Find Princeton Alumni at Optiver
Princeton sends an outsized share of its math, ORFE (operations research & financial engineering), computer science, and physics graduates into quantitative trading and research. The undergraduate-focused alumni network is tight-knit and notably responsive to fellow Tigers.
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“Hi — we both studied at [your school]. I’d love to hear about your path to Optiver before I apply…”
Why Princeton Alumni Are Your Best Path Into Optiver
Princeton alumni are known for quantitative finance, math, and computer science. Optiver, with 1,600+ employees, has a significant concentration of Princeton graduates โ and alumni networks at elite programs are among the most effective tools for getting in the door.
A referral from a fellow Princeton alum at Optiver is not just a form submission. It is a personal endorsement from someone who cleared the same bar you did. Optiver employees take referrals seriously, and a shared school creates an immediate conversation starter.
Optiver Referral Program Facts
Princeton alumni are actively working at Optiver across engineering, product, strategy, and operations. The challenge is identifying who to reach out to, finding the right hook, and making the ask in a way that gets a response.
How to Get a Optiver Referral Through Your Princeton Network: Step by Step
- Find Princeton alumni at Optiver: Use FindWarmIntros to surface Princeton graduates who currently work at Optiver. You will see their roles, seniority, and LinkedIn profiles โ so you can prioritize the most relevant connections.
- Open with your shared school connection: Your opening message should lead with the Princeton connection. "I noticed you went to Princeton University โ I graduated in [year] and am exploring opportunities at Optiver" outperforms any generic opener.
- Ask for a 15-minute conversation: Do not ask for a referral in the first message. Ask to learn about their experience at Optiver and the team. Your alumni connection creates goodwill โ use it to open a conversation, not to shortcut the relationship.
- Come prepared with specific questions: Know what role you are targeting and why. Show that you have done research on Optiver. A prepared candidate is easy to refer โ an unprepared one is a risk for the referrer.
- Follow up with the direct ask: After a good conversation, send a follow-up with your resume and the specific role or job ID you are targeting. Ask clearly: "Would you be open to submitting a referral for me?" Make it easy for them to say yes.
Optiver-Specific Tips
Optiver is market-making โ speed and mental math win
Optiver trades options and makes markets; trader interviews lean on fast mental arithmetic and EV under time pressure. Ask your contact about the timed mental-math drills and how the desk evaluates trainees.
Separate trader vs engineer tracks
Optiver hires traders and low-latency engineers on different tracks. Make sure your contact routes your referral to the right one for your background.