Q&A with quantitative trading interns who are about to join Optiver.

Background

Optiver was founded in 1986 and is one of the oldest proprietary trading companies in the world. The firm's decades of success in financial markets have earned it a strong reputation, and its transparent and ambitious culture attracts global talent. Anyone interested in cutting-edge technology or quantitative data science methods will find Optiver an ideal place to work.

In this interview, we sat down with a quantitative trading intern who is joining Optiver to learn about his interview experience, preparation strategies, and his general advice on landing a role in quantitative finance. Out of respect for the Optiver hiring process, we won't delve into specific questions, but will provide a high-level overview of this intern's experience. With this article, we hope to shed more light on what you can expect when interviewing for a quantitative trading position at Optiver, and what steps you can take to ensure you are successful during the interview process.

Q&A with Optiver interns

How did you apply for an internship at Optiver?

I saw an internship position on a career website and applied. Generally speaking, I also keep a list of quant companies that interest me and occasionally browse their careers pages for open opportunities.

What do you think made you pass the resume screening?

I already had a quantitative trading internship experience at a mid-level company last summer. My university is also a "quantitative talent transfer" school.

What is the interview process?

• Round 1: Online Test
• Second round: Telephone communication with the recruiter
• Round 3: Technical phone interview
• Round 4: Final interview (a combination of technical questions and behavioral questions)

The online test includes the classic 8 minutes of 80 mental arithmetic questions, followed by a reaction test, finding missing values in a sequence and probability questions. Additionally, I answered some behavioral questions about my interest and fit with Optiver. The technical issues in subsequent rounds are very similar to those in the Green Book.

How did you prepare for the interview?

For the mental arithmetic and number sequence parts, I used an online practice platform for practice. At the same time, I also read through the exercises in "Green Book" and "Heard on the Street".

What advice do you have for students who want to get internship opportunities at Optiver?

My biggest advice is to lay a good foundation. Many people, including myself, often answer questions blindly without a solid foundation in probability and statistics. In fact, you may encounter questions during the interview that you have never seen before. A solid foundation will allow you to handle these challenges with ease.

What misunderstandings do you have about Optiver interviews?

Before the interview, I thought I needed to master a lot of in-depth financial knowledge to get an offer. But in my experience, Optiver values ​​problem-solving and quantitative skills more than financial knowledge.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading this article! We hope this Q&A provides you with a comprehensive understanding when applying for a quantitative trading internship at Optiver.