Rates/FX Desk Technical Prep: I know the Core Products (Swaps, Futures, Repos, Swaptions), what's next?

Hi everyone,

I am a rising sophomore studying Engineering at the University of Cambridge (achieved Upper Second-Class Honours / 2:1 in my First Year exams).

My Background & Experience:

• Academics: Strong STEM foundation in linear algebra, time-series analysis, probability, and Python coding.
• Experience: Completed a University Data Science/NLP Research Assistantship and an Equity Research internship.

• Finance Knowledge:Markets / Rates: Familiar with core products & concepts—Government Bonds, Interest Rate Swaps (IRS), Treasury Futures, Options & Swaptions, Inflation Bonds (TIPS), Repo / Reverse Repo, and basic Yield Curve dynamics (Bull/Bear Steepeners & Flatteners).Corporate Finance / Modeling: Solid grasp of 3-Statement Modeling, DCF, and LBO frameworks.

  My Question: As I finalize my prep before clicking "Submit", what is the most high-yield Technical Checklist I should focus on for the initial screening rounds (HireVue & 1st Round Interviews)?

  Early-Stage Essentials: Beyond basic product definitions, what desk-level concepts (e.g., Swap Spreads, CTD bonds, Basis, OIS-SOFR pricing) typically pop up in early-round technical screeners for sophomores?

  Depth vs. Intuition: At the early interview stage, how much weight is placed on quantitative pricing mechanics vs. practical market intuition (e.g., central bank policy, macro news impact)?

  Application & Interview Traps: What are the classic technical edge cases or mental math questions candidates usually get caught off guard by in the first rounds?

  Would really appreciate any insights, technical checklists, or resource recommendations from current Traders, Desk Heads, or recruiters!