1. Welcome to the Evisors Webinar
Visit us online at www.evisors.com
Renewing Your Career: Careers in the Energy Sector
featuring
Greg Wiles
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2. Renewing Your Career:
Careers in the Energy Sector
About Greg
Overview of the Industry
How to Research the Industry
What are Firms Looking For?
What to Expect in the Recruiting Process
Q&A
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3. About Greg
• Undergrad in economics from Boston College
• Two years of working with oil and gas companies
at Citigroup in their investment banking group
• MBA from Harvard Business School
• Summer with Morgan Stanley’s Infrastructure
Fund investing in energy assets
(pipelines, renewables)
• Currently at US Renewables Group, the largest
US-focused pure play renewable energy investor
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4. Overview of the Energy Industry
• Includes:
– Oil & gas
– Pipelines and storage
– Electric utilities
– Independent power producers
• Generally large firms
• Electricity is highly regulated
• O&G firms have global footprints
• Generally a steady, stable growth sector
with areas of rapid expansion (i.e. shale
oil and gas in the U.S.)
• Little opportunity for entrepreneurship
Traditional Energy Renewable Energy
• Includes:
– Wind, solar, geothermal, and hydro
– Biofuels
– Energy efficiency
• Most firms are small or are small
divisions of large companies (i.e. GE)
• Once a fast-growing sector, now
suffering from withdrawal of subsidies
and low energy prices
• Significant opportunity outside of the
U.S. – primarily in developing world
• Opportunities for entrepreneurship in
certain areas of renewables
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5. How to Research the Industry
• For Traditional Energy:
– The IEA (www.iea.org) has a wealth of reports on the world energy industry and trends
– Similarly, the EIA (www.eia.gov) has great reports on trends in the U.S. energy industry
– Firm websites are the best way to learn about firms and the opportunities they have for
careers
– Most traditional energy firms recruit at schools; if they do not, explore whether your
school has a job-bank sharing policy with schools in Texas or Louisiana
– For mid-career folks, cull your network (via Linked-in or good ol’ fashioned phone calls) to
find people in these organizations who can help set up informational interviews
• For Renewable Energy:
– Greentech media (www.greentechmedia.com) is the best source of information about
companies in the industry
– The Green blog on www.nytimes.com is another great source
– Renewable firms rarely recruit. After exhausting your network, find companies that
interest you online and send an email with your resume asking for an informational
interview.
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6. What Are Firms Looking For?
• Engineers, engineers, and engineers  engineer + business training = gold
• So what if you’re not an engineer?
– Demonstrated interest in the space, especially for renewable energy firms
– Background in the sciences, economics, or other quantitative training
– Analytical skills and proven ability to quickly learn technical details (as you will be
expected to learn how the technology – whether it be a solar cell or a blow-out preventer
– actually works)
– Oil and gas firms in particular are desperate for young talent
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7. What to Expect in the Recruiting Process?
• Most energy firms are located in Texas (traditional energy) or California
(renewable energy), with regulated utilities scattered across the country
– Expect to need to re-locate if you don’t live there already
• Identify companies you want to work for and then reach out – applying
through job posts will not be the most effective way of getting a job in energy
• Informational interviews will be the best way into a firm
– Request informational interviews to learn more about a firm
– Inquire about positions that fit the career path you’re seeking
– If the firm doesn’t have a job that’s a good fit at that time, continue to follow-up via email
(once a month or so) to see if something comes up (as a project-based industry, energy firms’
job needs tend to be very fluid)
– Cast a wide net
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8. Q&A
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9. Questions & Answers
Question 1:
What post-MBA roles are available within the
energy sector?
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10. Questions & Answers
Question 2:
Are there any corporate finance roles within
the energy sector?
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11. Questions & Answers
Question 3:
What are the hubs for traditional and
renewable energy?
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12. Questions & Answers
Question 4:
If you don’t have a strong energy
background when applying, what are some
strategies to portray yourself as a strong
candidate?
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13. Questions & Answers
Question 5:
Are there any culture norms people should
be aware of when applying to this field?
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14. Questions & Answers
Question 6:
What available opportunities are there after
exiting the energy sector?
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15. Questions & Answers
Question 7:
What is the need for living in remote areas?
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16. Questions & Answers
Question 8:
Looking at your experiences, what did you
like and dislike about the energy sector?
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17. Thanks for Joining!
Book your session with Greg at
www.evisors.com/expert/275
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