Pursuing a career in trading can be very challenging, especially when it comes to cracking the complex interview processes of top-tier trading firms. We understand the challenges involved, because we experienced them ourselves as well. Our Trading Interview platform now offers the Company Preparation Courses to guide you through every step of the process for specific firms.

We currently cover insights into the application processed for the following trading firms:

• Akuna Capital
• All Options
• Citadel Securities
• Da Vinci
• Flow Traders
• IMC
• Jane Street
• Maven Securities
• Optiver
• Susquehanna

These firms are leaders in the trading world. While recruiting new traders, they are looking for a unique blend of hard skills and soft skills. We offer a comprehensive and detailed course that should help you be prepared for the application processes for the trader role at each of these firms. Our step-by-step guides take you through each round of the interview process. We elaborate on the specifics of what these firms are looking for, how they assess candidates, and we provide you with the tools and (market making) simulators to exercise with accurate tests that mimic the same level of difficulty as you could expect from the real interview.

Akuna Capital Trading Interview Process

Akuna Capital’s interview process has the following components:

• Akuna Capital Online Assessment
  After reviewing your application for a trading role, you’ll be sent two online tests.
  • The first consists of an 8-minute math section and a 12-minute sequences section. 
  • If you pass the first online assessment, you’ll be invited to the second online assessment.
• Recorder Video Interview
  The next stage, if you advance, involves a short recorded video interview. This allows the team to learn more about you and understand your thinking process.
• Technical Interview
  Successful candidates then have a technical phone interview with one of their traders. This interview typically includes brainteasers, market making games, probability questions, and some basic derivatives questions.
• Final Round
  The final round consists of interviews either in person or via video conference, lasting between 1 to 4 hours. This round revisits all the elements from the previous stages, and it will add a deeper focus on HR questions as well.

All Options Trading Interview Process

The All Options interview process has the following components:

1. All Options Online Assessment
   The first round at All Options challenges you with a series of online tests. Their online assessment is hosted by us, so if you’re invited to take the assessment, you’ll be directed to our assessment environment. It depends on the role you apply for which tests you have to take:
   • Graduate Trader
     • Math test
     • Sequences test
   • Junior Quant Trader
     • Sequences test
     • Probability test
     • Coding assignment
2. HR Round
   Clearing the All Options online assessment leads you to the HR round.
3. Technical Interview
   This stage tests your trading knowledge, analytical skills and skills for market making games. For the quant trading role, derivatives theory is an important part of the interview as well. Our modules offer insights into preparing for the technical questions and scenarios you might encounter.
4. Final Round Super Day
   This is a day where all the aspects of your previous round come together, at one day. Check out our selection of questions that resemble the difficulty level of the questions you might face and try out our market-making games to be optimally prepared for your interviews at All Options.

Citadel Securities Trading Interview Process

After submitting your resume via the Citadel Securities website, you’ll receive a notification regarding your eligibility to proceed to the first round of their interview process. This initial stage involves an online assessment, primarily focusing on probability questions. If successful, you’ll move on to two phone interviews: the first combines behavioral and technical questions, while the second is predominantly technical. Upon passing these stages, you’ll be invited to the Citadel Securities superday.

Da Vinci Trading Interview Process

The Da Vinci trading interview process has the following components:

1. Da Vinci Online Assessment
   The first challenge you will encounter is the Da Vinci online assessment. This test is designed to assess your numerical abilities, feeling for numbers and your ability to apply basic probability theory. Here are key details about the test:
2. HR Round
   Clearing the Da Vinci online assessment leads you to the HR round.
3. Technical Interview
   This stage tests your trading knowledge, analytical skills and skills for market making games. Are you looking for typical Da Vinci interview questions? We have a wide selection of questions that will help you prepare for your upcoming interview.
4. Final Round Super Day
   This is a day where all the aspects of your previous round come together, at one day, with multiple interviewers. Check out our selection of questions that resemble the difficulty level of the questions you might face and try out our market-making games to be optimally prepared for your interviews at Da Vinci.

Flow Traders Trading Interview Process

This is how the Flow Traders interview process looks like:

1. Proctored Online Mental Math Exam
   You’ll face a challenging mental math test. Our Flow Traders mental math test mimics the real test very accurately, which is the right tool to prepare yourself for the upcoming test.
2. HR Interview
   Clearing the math test leads you to the HR interview. 
3. Technical Interview
   This stage tests your trading knowledge and analytical skills. Are you looking for typical Flow Trader technical interview questions? Our modules offer insights into preparing for the technical questions and scenarios you might encounter.
4. Final Round – Case Study and Interview with Traders
   The final part of your interview process is a case study, followed by an interview with two experienced traders. Do you want to prepare with a typical Flow Traders case study example? We have it.

In case you participated in Flow Traders’ business course, you can often skip the first two rounds of the interview process. Note, a business course is something else than visiting an in-house day. Check out Flow Traders’ website and events to learn more about their recruitment events.

IMC Trading Interview Process

IMC’s initial interview round diverges from what you might encounter at many other trading firms. Instead of a conventional math test, IMC introduces different types of barrier tests. Their HR round also varies slightly from the typical structure, but rest assured, we’ve got you covered. Check out our list of IMC trading interview questions, tailored for the technical- and final round interviews. While some firms emphasize probability-based questions and others lean towards brainteasers, IMC keeps a balance between both, ensuring you encounter a broad spectrum of challenges.

Take a look at our IMC preparation course if you want to prepare yourself for IMC’s trading interview and find out what you need to focus on during your preparations.

Jane Street Interview Process

When an application is submitted to Jane Street, it’s reviewed by a human (instead of a machine-automated evaluation), with responses typically sent within a week. Candidates are informed about the roles they’re considered for, and suggestions for other positions may be made based on their backgrounds. 

The trading interview process begins with two to three phone interviews (which can vary per candidate and role), that lead up to a day of interviews that take place at either in their office or virtually via zoom. All of the interviews are conducted by quantitative traders, focusing on foundational skills through conversational, rather than quiz-like, questions. No prior finance knowledge or advanced math is required.

Maven Securities Interview Process

After submitting your application, you will be contacted by their recruitment department if you can proceed to the online assessments. These assessments include a mental math test and a pattern recognition/sequences test. If you successfully pass the online assessments, you will be invited for an HR and technical interview. Finally, if you pass all previous rounds, you will be invited to the final round of interviews with senior traders.

Optiver Trading Interview Process

The Optiver interview process has the following components:

1. Optiver Online Assessment
   The first round at Optiver challenges you with a series of online assessments. The famous 80 in 8 math test is part of this assessment. Furthermore, you will be asked to complete the NumberLogic test, also known as the Optiver Sequences test. Recently, Optiver added the Optiver Zap-N test and the so-called Beat the Odds test to their list of assessments that you need to complete for their first round. We offer insights into all these assessments and help you prepare for your upcoming interview, but in short:
   • The Optiver Zap-N test consist of 9 different games. In our course you can find out what type of games these are and if/ how you can prepare for them.
   • The Optiver Beat the Odds test consist of 15 probability question. You have 90 seconds for each question.
2. HR Round
   Clearing the Optiver online assessment leads you to the HR round.
3. Technical Interview
   This stage tests your trading knowledge, analytical skills and skills for market making games. Are you looking for typical Optiver interview questions? We have a wide selection of questions that will help you prepare for your upcoming interview.
4. Final Round Super Day
   This is a day where all the aspects of your previous round come together, at one day, with multiple interviewers. Check out our selection of questions that resemble the difficulty level of the questions you might face and try out our market-making games to be optimally prepared for your interviews at Optiver.

SIG Trading Interview Process

The SIG interview process has the following components:

1. SIG Online Assessment
   Upon passing the initial CV screening, you’ll receive a link to SIG’s online assessment. This test will be presented to both traders and quants (traders/ researchers). It consist of various problems, finding the expected value of various games, solving conditional probability problems, and some longer puzzles involving optimal path-finding on a grid. The test consists of 9 questions, to be completed within 60 minutes. Our Sig Online Assessment practice closely mimics what you can expect during the real test.
2. Phone Interview
   Following a successful completion of the online assessment, you’ll be invited for a phone interview with one of their recruiters. The call is partially about you as a person and your (academic) background, but you’ll also discuss some math questions. As they describe it themselves: Probability, quantitative and logic questions are designed to test the individual’s aptitude for problem solving. You will not be required to know or recall formulae to answer these questions but rather be able to work through the problems logically and methodically.
3. Technical Interview
   The next round will be a video interview with a (senior) trader. This interview will be similar to the phone interview in the previous round. You should allot about 60 minutes for the call and it will cover mainly probability based maths questions, followed by some discussion on your CV, backgrounds, skills etc. 
4. Final Round
   During the final round interviews, there will be multiple interviewers, each focussing on a different aspect (math, HR). You can expect to play market making games as well.

Start Your Preparations

Are you applying for one of these firms? You only have one first impression to make. Be well prepared and get access to our company preparation course.