|
private:dcenergy-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=249062
|
Sep 21st, 2019 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
DC Energy
|
Janitor
|
United States
|
USA
|
The best at what they do, but what they do is very specialized
|
|
* Excellent exposure to analysis, systems, trading, investments
* Small team structure gives good exposure to what's going on
* Less pigeonholing than other trading jobs / more generalist approach
* Senior management is excellent
|
* Their primary trading focus (congestion) is extremely niche. The amount of traded electricity is far smaller than other commodities, bonds, or equities
* The volatility in their primary market is declining (cheap generation and transmission build-out have decreased volatility and opportunity)
* Efforts to expand trading into other markets / commodities have largely not done well. Management has pulled the plugs on these efforts after 1-2 years (perhaps abruptly) when either the individual effort has struggled or the entire firm had difficulty
* Non-competes limits the ability to go to competing shops. Niche product trading makes moving to other investment shops a tough sell (i.e., your experience won't match).
* Location (DC) is the not the primary market for power / investments (Houston, NYC, Boston, SF). Management knows this and understands that it can be a deterrent for trying to leave. It somewhat limits salary / compensation growth. That said, DC is still a better place to live.
* Growth / advancement is internal. Don't try to join with too much experience. The firm prefers to train their more senior folks "in their own methods / world view" & promote from within.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
0.0
|
NEUTRAL
|
1.0
|
APPROVE
|
3.0
|
4.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
|
249062
|
Open
|
* None at this time.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
6.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
DC Energy
|
|
Financial Services
|
|
private:dcenergy-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=249062
|
May 26th, 2019 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
DC Energy
|
Investment Analyst
|
Vienna, VA
|
|
Disappointing
|
|
Above-average pay
Smart people
Interesting financial market
|
Some bad managers
Analyst development is not a priority
Bad work/life for the compensation
|
-1.0
|
NEGATIVE
|
0.0
|
NEUTRAL
|
-1.0
|
DISAPPROVE
|
0.0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
2.0
|
1.0
|
3.0
|
1.0
|
|
249062
|
Open
|
Mediocrity at Principal levels should be unacceptable
Treat analysts better
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
DC Energy
|
|
Financial Services
|
|
private:dcenergy-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=249062
|
Oct 1st, 2018 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
DC Energy
|
Investment Analyst
|
United States
|
USA
|
Great first job out of college
|
|
DC Energy had some of the smartest and friendliest people I've worked with. Everyone knew their stuff and didn't hesitate to help each other out. Comp and benefits were decent as well.
|
Hours could be unpredictable and is heavily dependent on which team you get placed. The turnover rate is also on the high side.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
0.0
|
NO_OPINION
|
0.0
|
4.0
|
3.0
|
5.0
|
3.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
|
249062
|
Open
|
Incentivize associates and analysts to stay longer
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
DC Energy
|
|
Financial Services
|
|
private:dcenergy-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=249062
|
Aug 27th, 2018 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
DC Energy
|
Associate
|
Washington, DC
|
|
An awesome first job
|
|
Intelligent and friendly people, stimulating quantitative problems, team-based approach to investing, great way to build skills across many disciplines (data science, finance, energy). Self-driven workplan teaches you to really think critically and own the analysis. Very little busy-work. Flat structure, approachable managers, fair opportunities to present to upper management and make impactful change
|
High turnover rate means loss of institutional knowledge, less room for skill development after 3-4 years, long commute if you want to live downtown
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
APPROVE
|
2.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
|
249062
|
Open
|
Consider quality of life changes that could increase retention.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
4.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
DC Energy
|
|
Financial Services
|
|
private:dcenergy-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=249062
|
Nov 30th, 2017 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
DC Energy
|
Financial Analyst
|
Vienna, VA
|
|
Pays well, amazing co-workers, good professional development, hours can be difficult
|
|
Intelligent Co-workers
High pay, commensurate with other finance jobs
Constant learning in your first few years; good professional development and skills
|
Hours can be bad depending on the team you're placed on, well above the 55 hr/wk they tell you about
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
0.0
|
NO_OPINION
|
3.0
|
4.0
|
2.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
|
249062
|
Open
|
Actually balance teams with the # of people needed to have a decent work-life balance
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
DC Energy
|
|
Financial Services
|
|
private:dcenergy-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=249062
|
Nov 27th, 2016 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
DC Energy
|
Analyst
|
Vienna, VA
|
|
Hard work, great pay, brilliant people
|
|
The people are friendly and very smart. I learned a ton. Great perks in the office and at company events. They pay well.
|
Have to work long hours a few times a month. 11 hour days are typical. Sometimes work nights and weekends to meet deadlines.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
1.0
|
APPROVE
|
2.0
|
4.0
|
1.0
|
2.0
|
3.0
|
4.0
|
3.0
|
|
249062
|
Open
|
Make people more comfortable to stay long-term. The churn rate is killing the base of expertise.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
DC Energy
|
|
Financial Services
|
|
private:dcenergy-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=249062
|
Sep 16th, 2016 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
DC Energy
|
|
United States
|
USA
|
Overall a positive experience
|
|
The analyst cohort was generally pretty easy going and fun though sometimes a bit nerdy. My managers seemed to care about how I was progressing and gave frequent feedback. Work was fairly interesting and highly analytical.
|
The location isn't ideal and the commute is annoying unless you live in Tysons, but then you live in Tysons. Some people had problems with their managers, but this was a minority. There also were no clear exit opportunities with a two year non-compete.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
0.0
|
NEUTRAL
|
|
|
3.0
|
4.0
|
4.0
|
4.0
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
|
249062
|
Open
|
Communication with the cohort could have been much better. Also there are a lot of managers relative to the total headcount.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
0.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
DC Energy
|
|
Financial Services
|
|
private:dcenergy-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=249062
|
May 28th, 2016 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
DC Energy
|
Investment Analyst
|
Vienna, VA
|
|
Great Job to Learn At, But Narrow Niche
|
|
You work with highly intelligent, motivated coworkers who are usually happy to help you improve your coding and research skills. The firm expects you to learn on the job, and the skills are transferable to other positions, so it's major fringe benefit.
|
The energy niche most DC Energy employees analyze and/or trade in is extremely narrow, and a non-compete means that you really can't take investment strategies with you. On the other hand, you do gain general market knowledge that is somewhat useful in other fields.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
0.0
|
NEUTRAL
|
1.0
|
APPROVE
|
1.0
|
4.0
|
3.0
|
4.0
|
4.0
|
4.0
|
3.0
|
|
249062
|
Open
|
DC Energy is a "transactional" employer rather than an "inspirational" employer, and this leads to higher turnover. As a smaller trading outfit, it might benefit from attempting to borrow from the "inspirational" employer handbook from time to time.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
No
|
|
2.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
DC Energy
|
|
Financial Services
|
|
private:dcenergy-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=249062
|
Jan 26th, 2016 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
DC Energy
|
Investment Analyst
|
Vienna, VA
|
|
Loving it so far
|
|
So this has been my first gig out of college and it's been about as good as I could've hoped for especially when I've compared my experience to friends'. The work is challenging (something that I'm glad for). You'll be coming in every day and be expected to actually think. This is aided by the fact that the work is interesting, but unlike research it stays fresh because you don't just work on one project all the time.
You get trained well. They take you on a crash course of everything you need to know in the first 3 weeks (it's intense), but afterward you come away with a strong set of analytical skills backed up experience with coding in R, querying with MySQL, and giving presentations.
Since it's a pretty small company (~50 people), you're given a decent amount of responsibility from the get-go. This is in contrast to a lot of jobs my friends have at places like Deloitte, Capital One, etc, where they have to do a lot of boring and trivial tasks and then hopefully pick up more interesting stuff later on (but maybe some people like that).
I can't speak to my coworkers' experiences but I like my boss and the team that I'm on. We get on pretty well and everyone contributes to the work - collegial is the word for the environment. Which brings me to my next point: just about everyone at the company is exceedingly intelligent. Getting an offer here is an opportunity to work with some really bright individuals who are driven and take their work seriously.
The culture is also something I'm fond of; while everyone is extremely smart, the competitive spirit is focused outwards and not inwards. What I'm trying to say is that DC Energy goes out of its way to assemble people that work well in teams (its an actual part of the recruitment process), to the point where I can feel comfortable (after doing my own due diligence), with asking a Principal/Director/anyone about their analysis if I'm running into problems with it. I haven't run into any sort of cut-throat individuals or people with huge heads that can't accept being wrong sometimes.
The last thing I'll mention is Work/Life balance. A lot of the old reviews on here talk about some pretty hairy hours (I think I read 60-70 hours from one person). That's definitely an artifact of the past and not the case anymore. I work about 45-50 hours a week (the most was maybe 55 one week). This is pretty amazing considering compensation is around investment banking level. It's flexible enough that I can leave early one night and just work later some other nights that week. And most people get into the office between 9:30 and 10:00 each day.
And before I forget, there are also some pretty cool company events. Some great dinners. We're all going to a Capitals game this winter. And bowling like a month ago (food and drink included so it was actually fun)
But this is all just my perspective. Everyone is going to feel a little bit differently about what it's like.
|
There are definitely some downsides to working here. It's my understanding that they've scaled down their team budgets pretty significantly from the past (no more $1,000+ tasting menus), which just means I can't experience how nice that must have been in the past.
There is a non-compete, although it's only meant to restrict trading the same set of securities that we work with (and it's a pretty niche market). I can't say that I would stay in the line of work if I moved on to other things.
From where I am at the bottom of the company, upper management seems to have reached saturation point. Most of the people (even those at the very top), are in their forties or younger. That means that guys like me who start later aren't likely to have the room to move up (unless the company identifies some new opportunities and expands). In effect, this means that at some point I'll have to make a decision between trying to make a career out of working at DCE or decide that the opportunity isn't there and move somewhere else where progression is clearer. In the long term, this is my biggest concern (beside the ever present threat as a trading firm of bankruptcy).
There's a decent amount of turnover each year. This isn't a huge surprise given that this is just about everyone here's first job out of college, but it's a bit sad to have to say goodbye to so many folks all at the same time. It also makes me worry about the consequences of any bad recruiting years ; when there's that much volatility in the number of employees, there's the potential that we suffer and can't handle all of the work.
|
1.0
|
POSITIVE
|
0.0
|
NEUTRAL
|
|
|
8.0
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
4.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
|
249062
|
Open
|
I would reword the fine print about bonuses in our contracts (have historically ranged up to 50%). Not sure I'd be bringing peoples' hopes up about 50% of salary if that's unlikely to happen again.
|
0.0
|
[]
|
REGULAR
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
1.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
DC Energy
|
|
Financial Services
|
|
private:dcenergy-2
|
https://www.glassdoor.com?employer_id=249062
|
Dec 4th, 2015 12:00AM
|
Open
|
Open
|
DC Energy
|
Investment Analyst
|
Washington, DC
|
|
Niche Quant shop
|
|
young interesting capable people, good work life balance, flat structure
|
Non-compete, limited compensation upside, Location (Tysons corner, VA)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.0
|
3.0
|
4.0
|
2.0
|
3.0
|
4.0
|
2.0
|
|
249062
|
Open
|
|
0.0
|
[]
|
|
No
|
No
|
|
4.0
|
|
|
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
Jan 24th, 2021 06:43PM
|
DC Energy
|
|
Financial Services
|