"Creativity and reflectiveness allow you to identify new trading opportunities."

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

I spoke with people working in trading and did some research to understand more about IMC. I was excited to find out that IMC champions giving people lots of ownership early on. At the time, IMC was building out a new strategy in which I felt I could play a key role. I had some ideas about how certain trades should be approached and IMC offered me the opportunity to implement them, which convinced me to join the firm.

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

I begin my day by looking at what has happened in markets globally. Research communication with other teams is an important part of the job, so I often communicate with colleagues in Asia Pacific and the US. Later, we hold a team meeting to discuss what’s happening in markets and how we’re currently positioned. During trading hours, we focus on any breaking news so that we can quickly change positions if any relevant information arises that may affect one of the products that we trade.

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

A good research analyst should have a strong interest in financial markets because you’re learning new things every day. It’s also important to be self-reflective – if things don’t play out as expected, you need to be willing to reflect on how you can improve your process to make better decisions going forward. It also helps to be creative, as this mindset allows you to identify new trading opportunities.

What motivates you to perform at your best?

I’m passionate about learning new things and enjoy the direct feedback the market provides. For example, if you come into work and there’s some crisis unfolding, you need to quickly figure out what’s going on before the market opens (or sometimes during market hours). With limited information, you then have to make your best estimate on how this will impact different products and what position to take. It’s not long until you see if you made the right decisions. You learn quickly whether your ideas work in practice. It’s also very energising to work alongside people with so many different skills that complement each other.

What about IMC impresses you the most?

The culture is really collaborative, not only in my team but across the whole company. We work together and make better decisions as a result. If you reach out to people, they’ll always be ready to share their experiences or teach you something you didn’t know. This makes the job a lot of fun.

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

Keep learning about what’s happening in the markets and what you need to know for the role you are applying for. Improving your understanding will help you prepare for the interviews and be successful in your application.

Interested in a career at IMC?