Becoming an energy trader
Level-setting expectations for the journey ahead
A full-time role at GBE is an accomplishment to celebrate. But this is only the first step on the long and perilous journey to become an energy trader.
The odds are against you. It takes significant commitment and sacrifice. It is a physical and mental grind. There are few careers that are this demanding of an individual. The ability to manage stress and to concentrate for hours and years on end, with fearless contrarianism and self-belief, is an extraordinary combination of skills.
The market is extremely generous in its willingness to deliver painful lessons to undisciplined and relaxed participants. If the endless early mornings and long hours weren’t enough, even brief lapses in judgement can end careers as quickly as they are birthed.
The capital under management at GBE was earned with extraordinary quantities of hard work and stress. We feel extremely fortunate for the opportunities we have received, but we made the most of them. Many sacrifices were made to our personal and family lives. We do not take this for granted, and therefore we take our investments very seriously.
The GBE Futures initiative is of the highest priority for the firm, and we are making significant investments in both our time and financial resources. And not unlike any shrewd investor, we naturally require returns.
What does that look like for you in the coming years? GBE is not an electricity markets consultancy. We do not describe what has already happened, or restate the agreed-upon consensus in the market. We are a trading firm that creates value by taking a strong point of view before the rest of the market on what is going to happen. That is the only way to make money. As energy trading analysts, delivering value to the existing business in this way is an absolute must. The models and tools you build, either under the direction of GBE or through your own creativity and initiative, must deliver on this premise: to know something important before the rest of the market.
Your work ethic and endurance will be under constant evaluation, as will your passion for the work. Alongside this, the way for you to demonstrate your ability to carve out a sustainable place in the market will be through your performance in structured trading simulations and proactive market calls provided to the trade floor. Your ability to manage risk, to stay consistent, to be resilient, and to be innovative are all essential. And the simulations will evolve to incorporate more products, providing a platform that best prepares you for the gauntlet ahead.
Each of you has shown a glimpse of potential, but we are a long way from seeing the sustained stamina, craft, and courage required to make it in this market. Work–life balance is, frankly, going to be a challenge for the next decade if you want to make it. Expect long hours in front of the screen, intensity, and the need for sustained focus. This is all ahead, and it is all-encompassing.
We also want to be clear about what you can expect from us in return.
This is a multi-year investment on our part, not an ephemeral “let’s see what happens.” We are striving to build a team of the most ambitious, driven, and talented individuals in the country. Left alone on an island, the probability of your success is negligible at best. But supported and pushed by others who match your capabilities, a series of fulfilling and lucrative outcomes is within reach. Those who cannot contribute to this positive-sum environment will not be welcome.
You have our commitment of mentorship. We have made millions, and carry the wisdom of the bloody lessons along the way. We want to share this with you so you can build upon our experience.
You will also have access to vast computing power, technical support, and the quickest green lights you can imagine for viable business cases.
Not given in this space: once you have your own book, you also have our commitment to a transparent and lucrative bonus structure that aligns perfectly with your earnings.
If the totality of this opportunity is not for you, absolutely no hard feelings. We wish you the best in your pursuits. But if you are all in, these are the expectations—and with them, the opportunity for riches that are as life-changing for you as they have been for us. And we will delight in writing the cheques.
