Maven Securities Interview Guide
Published July 24th 2024
Last edited July 24th 2024
Embarking on the path to join Maven Securities involves navigating a structured and comprehensive interview process designed to evaluate your suitability and readiness for a trading career at a top-tier firm. This guide provides a detailed roadmap of the Maven Securities interview process, breaking down each phase and offering targeted advice to help you excel.
The Maven Securities interview process comprises several stages, each focusing on different skills:
- Online Assessments: Tests your mental math skills and pattern recognition abilities.
- On-Demand Video Interview: Assesses your motivation and understanding of the role.
- HR & Technical Interview: Evaluates your fit for the company and technical knowledge.
- Final Round: Involves in-depth interviews with senior traders to gauge your overall fit.
Next to studying this guide, ensure you've taken a look Maven's YouTube channel and website. These both provide excellent information into Maven's organisational structure and culture. Additionally, Maven's YouTube channel offers tons of great in-depth content about trading in general!
Stage 1: Online Assessments
Overview: After submitting your application, you will be contacted to complete the first set of online assessments. This stage includes:
- Mental Math: 40 questions to be answered in 6 minutes. You need to manually navigate to the next question by clicking a submit button. Our Brown Test was specifically designed to help you prepare for the Maven Math Test and exactly mimics the real test format.
- Pattern Recognition/Sequences: 15 questions to be answered in 15 minutes. These questions involve identifying patterns in sequences, which may include numbers, letters, and other logical patterns. Our Brown Sequences Test offers perfect preparation for this as it mimics both the nature of the questions and the test format of the Maven Sequences Test.
Preparation Tips:
- Mental Math: Practice mental arithmetic consistently to improve your speed and accuracy. Familiarize yourself with the test format to minimize navigation time using our Brown Test.
- Sequences: Practice identifying patterns quickly. Use our tailored preparation tools to get used to the types of sequences you will encounter.
Stage 2: On-Demand Video Interview
Overview: If you pass the online assessments, you will be invited to an on-demand video interview. This stage allows the team to learn more about you and understand your thinking process. Some good questions to practice:
- Are you a competitive person?
- How would your friends describe you?
- Why do you want to become a trader?
- What makes you stand out from other applicants?
- What would make you nervous?
Preparation Tips:
- Background and Motivation: Be prepared to discuss your background, why you want to work at Maven Securities, and your interest in trading.
- Clear Communication: Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely in a recorded format.
Stage 3: HR & Technical Interview
Overview: Candidates who advance past the video interview will participate in a combined HR and technical interview. This stage typically includes:
- HR Interview: Introduction and discussion about your interest in the role and the firm.
- Technical Interview: Includes brainteasers, probability questions, and market-making games.
Preparation Tips:
- HR Interview: Know basic statistics and facts about Maven Securities. Be ready to discuss why you are interested in Maven and how your goals align with the company's values. Take a good look at Maven's values and the behavioral questions in our interview question database.
- Technical Interview:
- Brainteasers and Probability: Practice brainteasers and probability questions using our interview question database.
- Market Making Games: Familiarize yourself with market-making games and make sure to practice without the aid of pen and paper since this is not allowed at the interview.
Stage 4: Final Round
Overview: The final round consists of in-depth interviews with senior traders, either in person or via video conference, lasting between 1 to 4 hours. This round revisits all elements from previous stages and includes a deeper focus on technical and HR questions.
Preparation Tips:
- Technical Stage:
- Expected Value Games: Calculate the expected value in various trading games involving cards, dice, or coins. More specifically, at Maven these games usually start out with a brainteaser and then rotates into a market making game around the answer of the relevant question. Most frequently, these games and questions revolve around cards.
- Fermi Questions: Oftentimes, candidates are also asked to estimate specific quantities under timed conditions. This can be practiced for using our Fermi Question practice tool.
- HR Stage:
- Motivation and Fit: Answer questions about why you want to join Maven Securities and how your values align with the company’s culture.
- Cultural Fit: Demonstrate your understanding of Maven’s collaborative and innovative culture.
- Personal Strengths and Weaknesses: Be prepared to discuss your strengths, weaknesses, and how you can add value to the team.
Closing Remarks
Excelling in the Maven Securities interview requires a combination of intellectual prowess, strategic thinking, and a deep enthusiasm for trading, all while fitting seamlessly with Maven's culture. Candidates should approach this process with thorough preparation, a commitment to continuous learning, and an honest demonstration of their abilities and personality.
One common pitfall is underestimating the level of preparation needed for the Maven Securities interview. These positions are extremely competitive, and Maven Securities selects only the most qualified individuals. Many candidates dedicate months to preparing for the various stages and assessments. To distinguish yourself, it’s crucial to work diligently, be self-critical, and take your preparation seriously to excel in each interview phase.
Furthermore, the feedback we get often get from our users who have applied at Maven is that demonstrating a genuine interest in Maven and aligning with its culture is essential. Showing that you understand and appreciate Maven’s values, and can see yourself thriving within their environment, can set you apart. This in part has to do with the fact that Maven is considerably smaller compared to some of the more popular trading firms and therefore lays more emphasis on finding people who resonate with their (unique) culture!
Regardless of the outcome, the journey with Maven Securities is both challenging and rewarding, providing opportunities for growth and the potential to join a premier trading firm. Each interview stage is a chance to demonstrate your capabilities and how you can contribute to Maven Securities' success.
Regardless of the outcome, the journey with Maven Securities is both challenging and rewarding, providing opportunities for growth and the potential to join a premier trading firm. Each interview stage is a chance to demonstrate your capabilities and how you can contribute to Maven Securities' success.