How to Get an Optiver Employee Referral

Optiver is a global market maker that hires for sharp, fast quantitative thinking — and screens for it with famously tough mental-math and probability tests. A referral helps you reach the assessment that decides everything.

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By the Numbers

1986

founded in Amsterdam

Global

Amsterdam · Chicago · Sydney · Shanghai

Market maker

options & derivatives focus

Optiver is a proprietary trading firm and market maker founded in Amsterdam in 1986, with major offices in Chicago, Sydney, and Shanghai. It provides liquidity in options and other derivatives across global exchanges and competes on the speed and quality of its pricing — which means it hires traders, quantitative researchers, and engineers who can reason about probability and risk under pressure.

Optiver is well known for a rigorous, quantitative screening process, including timed mental-math and probability assessments, especially for trading and internship roles. Because so much rides on those assessments, a referral mainly helps you get into the pipeline and understand what to expect — the firm's bar on raw numerical ability is non-negotiable.

How to Get a Referral: Step by Step

Know the assessment is coming: Optiver's trading and intern pipelines famously include timed mental-math and probability tests. Practice these directly — a referral gets you the seat, not a shortcut past the test.
Pick trading, research, or engineering: Optiver hires traders, quantitative researchers, and software engineers on distinct tracks. Have your referrer route you to the one that fits your strengths.
Find an Optiver contact: Use FindWarmIntros to surface people in your network at Optiver — a trader or engineer who knows your quantitative ability is the ideal referrer.
Show numerical sharpness early: Competition results, quantitative coursework, or trading and markets projects signal exactly what Optiver screens for; lead with them.
Target the internship if you are a student: Optiver's trading and tech internships are a primary pipeline to full-time roles and a strong, reachable entry point.

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Tips That Make the Difference

Mental math is the gate

Optiver's reputation for timed arithmetic and probability tests is well earned. The best preparation is direct, repeated practice against the clock — and it is the same skill the job rewards.

Internships convert

Optiver invests heavily in its trading and engineering internships and converts strong interns to full-time. For students, an intern referrer is often the most accessible.

Engineers are first-class here

Low-latency systems and quantitative engineering are central to Optiver's edge, not a support function — strong software candidates are highly valued.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Optiver have an employee referral program?

Yes. Optiver uses employee referrals and a strong internship pipeline across its trading, research, and engineering teams. A referral helps route your application, though the firm's quantitative assessments remain the decisive filter.

What is Optiver's interview process like?

For trading and internship roles it is known for timed mental-math and probability assessments, followed by quantitative and behavioral rounds. Engineering tracks emphasize systems and coding. Direct practice on numerical tests is essential.

Is Optiver good for students?

Yes. Its trading and technology internships are a primary route to full-time offers and welcome strong quantitative students. A contact who has interned there can be an especially effective referrer.