Oil Industry Logitics

Oil Industry Logitics

Name: Marc Schechter
Hometown: New York
Education: UCLA, Anderson School of Management, MBA Class of 2009
Plan A: Investment banking
Plan B: Marine transportation

I found very early on that the economy was starting to sour, so I started recruiting for I-banking jobs, thinking naively that they would at least hold up because they always recruit and bring in new people. I took an offer for an I-banking summer position with Bear Stearns. Four weeks after I accepted, the company went belly-up.

I called everyone I knew and worked my network to find other opportunities for the summer. I ended up working as an associate for Seacor Holdings. It's a somewhat unusual job for someone with an MBA to go into: marine transportation services, oil and gas businesses, energy industries. The company owns helicopters, barges, and tankers, and it uses environmental services to clean up oil spills and capitalize on renewable fuels.

I'm returning to the company as a senior associate working on business development. My second day, I got to fly a helicopter flight simulator! In hindsight, I am happier to be here than at an investment bank. It's far more pleasant, and it's a more dynamic and positive environment. This is a growing business that has hired a fair number of young, bullish people. Not so at an I-bank these days.