Trying experience in alternative trade (6)
I believe the answer is:
ordeal
'trying experience' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'alternative trade' is the wordplay.
'alternative' becomes 'or'.
'trade' becomes 'deal' ('deal' can be a synonym of 'trade').
'or'+'deal'='ORDEAL'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for ordeal that I've seen before include "Struggle" , "Disturbing experience" , "severe test shows" , "very hard test" , "Difficult experience that tests endurance" .)