Question about trading interviews

When they ask you to solve a problem do you get to see the problem in front of you or do you have to remember what they say. For example if they ask you a brain teaser or something like what's 68*27 will you have the question in front of you. I've found I work much quicker in my head when I visualize the problem. I create an image in my head around the paper. I think it's going to be a hard adjustment if I can't physically see the problem and can only listen to the questions since I have little experience doing that.

5 Comments
 

I've been through several trading internship interviews. I'd imagine interviews for FT trading positions to be similar. The first couple interviews are always phone interviews, in which the interviewer says the question and you need to respond over the phone. You might be able to use paper, just depends on the interviewer. However, in most of my interviews, paper was not allowed. So, you need to listen carefully and understand the problem the first time.

Unfortunately, you're going to have to find a way to make it work.

 
Best Response

ok...i had a trading offer and they too asked me similar questions sandwiched comfortably between other stuff! for ques like above i try not to go for exact answer and rather do the smart thing and get a good practical answer ( reason being i am not really fast at math and nor do i have a "beautiful mind")

for above if put to me i simply do a 7027...arrive at 1890 and see i have to reduce 68 twice to arrive at answer...( so i subtract 702=140 ) and arrive at 1890-140 to get 1750 and add back the 2*2 i missed in step above..)

normally this will take me close to 30-40 seconds and cos im by nature relaxed so get through a close enough answer if not perfect without any fuss!!

im sure you already know all this but just sharing my own experience... i was asked to subtract 33 from a billion and then asked one tricky piece on probability, a logical puzzle rounded off with 2 similar multiplication stuff!!

"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." ~George Moore
 

If you need to visualize, I find that it's easy to just quickly "draw" imaginary lines with your finger on the desk. You'd be amazed how quickly your brain can react and project the numbers you need

 

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