Trader Interview Questions

Trader Interview Questions

In a trader interview, the interviewer likely wants to see that you are knowledgeable about financial markets and have strong opinions about them. Further, you can expect hypothetical questions that test your sales skills and showcase your personality. Speak persuasively and with conviction about the latest news in stocks.

Top Trader Interview Questions & How To Answer

Question 1

Question #1: Pitch me a stock that you would buy or sell now.

How to answer
How to answer: This is an opportunity to demonstrate your sales skills and tell a convincing story about a stock. Choose a company you know well, and be prepared for follow-up questions. Defend your case without wavering.
Question 2

Question #2: What is the riskiest decision you have ever made?

How to answer
How to answer: While trading is a role that requires risk taking, you can use this question to prove that you are thoughtful and well-researched when evaluating risk. Talk through your reasoning, why you determined this was an appropriate risk to take, and what the outcome was. The interviewer might also want to see you confidently stand by your decisions.
Question 3

Question #3. Tell me about something that happened recently in the financial markets and your opinion of it.

How to answer
How to answer: This question is twofold. A successful answer would first prove that you have a genuine interest in stocks and keep up to date with market news, which changes daily. Stay informed by reading reputable financial newspapers regularly. Second, this question allows you to share your unique point of view. Try to show the interviewer that you see value where others may not.

8,655 trader interview questions shared by candidates

Not important. Just remember two things. 1. Rules are what they want and say at the moment. 2. No one would like you to join the team since you are going to rob of their bonus. Bonus is everything unless you are the person who will bring them 90% of the bonus, then I expect they would definitely want you to join the team. But take care, brother
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Proprietary Trader

Interviewed at Phillip Securities

2.9
Oct 25, 2018

Not important. Just remember two things. 1. Rules are what they want and say at the moment. 2. No one would like you to join the team since you are going to rob of their bonus. Bonus is everything unless you are the person who will bring them 90% of the bonus, then I expect they would definitely want you to join the team. But take care, brother

Same standard market betting games and probability question. I am pretty sure they have the same set of questions that they permute all the time. Please just mug up a bunch of probability/game theory question do not overthink.
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Graduate Quant Trader

Interviewed at Jane Street

4.4
Dec 31, 2025

Same standard market betting games and probability question. I am pretty sure they have the same set of questions that they permute all the time. Please just mug up a bunch of probability/game theory question do not overthink.

You and your friend play a betting game where you start with 1 dollar and your friend starts with N dollars, where N is a natural number. Each round, you 'flip a fair coin for the shortest current stack' (e.g. you win the 'shortest stack amount' from your friend if it lands Heads and your friend wins the 'shortest stack amount' from you if it lands Tails). You buy back in for an extra $1 every time you lose your current stack to your friend and the game continues, but if your friend loses all of his stack to you, he doesn't buy back in and the game ends. (a) What is the expected number of rounds that this game will last? (b) What is the expected amount of profit that you walk away with? (c) What's the expected amount of times you expect to buy back in for an iteration of the game for very large N? (d) In the real world, a U.S. penny has a ~51% chance of landing the same side-up it was before it was flipped up into the air, but an ~80% chance of landing Tails if it's spun from its edge on a tabletop. So, let's change the game from now on so you can also use your real-life U.S. penny instead (if it somehow lands on its edge, just flip/spin it again): you either flip the coin with the Heads side initially facing up (51% Heads), or with the Tails side initially facing up (49% Heads), or you can spin it on a tabletop (20% Heads). Or, you can stick with your perfectly fair 50% Heads coin whenever too. Your objective is always to maximize your expected profit. What is your optimal strategy, and what is the expected amount of profit that you walk away with? (e) The game also ends when have lost N dollars yourself (you lose when you're down N dollars from your original 1 dollar buy-in), in which case your friend wins. What is the minimum probability of landing Heads that the coin must have for you and your friend to have equal chances of winning the game?
avatar

Quantitative Trader Intern

Interviewed at Jane Street

4.4
Aug 27, 2024

You and your friend play a betting game where you start with 1 dollar and your friend starts with N dollars, where N is a natural number. Each round, you 'flip a fair coin for the shortest current stack' (e.g. you win the 'shortest stack amount' from your friend if it lands Heads and your friend wins the 'shortest stack amount' from you if it lands Tails). You buy back in for an extra $1 every time you lose your current stack to your friend and the game continues, but if your friend loses all of his stack to you, he doesn't buy back in and the game ends. (a) What is the expected number of rounds that this game will last? (b) What is the expected amount of profit that you walk away with? (c) What's the expected amount of times you expect to buy back in for an iteration of the game for very large N? (d) In the real world, a U.S. penny has a ~51% chance of landing the same side-up it was before it was flipped up into the air, but an ~80% chance of landing Tails if it's spun from its edge on a tabletop. So, let's change the game from now on so you can also use your real-life U.S. penny instead (if it somehow lands on its edge, just flip/spin it again): you either flip the coin with the Heads side initially facing up (51% Heads), or with the Tails side initially facing up (49% Heads), or you can spin it on a tabletop (20% Heads). Or, you can stick with your perfectly fair 50% Heads coin whenever too. Your objective is always to maximize your expected profit. What is your optimal strategy, and what is the expected amount of profit that you walk away with? (e) The game also ends when have lost N dollars yourself (you lose when you're down N dollars from your original 1 dollar buy-in), in which case your friend wins. What is the minimum probability of landing Heads that the coin must have for you and your friend to have equal chances of winning the game?

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