Graduate Trader applicants have rated the interview process at Optiver with 3.8 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) and assessed their interview experience as 45% positive. To compare, the company-average is 49.2% positive. This is according to Glassdoor user ratings.
Candidates applying for Graduate Trader roles take an average of 21 days to get hired, when considering 21 user submitted interviews for this role. To compare, the hiring process at Optiver overall takes an average of 20 days.
Common stages of the interview process at Optiver as a Graduate Trader according to 21 Glassdoor interviews include:
Phone interview: 22%
Skills test: 22%
One on one interview: 19%
IQ intelligence test: 16%
Personality test: 11%
Group panel interview: 5%
Background check: 3%
Presentation: 3%
Here are the most commonly searched roles for interview reports -
I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Optiver (Amsterdam) in Aug 2022
Interview
I had an interview with Optiver in june - august 2022. It was overall a pleasent experience.
80in8 and pattern test - if you practice enough you should alright
Neuro assessment games of sorts
HR interview - I believe many people fail at this stage as they are looking for a motivated person with a conpetitive nature (really need to know how to sell yourself)
Technical interview - basic questions of call/put options. Market making game and a probability question that tests mental maths as well.
Final round - HR interview has tougher questions and is an hour long (it is with the head of training so you really need to make a good impression)
Technical interview is a little different then I was used to. Mostly card games which include probabilities, call/put options, and they are really trying to see how you think and adapt to changes in the games etc. There is also a 30minute talk with a trader but that is more for you to make an impression of the company and what you could end up doing.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
HR interview: Tell me about a time where you worked in a team
Technical interview: Expected value of call option at 30 for the product of 2 dice, what about the put at 4, and lastly what call option has the same expected value as the put at 4.
Market making game: Make me a market on the sales revenue of Tesco in 2021. Then we trade and asks stuff like breakeven price and overall position.
Probability question: 2doors, behind one there is 1million € behind the other there is nothing, you want to pick the door where the money is. You have a coin which tells you where the money is 60% of the time. What's the probability you get the right door if you are allowed to toss the coin 1 time? What abiut 2times? And 3? (Need to calculate in your mind) How can you improve your accuracy of picking the right door? Lastly, he asked for an approximate probability for 4 coin tosses? (Without calculation)
HR final interview: What's a weakness of yours? What did you do in regarding this weakness?
Technical interview final round: Using a deck of 52cards picks 3cards at random, you have to quickly add them up and bet on them using call/put options. Standard deviation and expected value questions were also asked together with a probability question later on.
Overall an enjoyable interview process and I want to add that I believe that anyone can pass these interviews if he has a good math understand and prepares well. Good luck!
I applied through college or university. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Optiver (Amsterdam) in Mar 2026
Interview
Did the online assement, sequences test, Zap N and lastly beat the odds probability type questions. The Zap N was some working memory, reflexing and planning tests and the beat the odds focused on giving good approximations to probabilities in around 1.5 minute for each question. Then did the technical which focused on market making games. Unfortunately, I was rejected after this round so don't much more than this.
The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Optiver (Amsterdam) in Jan 2025
Interview
first round: assessment with sequences, a variety of games testing memory, reaction speed, then a behavioral interview and finally a technical interview where we played a market-making game. The market making game included cards, you had to decide to buy/sell, what quantities etc. Assesment and behavioral where passable, technical was really difficult.
it almost took more than 2 hours to finish the online assessment, then a hr interview with typical behaviour questions. online assessment is not easy, including mental mathematics and logical reasoning questions. Hr interview is quite relaxed
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
it almost took more than 2 hours to finish the online assessment, then a hr interview with typical behaviour questions. online assessment is not easy, including mental mathematics and logical reasoning questions. Hr interview is quite relaxed