General pre-requisites for prop trading firms like Optiver? Algo-trading(?)?

Compared to recruitment for IBs, is the process any different? What do they look for in candidates, are extra curriculurs and general academics as important here as IBs, or is your ability to work with numbers the most important thing they look for?

What do algorithmic traders do, is your degree more important for algorithmic trading, for prop firms and big banks etc? Do you need a phd in maths for these roles? Would an undergrad engineering degree from a top three university be sufficient, or do most of the successful candidates come from a pure maths background?

Reply 1

SimonM

Algo trading without a PhD would be very tough. Some places wont look at you without one, even the ones that do the competition will be high

Reply 2

chestbrah123

Original post by SimonM

Algo trading without a PhD would be very tough. Some places wont look at you without one, even the ones that do the competition will be high

isnt it basically just programming? From what i gathered from wikipedia :K:

. Why would you need a phd? Are only maths phds preferred or is any quantitative degree ok

Reply 3

SimonM

Original post by chestbrah123

isnt it basically just programming? From what i gathered from wikipedia :K:

. Why would you need a phd? Are only maths phds preferred or is any quantitative degree ok

Any quantitative degree. Physics is popular

Reply 4

sam1990

Taking Optiver as an example, going to their website and hovering over the Careers tab gives you some of the answers you are looking for.

http://www.optiver.com/amsterdam/

Reply 5

sam1990

Double post, sorry.