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Discretionary Trading Internship - Summer 2027

Gelber Group · Chicago, IL · Campus

Posted Sep 25, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Why proprietary trading, and why discretionary trading in particular rather than a purely systematic seat?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the difference and have a real reason for wanting judgment-based trading.

Tell me about a competitive pursuit where you lost. What did you change afterward?

What they are checking: How they handle losing, which matters in a job where losing trades happen every day.

Tell me about a decision you made with incomplete information. How did it turn out?

What they are checking: Whether they are comfortable acting under uncertainty and reflect honestly on the result.

What would make you a good teammate on a busy trading desk?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that desks reward people who help others and stay calm under pressure.

What would you do

Make me a two-sided market on the number of windows in this building.

What they are checking: Whether they can estimate under uncertainty and set a sensible width rather than freeze or guess wildly.

You are on a desk and you make a trade that loses money because you misread the screen. What do you do in the next five minutes?

What they are checking: Whether they report mistakes immediately, which is the one thing a desk cannot work without.

The first weeks cover liquid capital markets and our tools before you join a desk. How would you get the most from that period?

What they are checking: Whether they plan to learn actively and ask questions instead of waiting to be taught.

About the work

If I offer you a game where you roll a fair die and get paid the number shown, what would you pay to play?

What they are checking: Whether they think quickly in expected value, the basic tool behind every trading decision.

Now you may reroll once after seeing the first roll. What is the game worth to you now?

What they are checking: Whether they can extend a simple model under pressure and reason about optimal stopping.

Pick a market you follow. What has moved it recently and what would change your view?

What they are checking: Whether they truly follow markets and can hold a view while naming what would prove it wrong.

What is the difference between a futures contract and an option, and when would a trader prefer one over the other?

What they are checking: Whether they have learned basic instruments before arriving, which shows real interest in the work.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Gelber Group from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Gelber Group.

Gelber Group -- Passion for Trading. Powered by Technology. Headquartered in Chicago with offices across the United States and Europe, Gelber has set the bar as one of the industry’s innovative and enduring proprietary trading firms for more than 40 years. Our collaborative and entrepreneurial culture empowers each member of our team to have a meaningful impact from the start. We pride ourselves on a flat organizational structure and focus on meritocracy. If you flourish in a fast-paced environment, have a strong work ethic, and a competitive attitude, Gelber is right for you. As a Discretionary Trading Intern at Gelber Group, you will begin your 10-week internship with an education portion covering basics of liquid capital markets, the various ways in which Gelber engages these markets, and the tools and technology that link us to the markets. Once you have a grasp of these concepts, you will be assigned directly to a discretionary trading desk. This internship will begin in June 2027 and last until the first week of August 2027. We are considering recent graduates or candidates that are graduating in 2027 or 2028. The approximate hourly rate for this position  in Chicago, IL is $35/hr. This is a temporary role and is not eligible for employee benefits. Position Overview We are seeking highly motivated individuals to participate in a summer program in which they will learn and practice the development and execution of a rates-first macro trading process. Our primary goal in the internship is to evaluate candidates for full-time employment. As a result, our interests are best served by teaching you the necessary skills to demonstrate your talent and potential. What You’ll Do • Experience hands-on learning and sit on a trading desk with full-time traders • Gain a thorough understanding of the financial markets through a robust program that will be intensive, challenging, and fun • The classroom portion will be tailored to the topic areas that are useful for beginning to build a discretionary macro process • Topics may include a basic understanding of each asset class, macroeconomic fundamentals, technical analysis, and risk management • Develop a deep understanding of how macro traders engage with the market • Pitch weekly trade ideas and receive in-depth feedback on quality and execution • Potential for ideas to be turned into live risk taking • Experience a multi-week simulated trading experience • Send out daily and weekly reflections as you begin to build your own trading process • Build the foundation of a macro trading process Goals • Gain hands on experience interacting with the market from a macro perspective • Determine if this is the career you want to pursue Qualifications • Rising junior or senior in an undergraduate program, or recent graduate • Interest in financial markets is a must, but prior experience or knowledge is not required • Demonstrated interest in economics or a related field, via classwork or extracurricular activities • Curiosity, self-motivation, strong communication skills, and the ability to collaborate with others in a competitive environment • Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to learn, understand, and apply new concepts • Superior analytical skills with a proven strong mathematical aptitude Why Intern at Gelber? • Brand new office in the heart of Chicago’s River North neighborhood, attached to the Merchandise Mart and “El” stop, and a short walk from both Ogilvie and Union Train Stations • Comprehensive 10-week program, running from June to August 2027 • Catered lunch provided Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursdays and stocked pantry daily • Social events and work/life balance that will allow you time to enjoy the Chicago summer • Office amenities including a golf simulator, pool table, and company paid on-site gym • Casual, relaxed dress code • Comprehensive benefits package available for full-time employees If you are based in California, we encourage you to read the Gelber Privacy Notice for California Employees and Applicants, linked here .

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