, but make sure you do your best to find out why you failed. I was rejected multiple times, I eventually found out it's because my A Level grades were not good enough, so I actually resat two of my core maths A level exams to bump up my grade, and the next year I was accepted into BP. Being rejected isn't personal. I'd advise really focusing on jobs that fit your skill set, rather than ones that sound / pay the best.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
Anything
Next steps...
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