Optiver reviews

3.7

60% would recommend to a friend

(572 total reviews)

58% positive business outlook

Optiver has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, based on 572 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Optiver employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Financial Services industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

572 reviews
5.0
Jan 5, 2017

Review

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great collaborative culture, managers were understanding and willing to help

Cons

Sometimes felt like there was lack of mentorship

5.0
Dec 20, 2016

Great Place to Work

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The environment is friendly and the people working there are great both professionally and personally. The company realised it has lots of technical debt and it's investing heavily in reducing it. It's trying to become a world class software development firm.

Cons

For most of the lifetime of the company getting things done in an hacky was has been acceptable. This shows into the state of the codebase, which could be less than pleasant to work with

1.0
Dec 13, 2016

Advice from a Trader

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Relative to the industry, Optiver compensates its traders well for the first few years. Although salary is on the low side, with traders earning 85k USD regardless of seniority, bonuses can be high. When the company is doing well, a rookie can expect a bonus that is at least the same as annual salary, and the next promotion level can expect a bonus that is four times the rookie's. Rookies are generally promoted after 2 years. The work environment is comfortable. Casual dress means some traders wear shorts and flip-flops year-round. Lunch is catered daily, and snacks are provided in the kitchen.

Cons

Optiver has done a good job in recent years with its on-campus marketing (e.g., "We improve the market", "Brilliantly different", "Collaboration and transparency", etc.). However, there is an inconsistency between the company message and the reality for many of its employees. Optiver is no longer a small, tight-knit shop; it is a corporation. If given a choice between sticking to principles and maximizing shareholder value, Optiver will choose the latter. Employees have seen this time and again, with team members forced to leave under questionable, often politically-motivated circumstances. Optiver is a great short-term play. It's a good place to start your trading career. My advice is to learn as much as you can, but always be prepared to leave and join another company for the long-term. Regardless of your abilities, Optiver is always prepared to let you go.

Viewing 478 - 480 of 572 Reviews

Glassdoor has 822 Optiver reviews submitted anonymously by Optiver employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Optiver is right for you.