London S&T Recruiting

For London S&T recruiting, especially for macro desks with a quantitative focus or risk warehousing, here's what you need to know based on the most helpful WSO content:

1. Mental Math Testing:
   Mental math is definitely tested, particularly for roles with a trading focus. While brainteasers and market questions are common, mental math questions can also come up, especially at elite boutiques (EBs) or prop trading firms. For example, you might be asked to calculate something like 23x23 in your head. Practicing mental math drills (e.g., Arthur Benjamin's techniques or specific trader tests) is highly recommended.

2. Coding Expectations:

   • For non-quant strat/systematic desks, you are not necessarily expected to write full, syntactically perfect code. However, you should demonstrate the ability to pragmatically use tools and techniques to analyze data and automate simple tasks.
   • If you're targeting larger firms with structured pipelines, you might encounter HackerRank-style coding exams or assignments. These could include Leetcode-style questions, though typically at an easier level.
   • For smaller or less structured desks, showcasing projects that demonstrate your ability to manipulate data efficiently and solve problems pragmatically (even with tools like ChatGPT or Cursor) can suffice.

3. Poker, Chess, or Blackjack:
   These skills can carry some weight, but only if you can tie them to relevant traits like strategic thinking, risk management, or probability analysis. Otherwise, they might just be seen as resume filler. If you bring them up, be prepared to explain how they enhance your decision-making or analytical abilities in a trading context.

To excel, focus on sharpening your mental math, understanding probability and expected value (common in poker/dice game questions), and being comfortable with coding basics or data manipulation.

Sources: So you want to be a Quant?, MathHeads.net - Level up your mental math skills, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/job-search/qa-undergraduate-quantitative-trading-decision-process-advice?customgpt=1, So you want to be a Quant?, London recruitment-can't understand how it works.