What sparked your interest in IMC? How did you come to know about us?

I first learned about algorithmic trading at a Linux conference in 2014, which sparked a deep interest in finance. Fast-forward eight years, and I was contacted by a recruiter to come in for a chat at IMC. I jumped at the opportunity. After a couple of fruitful and fun interviews, I knew this was a place where I could take my abilities to the next level, and haven’t looked back.

Can you describe what a typical day looks like for you?

I work on the India desk, so arrive early and check whether there are any issues that need my immediate attention. The morning has the best overlap with our Sydney office, so if there are any colleagues I can help (or need help from), this is the best time to do it. Once that’s taken care of, I’ll head to the Sky Bar for a delicious breakfast, where I plan out the rest of my day. After that is my dedicated crunch time – I put on my headphones and hammer away at development work that requires my full focus. After lunch, the US markets open. Any face-to-face interaction with my Chicago colleagues happens around this time, and then the day is almost over. But before going home, I’ll make one last stop at the Sky Bar for the most important activity of all: playing pool!

Which qualities or skills are essential for excelling in your role?

Curiosity and a can-do attitude will take you very far. This isn’t a place to just mindlessly churn away at tickets; you need to take ownership of a problem from start to finish. At the same time, you need to be able to recognise when you need help. Trading is a team sport, after all.

What motivates you to perform at your best?

In other places I’ve worked, I felt like I had to push to work on things I actually found interesting. At IMC, there are no complex hierarchies: management gives high-level direction but it’s up to the teams to decide what needs doing. There’s always an overlap between where I want to develop my skills and what’s most urgent. I’m motivated to give it my all every day because I know I’m getting out what I put in.

What about IMC impresses you the most?

Our culture is built on collaboration. People from all backgrounds and walks of life bring complementary perspectives to the problems we tackle together. Everyone’s super smart but down-to-earth. Colleagues will gladly take the time to explain something in detail because they know you’d do the same for them. It means people bring their A-game to everything and have a lot of fun in the process.

What valuable advice do you have for individuals applying to IMC?

We hire people on merit, not because their CV checks boxes. We want to see how you approach problems, how you get yourself unstuck, and how you reflect on the process. Be honest when you don’t know something because that’s completely normal. And make sure you walk away from the interview with more knowledge than you started with, regardless of the outcome. Hope to see you in an interview very soon!

Interested in a career at IMC?