Our Quantitative Research Interview Process

Join our network of top researchers

Thanks for your interest in Citadel Securities! We’re looking forward to meeting you and have prepared this guide to help you understand our recruiting and interview process for quantitative research.

First, what should you know?

Interviewing with us means having the opportunity to talk with two firms at once: Citadel and Citadel Securities. At both firms, the brightest minds in finance, science and technology work together closely. As a result, our team members naturally learn from one another and deliver real-world impact, starting from day one.

What are we looking for?

Given the broad range of quantitative research opportunities at the firms, there’s no single profile we look for. Our most successful colleagues do have a few traits in common, though:

Stellar technical skills and a passion for solving complex, real-world problems
Eagerness to collaborate with individuals from different parts of the firm
Desire to make an impact and drive commercial outcomes for the firm and our clients
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment where everyone is empowered to use good judgment and inspired to be their best

If this sounds like a place where you would enjoy contributing, we’d like to introduce ourselves.

Three ways to prepare for your interview

1

Read about Citadel Securities’ mission and core values; find what resonates with you. We’d love to know why you want to work with us.

2

Reflect on how your past internship or research experience has contributed to business outcomes.

3

Refine your personal story, including what’s led you to interview at our firm.

How to ace your technical interviews

We know that technical interviews can be challenging—especially when we explore the boundaries of your knowledge. Our approach is practical and oriented toward problem solving. If you face a setback, say so! Our culture is built on collaboration, and we want to iterate with you.

Don’t be afraid to spend time assessing a problem before jumping to a solution or writing code. You are always welcome to ask clarifying questions.

Share your thought process. Discuss trade-offs among different possible approaches. Be clear about what you know and what you don’t know.

We want you to succeed. If you get stuck, ask questions and take hints.

Process and Timeline

Intro

What to Expect

Our recruiting process is designed to connect you with our world-class quantitative researchers. They will give you a sense of our different teams and the exciting projects they work on day-to-day, while also gaining an understanding of your experiences and ambitions. There are four steps in the process. Typically, it takes about four to five weeks from start to finish—however, we will do our best to accelerate the process if you have competing deadlines.

01

First Round

This 45- to 60-minute remote interview will cover both technical and behavioral skills. We use video, so be sure you’re camera-ready!

We’ll focus on programming skills, ability, data structures/algorithms and problem-solving. Our core programming languages are Python and C++, but we welcome any languages. Prior to the interviews, we’ll send a CoderPad link.

Your interviewer may ask you to explain your approach. These aren’t trick questions: we just want to learn more about your strategy and process. The interviewer will also ask about your technical interests, past internship experience, school projects and your reasons for exploring opportunities at Citadel Securities.

This 45- to 60-minute remote interview will cover both technical and behavioral skills. We use video, so be sure you’re camera-ready!

We’ll focus on programming skills, ability, data structures/algorithms and problem-solving. Our core programming languages are Python and C++, but we welcome any languages. Prior to the interviews, we’ll send a CoderPad link.

Your interviewer may ask you to explain your approach. These aren’t trick questions: we just want to learn more about your strategy and process. The interviewer will also ask about your technical interests, past internship experience, school projects and your reasons for exploring opportunities at Citadel Securities.

02

Second Round

The second round is onsite, and usually consists of three to five 60-minute interviews. Like the first round, it assesses a combination of technical and behavioral skills.

It’s also an opportunity for you to ask what’s on your mind, so come prepared with questions.

Following this round of interviews, we will reach out with next steps within two weeks.