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Optiver Reviews
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Full-timePart-timeApprove of CEO
Paul Hilgers
26 Ratings
Pros
Very competitive in terms of compensation and great work/life balance (in 17 reviews)
Good 401k matching, free breakfast and lunch, massages, not much hierarchy (in 4 reviews)
Cons
Not many exit opportunities, discriminating between dutch and non dutch and firing rate is very high (in 4 reviews)
The company is all about "face time" at the office, so be prepared for long hours (at least 12 a day) (in 4 reviews)
Helpful (2)
![Optiver Logo]()
"Great place to work, highly recommend."
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookNo opinion of CEOI worked at Optiver full-time (More than a year)
Pros
Great benefits, great team atmosphere, room for growth. They strive to make a fun work environment so it often doesn't feel like work.
Cons
Typical office politics can often get in the way of getting work done or people giving their best. Easy to check out in that setting.
Advice to Management
Be open to listening to all employees.
Optiver 2017-03-24 14:37 PDTHelpful (3)
![Optiver Logo]()
"Getting outpaced by other firms"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNegative OutlookNo opinion of CEOI worked at Optiver full-time (More than a year)
Pros
Good 401k matching, free breakfast and lunch, massages, not much hierarchy. You are expected to show initiative and suggest ideas.
Cons
The best traders are not coming to optiver anymore and instead going to citadel/SIG/Jane street. This is evident from the lack of programming skills in even the most recently hired traders.
Lag technologically compared to firms like Jane street who choose to develop in house tools as opposed to using third party software which is a pain.Advice to Management
Can't really figure out what management does so nothing to say here
Optiver 2017-07-07 18:13 PDTHelpful (4)
![Optiver Logo]()
"Review"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOPros
Great collaborative culture, managers were understanding and willing to help
Cons
Sometimes felt like there was lack of mentorship
Optiver 2017-01-05 10:47 PSTHelpful (1)
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"Interesting work. Fantastic work environment. Great people"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOI have been working at Optiver full-time (More than 3 years)
Pros
Teamwork. Company ethics. Work with people from diverse backgrounds from all over the world. Inter-office communications. Great perks. Accessibility of management.
Cons
Sometimes they will keep poor performing people around a little too long before firing them. Also it can take an excessive amount of work to get everyone required to sign off on a new idea.
Advice to Management
Keep up the good work. Don't change much. Maintaining this will be difficult as the company grows. Foster more respect between teams in different departments.
Optiver 2016-12-04 05:41 PSTHelpful (2)
![Optiver Logo]()
"Trader"
StarStarStarStarStarRecommendsPositive OutlookNo opinion of CEOI worked at Optiver full-time
Pros
Hands on experience from day one, with flat structure and casual environment. You get to work with a lot of smart people.
Cons
You are subject to ups and downs of the derivatives industry, which is a shared risk exposure you get when you work in the industry.
Advice to Management
Give more responsibilities and power to successful traders. People that are in roles where you have to take risk should be rewarded better than those exposed to less risk.
Optiver 2016-12-01 07:07 PSTHelpful (12)
![Optiver Logo]()
"Advice from a Trader"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNeutral OutlookNo opinion of CEOI have been working at Optiver full-time (More than 3 years)
Pros
Relative to the industry, Optiver compensates its traders well for the first few years. Although salary is on the low side, with traders earning 85k USD regardless of seniority, bonuses can be high. When the company is doing well, a rookie can expect a bonus that is at least the same as annual salary, and the next promotion level can expect a bonus that is four times the rookie's. Rookies are generally promoted after 2 years.
The work environment is comfortable. Casual dress means some traders wear shorts and flip-flops year-round. Lunch is catered daily, and snacks are provided in the kitchen.Cons
Optiver has done a good job in recent years with its on-campus marketing (e.g., "We improve the market", "Brilliantly different", "Collaboration and transparency", etc.). However, there is an inconsistency between the company message and the reality for many of its employees. Optiver is no longer a small, tight-knit shop; it is a corporation. If given a choice between sticking to principles and maximizing shareholder value, Optiver will choose the latter. Employees have seen this time and again, with team members forced to leave under questionable, often politically-motivated circumstances.
Optiver is a great short-term play. It's a good place to start your trading career. My advice is to learn as much as you can, but always be prepared to leave and join another company for the long-term. Regardless of your abilities, Optiver is always prepared to let you go.Advice to Management
The truth about management at Optiver is that outside the company they would have a difficult time finding a role as relatively task-free and well-compensated, as they lack current hard skills. Many of them know this on some degree and as such often act out of self-interest rather than principle. My advice is to stop and do what is right rather than convenient.
Optiver 2016-12-13 21:39 PSTHelpful (13)
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"Good Compensation, Terrible Work Environment"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendNeutral OutlookNo opinion of CEOPros
The compensation is above average.
Cons
The company is all about "face time" at the office, so be prepared for long hours (at least 12 a day). Definitely fosters an environment where people will stab you in the back or cut the legs out from under you to further their own careers. They talk a big game about teamwork, but it's one of the least conducive team environments in which I've ever worked.
Optiver 2016-10-05 18:15 PDTHelpful (7)
![Optiver Logo]()
"Watch your back."
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Doesn't RecommendPositive OutlookNo opinion of CEOI worked at Optiver full-time
Pros
Super friendly people with lots of perks to keep workers happy. Work hard and they usually will recognize your efforts and reward you accordingly.
Cons
Don't be lulled into a level of complacency where you are unable to recognize the wolves in sheep's clothing among the general population. Always treat everyone professionally with genuine respect, but be fully aware that any of them can and will stab you in the back when you're not looking. You will inevitably step on people's toes in order to get the job done. Just be mindful of whose toes you end up stepping on, and learn to correct those missteps very quickly before it costs you.
Advice to Management
Better lines of communication between upper management and the lowly worker would have been nice.
Optiver 2016-07-23 22:49 PDTHelpful (4)
![Optiver Logo]()
"Research"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookApproves of CEOPros
Outstanding firm with outstanding talented professionals
Cons
None to speak of just excellent all around.
Advice to Management
Keep up the great work
Optiver 2016-04-30 11:55 PDTHelpful (2)
![Optiver Logo]()
"Trader"
StarStarStarStarStar- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
RecommendsPositive OutlookI worked at Optiver (More than 3 years)
Pros
Entrepreneurial environment, smart colleagues, great work/life balance, intellectually stimulating, great place to learn a discplined trading mentality
Cons
As with any trading company, culture is a bit secretive. If you go in understanding this, you will respect boundaries and be fine.
Advice to Management
Overall, management did a good job. I don't really have a negative thing to say about them as I agreed with most, if not all of their decisions during my time there.
Optiver 2016-04-04 11:43 PDT
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