TradeLink Reviews

Current Employee – been working at TradeLink full-time for less than a year

Pros – Freedom to explore your own model.

Cons – Use outdated technologies. Lots of scope of efficiency increase

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at TradeLink

Pros – Nothing bad to say, give you a shot to trade

Cons – Nothing good to say either, high fees and take advantage when can

Former Employee – worked at TradeLink full-time

Pros – Friendly staff, lax corporate environment

Cons – Lack of promotional opportunities, technology is severely dated, lack of mobility within the company

Advice to Senior Management – Invest in the software, everything is extremely old

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at TradeLink full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – Top people, although below par for finance, the perks are good.

Cons – compensation is low, management is chaotic

Advice to Senior Management – Holding a PhD doesn't mean you are an expert at everything

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at TradeLink full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – Casual atmosphere and generally nice people to work with and for. The different groups are fairly collaborative depending on your relationship with them. Free lunch on Wednesdays!

Cons – The payout structure is average at best. The technology in certain areas is lacking and it is not a shop to do ultra high speed trading.

Advice to Senior Management – Overall it is a decent place to work with good people but higher payouts might bring in better ideas.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at TradeLink as an intern for less than a year

Pros – As an intern I was given no work that didn't directly contribute to bettering myself and the company (i.e. no copying, filing, etc.). I was mentored by extremely intelligent, and friendly individuals who cared about my success.

It is also in a great location, and the office is masterfully designed.

Cons – Nothing really bad to say about the company. I hope to work there sometime in the future.

I guess there was no formal training, but I believe that actually enhanced my learning experience.

Advice to Senior Management – Keep doing whatever it is you're doing to be so successful.

Former Employee – worked at TradeLink full-time for more than 7 years

Pros – Tradelink does provide you great exposure to the derivatives market and how they work. You'll experience first hand how traders react to winning/losing trades and also just understand the derivatives markets much better. The biggest perk is you only work market hours - which is great in Chicago as you can generally get out of work before 4 pm. Though you do have to get in earlier, you'll have time to workout and run errands before all your friends get home.

Cons – While many trading firms provide classroom training, don't expect the same here. Expect to learn much of it on your own and by asking others questions. Traders can become very difficult to deal with - you'll be fine as long as you have a thick skin and learn not to take it personally. Generally though, it means if they are having a bad day expect that to mean you will have a bad day. Don't expect much interaction at all with senior level people. Very limited career improvement opportunities.

Advice to Senior Management – Try to pay a little more attention to what is happening in each o the groups.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at TradeLink

Pros – Good work life balance. Opportunity to learn a lot about trading and technology

Cons – Poor direction from management at all levels.

Advice to Senior Management – no

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at TradeLink

Pros – The people (especially top mgmt S.W. and W.W) are smart, the money is good and fair, and it's fairly fun. It's a great place to work. Don't believe any negative reviews. As trading/money management firms go, they're at the top. If they offer you a job, take it.

Cons – If you screw up they WILL let you go.

Advice to Senior Management – Hire me back!

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at TradeLink

Pros – Lot of smart programmers and quants. Unlike bigger firms, there isn't much of a hierarchy, plus very informal dress code and setting, which is a plus.

Cons – terrible compensation, senior management is extremely stingy. The bonuses even back in 2008 when we did well was extremely low. It really is a disgrace.

Advice to Senior Management – They need to start offering more competitive compensation package in order to attract and retain top talent. Otherwise, very few people will want to work here.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend