Quant Interview.org

Quant interview prep when AI does the arithmetic

Set up the probability, check the assumptions and revise the answer when a fact changes.

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What companies say they’re looking for

02 Find the outcome that changes the payoff

“The primary focus is probability, mathematics and statistics, with an emphasis on quantitative reasoning and problem-solving.”

Citadel Securities, Quantitative trading candidate guide · Citadel Securities, Nov 9, 2026

State your assumptions before you calculate.

“evaluating the expected value of a given trade and deciding how to price risk”

Susquehanna, Decision science and trader education · Susquehanna, Undated

Compare the average score of the choices using the possible outcomes.

Payoff · QuantWhen does the sure score win?Example

03 Check a simulation against an exact answer

“In the second-stage interview, we’re really focused on observing your way of working.”

Alex ten Brink, Software Engineer, IMC · IMC Trading, Dec 4, 2023

Explain the stopping rule and how you would test it.

“without the aid of AI tools, code generation platforms, online forums, or any other external sources unless explicitly permitted.”

IMC, U.S. interview code of conduct · IMC Trading, Undated

Use only the help your interview instructions permit.

Simulate · QuantWhat should the retry simulation report?Example

05 Find out how many results were tried

“Human judgment is needed to decide whether it learned something about the market or just learned the backtest.”

Denis Perevalov, Quantitative Researcher, Optiver · Optiver, Oct 21, 2026

Ask how a model was selected before you interpret its best score.

“It’s about taking ownership of your ideas by talking to researchers or developers and testing them out.”

Michelle, Quantitative Trader, IMC · IMC Trading, Aug 3, 2026

Agree on a fresh test for the idea.

Selection · QuantHow often would one benchmark score stand out?Example

Sources

  1. Eric Mannes, Helps lead Jane Street’s alternative data team, formerly a commodities trader, at the time. Signals and Threads by Jane Street, “Wrestling the World into Rows”, Sep 2, 2026. Open the source. Checked against the published text.
  2. Citadel Securities, Quantitative trading candidate guide, at the time. Citadel Securities, “Quantitative Trading Interview Process”, Nov 9, 2026. Open the source. Checked against the published text.
  3. Susquehanna, Decision science and trader education, at the time. Susquehanna, “Game Theory and Decision Science”, Undated. Open the source. Checked against the published text.
  4. Alex ten Brink, Software Engineer, IMC, at the time. IMC Trading, “A unique approach to hiring: In conversation with Alex ten Brink”, Dec 4, 2023. Open the source. Checked against the published text.
  5. IMC, U.S. interview code of conduct, at the time. IMC Trading, “Interview Code of Conduct-US”, Undated. Open the source. Checked against the published text.
  6. Karun Rao, Quantitative Researcher leading deep-learning research in Optiver's U.S. high-frequency trading team, at the time. Optiver, “Why market data is a deep learning challenge”, Oct 6, 2026. Open the source. Checked against the published text.
  7. Denis Perevalov, Quantitative Researcher, Optiver, at the time. Optiver, “Machine learning in trading: an adversarial research problem”, Oct 21, 2026. Open the source. Checked against the published text.
  8. Michelle, Quantitative Trader, IMC, at the time. IMC Trading, “Technology, Collaboration, Ownership: A Trader’s Perspective”, Aug 3, 2026. Open the source. Checked against the published text.

Last reviewed Nov 11, 2026