Career advice after a nine-month analyst role in energy consulting

[SereneRoseRobin]

Hi all,
I’m looking for some honest career advice.
I’m in my mid-20s and recently completed an MSc in Economics.

My background is in economics, data analysis, sustainable finance, energy/climate work and consulting. I’ve previously worked in financial services/restructuring, responsible investing, project finance/estimating and most recently in an energy/data-focused analyst role at a consultancy.
In my most recent role, I worked on things like energy market analysis, Python/data workflows, decarbonisation work, EV/grid-related projects, and internal automation. I also have experience with R, Python, Excel, Power BI, econometrics, ESG/climate analysis and stakeholder-facing work.
However, the role did not work out, and I’m now trying to work out my next move. I’m worried about how to explain a short stint it was 9 months-, whether I should stay in energy/climate analytics, pivot back toward finance/investment research, apply for general analyst roles, or aim for public sector/economics roles.

On paper, I think I have a strong profile: MSc Economics, consulting experience, data skills, sustainability/energy experience, internships in finance/investment, and volunteering/leadership experience. But I feel quite shaken and unsure how realistic different paths are now.
What would you do in my position?
Specifically:

1. Should I lean into energy/data/climate roles, or broaden out?
2. How much will a short role hurt me.... it lasted for 9 months
3. What kind of roles would be most realistic for someone with my background?
4. How should I explain leaving without sounding defensive?
5. Would recruiters see this as a decent profile, or am I overestimating myself?

I’d really appreciate blunt but constructive advice, especially from people in consulting, finance, energy, analytics, economics, policy or recruitment. Thanks.

At the time, I lacked the extensive energy knowledge expected of me to succeed in the role and nobody cba to train me

probation failure

9 months, energy consultign, mid 20s

How many years work experience is all that crammed into?

I work in a different (but finance related) industry but my concern on seeing all that on a CV at your age would be that you'd had exposure to various different things but not enough to demonstrate competence in. What's your longest job role in? What did you enjoy the most?

With that in mind, what areas did you feel that you performed most strongly in and can give the most demonstrable examples? What has your longest employment been so far?

The odd short spell shouldn't matter - people know sometimes things just don't work out.

Maybe explain that there was a mismatch between the level of training support you thought (were told?) was to be provided and the reality.

Yes that was the mismatch. I had a 11 month stint in big 4 before going on to do my masters. then i landed on this energy job for 9 months before being told to leave

probation failure as i wasnt trained in energy and they didn't support me in learning anything

So to be clear:

You did 11 months at the Big 4

then 9 months at an energy consultancy?

Who were the energy consultancy consulting to/what kind of projects?

one i wasnt interested in and did a masters a result, the other i genuinely failed as i wasnt given the supprot needed to succeed

why should i tell u waht energy firm i was at? how can that help u help me?

On paper, I think I have a strong profile: MSc Economics, consulting experience, data skills, sustainability/energy experience, internships in finance/investment, and volunteering/leadership experience.
In the nicest possible way, you have less than 2 years post-grad experience and both of those in short term roles which you've left for reasons that seem like they weren't the right fit for you or you didn't pass probation. That isn't really a strong profile!! You need to be applying for graduate entry level jobs on development schemes but competition is tight and you'll have missed the cutoff for the upcoming intake.

yes i know that so wtf do i do now?

Why did you leave the big 4 role they are normally shit hot on training and have graduate schemes specifically for this purpose?

I think you could probably get away with fudging the second role as end of contract or similar unless it is patently obvious they recruit for permanent roles.

i left the big 4 cos i wanted to do some esg stuff, and the second role i can fudge as a contract

so what can i do now

I think start at the bottom is best. Get the experience. I really don't get this consultant thing where the consultant has less experience than the people they are advising.

Get any job. It's dog eat dog out there.

Then it really is just getting out and applying for roles. You are in a stronger position than graduates especially if you learn from this experience. The way around a lack of training is networking and learning from other staff members with more experience, very many graduate roles that don’t have formal training rely on this. I appreciate with online working that is more challenging but you still have to navigate around that.

Because energy consulting is a huge industry. Consulting to NGOs is a million miles away from consulting to the real estate sector

I actually work in this field, so can give some useful if general advice, but if this is indicative of your attitude I can see why you’ve failed probation.