What sparked your interest in IMC ? How did you come to know about us?

One of my university courses was called “Derivatives”. I enjoyed the complexity of the trading algorithms and the sensitivity of options to all sorts of mathematical and economic factors. When I looked at possible career paths, I discovered IMC to be a renowned algorithmic trading firm. I became very enthusiastic about a role in trading, where I could combine core maths with financial market dynamics.

Can you describe what a typical day looks like for you?

As a trader on the Brazilian exchange, I start my day by catching up on news and working on projects concerning execution topics, pricing stories, and trade analyses. When the markets open, I try to ensure that all the algorithms are behaving as desired and take over control whenever needed. On the busiest days, like the 2022 Brazilian elections, I’m super focused on real-time trading behaviour and decision-making.

Which qualities or skills are essential for excelling in your role?

As a trader, you’re the key person connecting different parts of the business, so you need to be able to assess your project’s alignment with, and impact on, other projects. You need to provide valuable input that helps others to succeed, which in the end leads to improvements in trading. And you need to be able to keep a cool head. This, together with a deep understanding of the infrastructure, typically leads to the best and quickest solution in stressful moments; for example, whenever unexpected events happen in the market or if systems malfunction.

What motivates you to perform at your best?

The one thing that really stands out is the ownership and responsibility that you get early on at IMC. Anything you trade or work on quickly becomes your own and you are (within reason) free to work on what you think will most improve your trading. This naturally gets me very engaged and motivates me to give it my all.

What about IMC impressed you the most?

I joined IMC straight out of university, and it felt like a big step to go straight from studying to working, but the IMC Global Traineeship was a welcoming and thrilling experience. It’s an opportunity to spend a lot of time with the other new grads worldwide, who are typically all at the same point in their lives. There were plenty of fun activities to get to know the team and make good friends. After the Traineeship, we all joined different teams where we made even more new friends, but our grad cohort is still extremely close!

What valuable advice do you have for individuals applying to IMC?

I would advise applicants to prepare well, but not to worry too much. Know what a market maker is, how to make a market, and practise some brain teasers to get a feel for solving these problems. But also have faith in your capabilities and stay calm throughout the interview process. There’s no reason to panic if you don’t know something, and if you stay calm, you display the best version of yourself.

Interested in a career at IMC?