Career Kickstarter - Trading 2027
OptiverAbout the Role
Career Kickstarter: Trading is an immersive five-day program at Optiver's Amsterdam office, offering final-year students at European Universities a direct pathway to a career in trading.
Over the course of one week, you'll build your understanding of trading through theory, realistic simulations and exposure to Optiver's trading floor. Through a blend of interactive lectures, trading games, and expert mentorship, you'll learn how to think and act like a trader. If you prove to be a good match, you may receive a full-time job offer to join Optiver as a Graduate Trader once the program is complete.
Learning and skill development:
- Discover options theory: Develop an understanding of options theory and how it applies to trading.
- Build your market judgement: Gain insight into how traders use information, probability and risk-reward trade-offs to make decisions in changing conditions.
- Engage in trading games: Participate in fast-paced games that mimic real-world trading scenarios.
- Experience the trading floor first-hand: Where market conditions allow, gain insight into the pace and teamwork behind live markets.
- Pathway to a career: Demonstrate your potential during the program, and you may receive a direct offer to join Optiver as a Graduate Trader.
Networking and culture:
- Get to know Optiver's culture and enjoy our perks and benefits.
- Build your network with traders, researchers and recruiters.
- Receive expert mentorship from our expert Trading Education Team.
The selection process consists of two stages: an online assessment sent after you submit your application, and a technical interview for candidates who progress.
Responsibilities
- Discover options theory: Develop an understanding of options theory and how it applies to trading
- Build your market judgement: Gain insight into how traders use information, probability and risk-reward trade-offs to make decisions in changing conditions
- Engage in trading games: Participate in fast-paced games that mimic real-world trading scenarios, helping sharpen your instincts and decision-making skills under pressure
- Experience the trading floor first-hand: Where market conditions allow, experience Optiver's trading floor first-hand and gain insight into the pace and teamwork behind live markets
- Pathway to a career: Demonstrate your potential during the program, and you may receive a direct offer to join Optiver as a Graduate Trader
- Get to know Optiver's culture: Get a taste of Optiver's incredible culture and enjoy our perks and benefits, including daily breakfast, lunch, coffee, and more
- Build your network: Enjoy networking opportunities with traders, researchers and recruiters
- Receive expert mentorship: Benefit from the guidance and support of our expert Trading Education Team
- Hotel & travel: You'll benefit from fully expensed travel and hotel accommodation in Amsterdam
Requirements
- BSc or MSc student graduating from a university in Europe between May 2025 – May 2028
- Currently situated in the Netherlands, UK or Europe
- All Econometrics and STEM degree backgrounds are considered
- You are able to demonstrate at the time of application that you have the requisite visa or other travel authorisations in place in order to allow you to attend the program in person
- Excellent numerical and analytical skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, developed through STEM degrees such as Econometrics
- Fast decision-making skills under pressure
- Competitive attitude and an eagerness to constantly improve yourself
- Fluent communication skills in English
- Excellent attention to detail
- Programming skills are not required, but are a nice to have
- You don't need previous experience in finance or trading to apply
What You'll Get
- You may receive a full-time job offer to join Optiver as a Graduate Trader once the program is complete
- Daily breakfast, lunch, coffee, and more
- Networking opportunities with traders, researchers and recruiters
- Guidance and support of our expert Trading Education Team
- Fully expensed travel and hotel accommodation in Amsterdam
- Reasonable adjustments during the process