I applied online. I interviewed at Optiver (Chicago, IL) in Nov 2020
Interview
First phase: screener, 80 mental math questions in 8? minutes. I only got to 62, followed by sequences and other logic questions and a simulation at the end.
Second phase: behavioral, very easy. I thought I bombed it but got through
Third phase: 3 45-minute games simulating betting. Nothing like what you read in QF interview books. Very difficult.
Very difficult, but they were very accommodating and the questions were interesting.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Q: How to distribute money on various things you can bet on (coins, tournament brackets, etc.)
Multiple Rounds, first was behavioral and second was technical. They first did a pretty lengthy behavioral and seemed pretty good, but then the technical was mainly all Fermi estimations and market making games.
Online assessment followed by multiple steps of technical and behavioral interviews. Pretty standard process in general, positive experience. Seemed to care a lot about cultural fit more than other firms
I applied online. I interviewed at Optiver (Amsterdam) in Dec 2025
Interview
Passed the online games and behavioral interview. Rejected at the Cognitive Interview phase. Failed because of not taking risk directly and second guessing if I'm doing things correctly. Overall challenging and fun experience.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Play the betting games that we're providing you to increase PnL without any additional information.