Trader Interview Questions

Trader Interview Questions

In a trader interview, the interviewer likely wants to see that you are knowledgeable about financial markets and have strong opinions about them. Further, you can expect hypothetical questions that test your sales skills and showcase your personality. Speak persuasively and with conviction about the latest news in stocks.

Top Trader Interview Questions & How To Answer

Question 1

Question #1: Pitch me a stock that you would buy or sell now.

How to answer
How to answer: This is an opportunity to demonstrate your sales skills and tell a convincing story about a stock. Choose a company you know well, and be prepared for follow-up questions. Defend your case without wavering.
Question 2

Question #2: What is the riskiest decision you have ever made?

How to answer
How to answer: While trading is a role that requires risk taking, you can use this question to prove that you are thoughtful and well-researched when evaluating risk. Talk through your reasoning, why you determined this was an appropriate risk to take, and what the outcome was. The interviewer might also want to see you confidently stand by your decisions.
Question 3

Question #3. Tell me about something that happened recently in the financial markets and your opinion of it.

How to answer
How to answer: This question is twofold. A successful answer would first prove that you have a genuine interest in stocks and keep up to date with market news, which changes daily. Stay informed by reading reputable financial newspapers regularly. Second, this question allows you to share your unique point of view. Try to show the interviewer that you see value where others may not.

8,651 trader interview questions shared by candidates

Q1: What is the smallest number whose digits multiply into 216. What about 10,000? Q2: Calculate the probability of getting 3 heads after 4 coin flips. What is the probability of getting an odd number of heads for 4 flips? What about for 9? What about for N flips? Q3: What is the next date whose digits are all unique? Q4: Getting heads-tails-heads and heads-heads-tails are equiprobable after 3 coin flips. But if I keep flipping a coin, I'm more likely to get one of these combinations than the other. Why is that?
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Quantitative Trader

Interviewed at Jane Street

4.4
May 18, 2022

Q1: What is the smallest number whose digits multiply into 216. What about 10,000? Q2: Calculate the probability of getting 3 heads after 4 coin flips. What is the probability of getting an odd number of heads for 4 flips? What about for 9? What about for N flips? Q3: What is the next date whose digits are all unique? Q4: Getting heads-tails-heads and heads-heads-tails are equiprobable after 3 coin flips. But if I keep flipping a coin, I'm more likely to get one of these combinations than the other. Why is that?

Find the largest 5-digit number such that the pairwise digit sums of the numbers are unique. Find the smallest 5-digit number with the same property. Explain why it doesn't work for 7-digit numbers. Does it work for 6-digit numbers?
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Trader

Interviewed at Optiver

3.7
Oct 4, 2016

Find the largest 5-digit number such that the pairwise digit sums of the numbers are unique. Find the smallest 5-digit number with the same property. Explain why it doesn't work for 7-digit numbers. Does it work for 6-digit numbers?

You have 3 cards, each labeled n, n+1, n+2 and you don't know n. The rules of the game: All cards start face down. You flip one card. If you "stay", you get that card's value. If you don't "stay", then you flip another card. Again, choose to "stay" (and keep the 2nd card's value) or flip the final card and keep the final card's value. Design the optimal strategy.
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Trader Internship

Interviewed at Optiver

3.7
Jan 4, 2017

You have 3 cards, each labeled n, n+1, n+2 and you don't know n. The rules of the game: All cards start face down. You flip one card. If you "stay", you get that card's value. If you don't "stay", then you flip another card. Again, choose to "stay" (and keep the 2nd card's value) or flip the final card and keep the final card's value. Design the optimal strategy.

There are 4 balls, two red and the two blue. You choose a color each time and a random ball is picked from the sample (w/o replacement). If your choice and the random pick matches, you gain one dollar. Repeat this four times. How much would you pay to play this game
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Trader

Interviewed at Five Rings

3.7
May 7, 2012

There are 4 balls, two red and the two blue. You choose a color each time and a random ball is picked from the sample (w/o replacement). If your choice and the random pick matches, you gain one dollar. Repeat this four times. How much would you pay to play this game

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