Meet Jordan

Why should students apply for the industrial placement programme at Glencore?

One of Glencore’s core values is entrepreneurialism, which means you are always given the opportunity to share ideas and thoughts that could help your team move forward. It is unique to Glencore that even at such an early stage of your career you are able to have a voice and be heard in such a big organisation. From day one you are given responsibility and the freedom to learn about and work on a specific product in which Glencore trades.

The working environment at Glencore is friendly, fast paced and collaborative, and placement students have a huge opportunity to learn from some of the best professionals in the industry, all of whom have years of experience and a willingness to sit down and talk to those with the drive to succeed and learn at Glencore.

The flat structure at Glencore is something I believe creates opportunities for placement students to be able to discuss ideas with colleagues no matter their position – this openness creates a working environment for endless learning opportunities.

At which university do you study and what subject?

I study economics at the University of Exeter

How did you find out about the Glencore industrial placement programme?

Searching for an industrial placement programme within the commodity industry was hard due to the small number of opportunities that were out there. I found Glencore’s industrial placement programme from the targetjobs website. It was an easy decision to apply to Glencore, as I was actively looking for a placement programme within the commodity industry and Glencore is one of the biggest players.

Why did you apply to the programme?

After thorough research into Glencore and the commodity industry as a whole, it was a no-brainer to work out that Glencore had the perfect programme for me. I was focused on developing a career in the oil and gas industry and applied to Glencore so that I could start my career alongside the best in the industry. The job description matched exactly what I was searching for – a role within trading operations. It was Glencore’s core values and culture that convinced me that it was the best fit.

Which Glencore team are you part of and what do they do?

I am part of the financial operations team. Our team is divided into different desks within the London office and each team member is responsible for a certain product. We are the link between the finance department and operations so our tasks include creating and sending out invoices to our counterparties and processing all the payables on their respective due dates. We make sure we receive the funds from the trades and pay for all purchases of any product traded in the London office

What is a typical week like in your role, eg typical activities and responsibilities?

As one of the financial operators, my typical activities include constant communication with the operator and risk manager to send out invoices for trades on time, while also making sure that we have received the funds on their contractual due dates. I also have to make sure that all payments are processed without delays. I am also responsible for creating a report that tracks our daily receivables, which is distributed to the whole team.

What training and support is available throughout the programme?

Every day you are learning new skills and developing my knowledge of the industry. On day one, you are training on the job, carrying out daily tasks and learning from the rest of the team. In the first week that you join the company you are given a weekly introduction to all the different desks at Glencore, which is a great time to learn about what Glencore does and network with the heads of the desks. Glencore also provides all placement students with extra training on the commodity industry that can be done in your own time. Overall, there is constant support with everyone at Glencore providing advice and help when needed.

How can students best prepare for a placement year at Glencore?

The best way to prepare for the placement is to be yourself. You do not have to know everything about the commodity industry and Glencore at the start but do make sure you do your research into the field and role you are applying for. Most importantly, I would say be open to learning and developing new skills. You will be learning from some of the top professionals in the industry, which is the best way to get a head start on your career.

What was the induction phase like at Glencore?

The induction phase at Glencore was a smooth process and everyone was really friendly and willing to help when needed. From the very first day we were given two induction presentations and then got the chance to join our teams. Even though the induction phase is now over, all placement students have regular meetings with human resources to talk about our experiences and how we are getting on at Glencore

What new skills have you learned on the programme?

I have had endless opportunities to develop key skills that are vital for any employee at Glencore throughout the industrial programme. One skill is being proactive – the ability to take charge of any situation and provide useful solutions to problems that come up on a daily basis.

Communication is the most important skill needed, not just at Glencore but anywhere, and being able to confidently communicate with members of different teams and in different positions within the company is key to making quick and thorough decisions.

Describe a project or piece of work you have been involved in.

Being a financial operator, means that I am solely responsible for invoicing all the trades that have been placed. I send out all invoices to the counterparties and make sure all funds have been received. On the purchases side, I carry out calculations to make sure the price sent by the counterparty is correct. Once the price is agreed, I process invoices to guarantee payment is made on the respected due dates.