Pros
Very talented and interesting colleagues with diverse backgrounds, analysts and associates are genuine and fun people. The culture within the lower ranks is collegial and one of the best selling points of the firm. DC Energy is not like stereotypical trading firms, there is high exposure to senior management, team based work promotes collaborative environment. Very attractive salary especially if joining directly from college, with opportunity for annual bonuses and opportunities for pay raises. The unique approach to trading is very interesting and is promising for the long term health of the firm. Regardless of position, will learn a lot about investing and your specific commodity/market with plenty of opportunities to impact the bottom line.
Cons
There is a very steep learning curve and workloads scale very quickly. Very few opportunities for advanced training, after initial technical training it's hard to develop skills outside of your direct workplan. High turnover within analyst classes leads to reinventing the wheel very frequently. This can make it difficult to answer basic questions, especially for new employees, if tools have been abandoned or lost. Work/life balance heavily favors work although there are several company events in Washington DC which attempt to provide relief to this problem.