Updating Results

Optiver

4.6
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Optiver Graduate Programs & Internships

  • Trading

What we do: Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm & leading global market maker

No. of employees: Almost 2,000 colleagues globally

The good bits: Smart colleagues, flat structure, collaborative and inclusive environment

Hiring problem solvers across all backgrounds, including Maths, Engineering, Science, Software Development, Actuarial Studies, Finance, Machine Learning and more.

Our Story

Optiver is a tech-driven trading firm and leading global market maker. With close to 2,000 employees in office locations around the world, we’re united in our commitment to improve financial markets, making them more transparent and efficient for all participants.

The Culture

Our best work is done together

At the heart of our collaborative and inclusive culture is our drive to continuously improve. We support and challenge each other to be our best every day, working collectively to solve the most complex and challenging problems.

A place where your ideas thrive

Our high-performance environment means you’ll be surrounded by colleagues with the same passion for problem solving, while our intentionally flat structure encourages curiosity and freedom of thought. Regardless of your role, you’re given significant responsibility early on, and empowered to challenge conventions, right from the start.

Potential over expertise

We look for the strongest academic minds, who are insatiably curious and motivated to succeed. No industry knowledge is required as we recruit problem solvers from all disciplines, particularly those in STEM and quantitative / technical degrees.

Our Perks

We believe that great ideas and impact can come from everyone. As an intentionally flat organisation, we’re focused on creating an environment where every person is supported to build, innovate and thrive.

  • Daily breakfast and lunch are provided by our in-house chefs
  • Fresh fruit, healthy snacks and vegan/vegetarian options for every meal
  • Onsite barista
  • Gym memberships for staff to help stay fit and active
  • Onsite shower facilities
  • Weekly meditation and mindfulness sessions
  • Weekly in-chair massages for all staff
  • Plenty of teams and clubs to get involved in, from soccer, and basketball to cycling teams, and even rock climbing!
  • Health challenges for charities, such as City2Surf and more
  • An internal library - a quiet area, full of resources available to all staff

Creating meaningful impact

  • We have volunteer days for all staff, allowing our people to dedicate their time to the things they care for.
  • We support Indigenous artists through the Artbank program.
  • Each day, leftover food is donated to OzHarvest, ensuring it goes to those in need.
  • We hold a Charity Vote every year, giving $20K donations to three charities voted for by our staff.
  • We support the Movember campaign, which means a lot of furry lips (and fitness folks) during November.
  • We promote blood donation drives, and fitness and wellness events.
  • We have regular in-house trading sessions to raise money for nominated charities and causes.
  • We donate books, toys and gifts to the Smith Family Christmas Appeal, and allow staff to give their Christmas gift to a charity of their choice.
  • We're continuously adopting new initiatives to improve our impact on the planet, including sustainable coffee cups, selecting vendors with impeccable environmental credentials, and reducing our single-use plastics.
  • We encourage staff to cycle to work, providing bike storage and free bike servicing services to reduce environmental impact and traffic on the roads.
  • Our offices are in a 6-star green-rated building, and we work with Ecosave to monitor and optimise our environmental impact.

Recruitment Process

Optiver aim to keep the process as smooth and simple as possible to help you be at your best during the process. Here are the steps you can expect as part of your application and interview process:

  1. Submit application
  2. Complete online assessments
  3. Behavioural Zoom interview
  4. Technical and behavioural interviews
  5. Congrats, you’ll receive an offer!

Remuneration & Career Growth

Led by ex-traders and engineers, our renowned in-house education programs will equip you with practical skills, invaluable knowledge and the technical tools to set you up for success.

With our support, mentorship and world-class training, there’s no limit to how quickly you can accelerate your career at Optiver.

Internship program

Gain 10 to 12 weeks of exponential growth through our hands-on training program. From theoretical lectures on trading fundamentals, to collaborating on technical projects that contribute towards our
trading success, challenge your skills and make a tangible impact on the financial markets.

By the end of summer, our goal is to have identified future Optiverians who'll rejoin our world-class teams in the Graduate program. 

Graduate Program

Through a combination of lectures, simulation training and direct project experience, our full-time training courses will empower you with the skills needed to excel in our fast-paced environment. You’ll get to own critical projects and work alongside talented peers to
solve complex and challenging problems every day.

Global Academy

Kickstart the first four weeks of your trader training in Amsterdam, alongside global peers. Our global training program, the Optiver Academy, is designed to introduce all new trading-related graduates to the fast-paced world of market making.

FutureFocus Program

From shadowing a trader to exploring the impact you could make as an engineer in the world of trading, our insight program introduces pre-penultimate students to the complex problems that we solve everyday. Plus, top performers will be fast-tracked in the application
process for Optiver’s internship program. 

Applications open mid-year. 

Graduate Reviews

Overall Score
4.6
Overall score based on 30 reviews
They Score Best in…
9.1
Satisfaction
9.0
Recruitment
9.5
Salary
9.2
Training
What Graduates Say About Them
  • The responsibility to work on impactful projects from early on.
  • The perks - company trip, daily meals, weekly massages.
  • Opportunities are there for people who want them -- you can very quickly take ownership of a problem or space.
  • Lots of smart people and interesting problems to solve.
  • People challenge each other to be best that they can be. There is no blame with errors and every opportunity to learn is taken.
  • You will constantly be working on different products, with tight timelines and high ownership.
  • The finance domain is quite complex, and onboarding/learning about new financial concepts... is challenging.
  • The expectations are high and constant.
  • Too many things that could be done.
  • Can be intense at times

Jobs & Opportunities

Locations With Jobs & Opportunities
  • Sydney
Hiring candidates with qualifications in
B
Business & Management
E
Engineering & Mathematics
I
IT & Computer Science
S
Sciences

Graduate Success Stories


  • Graduate stories
Optiver stood out to me as a unique opportunity in high-frequency trading (HFT) with a hands-on, collaborative environment. My background in computer science provided a strong foundation, but Optiver's culture encourages continuous learning and growth.

Nicole Stallinger

  • Graduate stories
Working on a wide range of interesting problems with smart people, in an informal and approachable environment.

Tim Cashman


A Day In The Life Of


  • Day in the life

Vicky Su

Vicky Su studied Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, Programming Minor at Queensland University of Technology in 2018 and is now working as a Graduate Software Developer at Optiver.

Videos


Why start your trading journey at Optiver?

A common misconception is that you'll need to have experience in trading or financial markets to join Optiver's internship or graduate programs.

Meet Taylor, Graduate Software Developer

Discover some of the cool tech projects that you get to work on at Optiver.

Advice


What is the perks or benefit working as a graduate at Optiver?

Learn about the coolest benefit of being a graduate at Optiver from Sairah, the recruitment team from Optiver

Any advice for new graduates joining Optiver’s Graduate Program?

Get valuable advice from the expert for new graduate who want to succeed in Optiver’s Graduate Program.