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Quantitative Trader Intern - Summer 2027

IMC Trading · Chicago, IL · Screen & Quant Trading

Posted Sep 30, 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

Tell me about a game or competition where you had to make fast decisions with incomplete information.

What they are checking: Comfort with speed and uncertainty, which is the daily reality of trading.

Tell me about a time you received tough feedback. What did you do with it?

What they are checking: Coachability, since interns develop through trainers and a dedicated mentor.

Why trading, and why IMC rather than a bank or tech company?

What they are checking: Whether they understand what a trader does and want the job, since interns can earn a full-time offer.

What would you do

You just made a trade and immediately realize you made a mistake. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they admit mistakes quickly and limit damage, a core trading habit.

In a trading simulation you're losing money while your teammate is up. How do you react?

What they are checking: Emotional control and whether they adjust their approach instead of chasing losses.

About the work

I'll make you a market on the number of states that start with the letter M. What's your bid and ask?

What they are checking: Whether they can estimate under uncertainty and set a spread that reflects how sure they are.

You roll a die and can roll again once, keeping the second roll. When should you reroll?

What they are checking: Quick expected value reasoning and decision making, which trading simulations test.

What is an option, and how would you explain the difference between a call and a put to a friend?

What they are checking: Basic options understanding and the ability to explain it simply.

I offer you a bet that pays ten dollars if a coin lands heads three times in a row. What would you pay?

What they are checking: Fast probability math under pressure and a sense of fair value.

Why might a market maker be happy to lose money on some trades?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that market making earns over many trades and manages risk overall.

What's 17 times 23, and how did you work it out?

What they are checking: Mental math speed and a clear method, which traders use constantly.

Practice this interview out loud.

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

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The full job description

As published by IMC Trading.

Our 10-week trading internship is your chance to experience life as a trader at IMC through engaging and challenging training and project work. Throughout the summer, you will receive comprehensive support from dedicated trainers and a mentor to guide you in your work and professional development. We provide a highly competitive compensation package with accommodations included. The bar for talent at IMC is high and interns who meet our performance expectations will have the opportunity to secure a full-time Graduate Trader position at the end of the program. Where you go from here is up to you! Your Core Responsibilities: • Participate in classroom-based training covering options theory, core principles of financial markets and trading simulations • Team up with traders and technologists to work on real projects that have potential to impact our business • Develop skills throughout the summer with support and feedback from a dedicated mentor and intern lead • Build valuable connections in an environment that recognizes and rewards problem solving, innovation and teamwork • Engage in professional development sessions aimed at helping you envision your future at IMC • Attend a full schedule of events and social activities to get to know your cohort and current employees Your Skills & Experience: • Current university student graduating between September 2027 and July 2028 that is pursuing a degree in a quantitative field of study (e.g. Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, or Economics) • Strong analytical skills • Desire to learn and solve complex problems • Thrives and is able to make decisions in a fast-paced environment • Not afraid to ask questions, take responsibility and learn from experience • A team player with a proactive mindset • Interest in Financial Markets; previous knowledge is NOT required • Experience in a programming language is a plus (e.g. Python, Matlab or R) • Must be able to start the internship on June 7, 2027 You may submit one application per role each year.  We strongly encourage you to focus on applying to a single role that best matches your skills and interests.  Though you may apply to multiple roles, please note that each application will be evaluated based on the specific criteria established for that particular role. If you have already applied for this position during the current recruitment season and were not selected, you may reapply when the next recruitment season begins in 2027. The Base Salary range for the role is included below. Base salary is only one component of total compensation; all full-time, permanent positions are eligible for a discretionary bonus and benefits, including paid leave and insurance. Please visit Benefits - US | IMC Trading for more comprehensive information. Base Salary: $250,000 About Us IMC is a research-driven trading firm where quantitative modeling, machine learning, and engineering shape how modern markets are traded. A stabilizing force in markets since 1989, we provide liquidity across trading venues, delivering the best outcome in value and risk management to investors. Using our own technology and capital, we build proprietary systems and algorithms that operate across global markets. Our researchers, traders, and engineers work as a collective, combining rapid experimentation, advanced infrastructure, and real-time feedback to turn insight into execution and execution into advantage.  

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