GEN-I Trading Challenge 2022

The first external GEN-I Trading Challenge in 2022 attracted strong interest, with over 250 applications from students and young professionals eager to explore energy trading. After a careful selection process, 150 candidates who demonstrated the highest motivation were invited to join the challenge.

The first external GEN-I Trading Challenge in 2022 attracted over 250 applications, with 150 participants selected for a two-month programme combining lectures, simulations and mentoring. Participants executed nearly 6,000 trades, achieving an average PnL of around $24,000, and engagement remained strong right up to the end of the final week.

The challenge provided practical experience in trading and analytics, supported by senior experts, and served as a gateway for future opportunities – several participants were invited to interview, and one winner joined GEN-I as a student trader. For many, it was a unique chance to step into the world of energy markets and learn by doing.

Overview

The challenge unfolded in two stages. It began with a trading simulation in which participants were ranked by profit and loss, and the top three advanced to a final round with broader evaluation criteria, including strategy articulation, risk management and engagement during lectures.

Throughout the programme, participants attended sessions on the basics of trading, analytics and market psychology, supported by weekly mentoring from senior GEN-I professionals. A trading diary helped track strategies and decisions, and made the experience both practical and reflective.

Key insights

The numbers tell an impressive story. Over the course of the challenge, participants executed nearly 6,000 trades, generating an average profit and loss of over $24,000. Activity remained strong until the very end, with 28 participants still trading in the final week. The programme attracted a diverse mix of backgrounds, with many participants already in employment elsewhere and others joining as students eager to gain real-world experience of energy markets.

The graph above shows the evolution of profit and loss of the participants. The curve indicates that the participants made increasingly informed decisions day by day and week by week, and had better-defined strategies.

Talent recognition

Beyond the trading floor, the challenge served as a powerful talent discovery tool. GEN-I conducted eight interviews for full-time positions following the programme, with three candidates progressing to psychological testing. Two additional interviews were held for student roles, and one of the winners ultimately joined GEN-I as a student trader.

For many participants, the challenge was their first real insight into the dynamics of energy markets, and feedback highlighted the value of mentoring and practical learning.