From FutureFocus to Optiver’s quant trading internship
Quantitative finance isn’t usually part of a STEM curriculum, so most students don’t consider the trading industry as a potential career.
FutureFocus is an educational program that gives students an inside look at the challenges our technology, trading, and research teams face everyday. Through lectures, workshops, and hands-on projects, students explore how these areas come together to solve complex problems. For some, this program isn’t just a crash course in options theory, modeling, and problem-solving—it’s the first step toward a summer internship. After five days of learning, top-performers may be invited to return as interns.
Two participants from our Chicago Quants program did exactly that. Here’s how they describe the shift from FutureFocus to a quant trading internship.
Alan
Major: Mathematics and Computer Science
University: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ethan
Major: Mathematics and Physics
University: New York University
How did your experience in FutureFocus prepare you for your internship?
Alan: We covered a ton of ground in just five days, especially with options theory. That quick deep dive made the possibility of an internship even more exciting because we’d go more in depth on the concepts that were hard to fully grasp with just online resources. The trading games and coding project also gave me a head start because they made similar activities during the internship feel more familiar.
Ethan: It gave me a good sense of what to expect. I was already familiar with how Optiver operates, which made it easier to jump into new challenges during the internship.
What’s been your favorite part of the internship?
Alan: I enjoy how collaborative it is. Everyone’s genuinely excited to explore tough problems and jump into projects that benefit the whole class. We all have the same goals, so it’s about learning together and not competing against each other.
Ethan: Definitely the growth-oriented environment. I’ve always prioritized self-reflection and trying to be a better version of myself, and Optiver really supports that. Even in just ten weeks, I’ve had tons of opportunities to push myself and grow.
“We all have the same goals, so it’s about learning together and not competing against each other.”
What advice would you give to someone attending FutureFocus?
Alan: Be ready for a fast-paced week of problem-solving. It’s intense but really rewarding if you give it your full attention. You don’t really need to prep ahead of time, but having some Python experience would definitely help.
Ethan: FutureFocus is a great way to figure out if trading is something you’d really enjoy. It’s a unique week-long experience where you’ll get a solid intro to what trading actually involves and learn a ton of new material. Use it as a chance to explore Optiver and see if this industry’s the right fit for you.
FutureFocus is designed to give participants a realistic look at the work our teams do. They walk away with a better understanding of how trading, research, and technology interact, and what it feels like to work in a collaborative environment.
If you’re ready to challenge yourself and get a view into the trading industry, FutureFocus is the perfect place to start.
