Quant Placements
What is Quant?
Quantitative trading involves the use of
computer algorithms —based on complex
mathematical models—to capitalize on
available trading opportunities.
At the back end, quant trading also involves research
work on historical data with an aim to identify profit
opportunities
ROLES IN THE INDUSTRY
SDE/Systems Trading Quantitative Research
● Develop efficient and robust ● Interact with the markets to ● Develop mathematical models for
platforms which provide deploy the models and pricing different financial instruments,
minimum latency and high strategies for trading risk management, or algorithmic
throughput for running different financial trading
different kinds of trading instruments ● Ability to right robust and efficient
strategies ● Usually combined with the code for implement complex models
Quant Research role with minimal latency
● Different in some of the ● Ability to analyze large-scale market
international roles data to identify trends and patterns
● Higher risk - direct using different mathematical
interaction with the market techniques
Companies
General Process
❖ Resume Shortlisting
➢ CPI
➢ Previous Work Experience
➢ Courses
➢ Projects
➢ CP ratings
❖ Tests
➢ Quant: Puzzles (obviously), mathematical aptitude, CP
➢ SDE/Systems: CS fundamentals (OS, Networks, Computer Architecture),
Core C++
❖ Interviews
➢ Resume-based questions
➢ Quant: Puzzles, Mathematical Questions, DSA
➢ Systems: CS fundamentals, Core C++, DSA
➢ Finance/Quant related questions (Optional)
Our Wartime stories
Resume
❖ General resume guidelines related to formatting and neatness are always
applicable
❖ If you have multiple projects to select from, put only the relevant projects
❖ Highlight the important sections like CP Ratings, contest performances,
hackathons, olympiads and other achievements
❖ For projects and internships, mention and highlight the important numbers and
details (include the technical details as much as possible)
❖ Less focus on PORs and extracurriculars (might omit it completely ; ) )
Resources
Courses :
● Basic Probability Theory/Statistics, Data Structures and Algorithms
● Might be helpful: Time Series Analysis, Econometrics, Game Theory, Randomized Analysis, CS77x courses
Quant Role:
● Fifty Challenging Problems in Probability
● Brainstellar
● A practical guide to Quantitative Finance Interviews( Xinfeng)
● Puzzledquant
● Quantguide
● HMMT papers
● Heard on the Street
● Peter Winkler
SDE/Systems:
● Learncpp
● GFG Tutorial pages
● The C++ Programming Language/ Book by Bjarne Stroustrup
● Leetcode (medium-hard), CF, CSES
● Coursework - CS330, CS425, CS610
● Cherno (Youtube Playlist)
Interview Process
Zanskar Research :
● Two rounds of interviews
● 1st round: Resume based questions mostly based on internship projects
● 2nd round: 2-3 simple mathematical questions based on pigeonhole principle, expectation
Graviton Research (Systems Role)
● 3 rounds based on DSA, systems and C++
Graviton Research (Quant Role)
● 3-4 rounds on probability, discrete math and puzzles, with progressively increasing difficulties
● 1-2 DSA questions
● Last round on finance (basic market knowledge expected)
NK Securities Research (Systems Role)
● 3 rounds based on systems, C++
Quantbox Research (Systems Role)
● Modern C++, questions based on in depth systems knowledge
● Even involved questions based on concurrent data structures
Quantbox Research (Quant Role)
● Probability based puzzle type questions, difficult enough
Quantbox Research (Quant Role)
● Round 1: Question on CPP like deep copy, shared_ptr, smart_ptr etc, some puzzles
● Round 2: Intern Exp, Puzzles
● Round 3: Intern Exp, HR questions like why Sq Point
Questions 🧐
Reach out
Where ?
● Swastik Singhal (+91 9660025199), Resume (Quant)
● Mridul Pandey (+91 9717401684), Resume (Quant)
● Chitwan Goel (+91 7310826277), Resume (Quant + Systems)
Placements:
Software
Devansh Jain
Agenda for Today
1. Overview of Software Profile
2. How to Prepare and Resources
3. Our Experiences
4. FAQs & General Suggestions
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What do software
engineers do?
Except copying from Stackexchange and ChatGPT
and nowadays Cursor / Github Copilot
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What does a Software Engineer do?
Write code to solve challenging problems and build products
◉ Designing & maintaining applications
◉ Optimizing software for speed and scalability
◉ Might include Machine Learning applications, blockchain integrations and
security analysis
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Software Placements at SPO, IITK
● Google Software ● SAP Labs ● D.E. Shaw
● Microsoft ● Flipkart ● Goldman Sachs
● Uber ● Atlassian ● AlphaGrep
● Sprinklr ● Glean ● Wells Fargo
● Oracle ● Walmart ● American Express
● Cohesity
● Samsung Research ● Cisco
● Deutsche Bank
● Databricks
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How to prepare?
CODE! CODE! CODE!
GET A PLACEMENT
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Roadmap for Tests
Step 1 - Get Basics Right Step 2 - Practice Step 3 - Test Specific
- Complete all topics from - Ask seniors/ other IITs/
- Revise ESC101 first
Interviewbit
google test pattern for each
- Shift to C++ : vectors, - Develop problem solving skills company
STL basics (give Codeforces/ Codechef
contests and solve problemset - may have
- Data Structures & Algo :
on CF) Probability Statistics,
ESO207 not necessary, if
- Additional practice: Leetcode/ Puzzles, Machine-Learning,
you are able to cover
CSES Set Linear Algebra, Systems,
topics otherwise
- Give Programming Club Aptitude
Archive Test Series
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Resources
Step 1 - Get Basics Right Step 2 - Practice Step 3 - Test Specific
- ESC101 slides: [here] - Interviewbit - OOPs [gfg-oops]
- Shift to C++ : [short post] - Leetcode - Prob Stats [MSO201]
- DSA Theory: [Geeks for - CSES Problem Set - Puzzles [Brainstellar] [Xinfeng
Geeks- Algo] [Geeks for Zhou] [50 Challenging Problems
Geeks- Data - Programming Club in Probability]
Structures][ESO207 Archive Test Series
- Linear Algebra : 3B1B Linear
Lectures] - Codeforces/AtCoder Algebra
- ESO207 slides - CP Handbook - CS Fundamentals (Can refer to
- CS345 slides (optional) - CP-Algo [link] CSE courses material)
- Striver Playlist
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Prepare for Interviews
Know Your Resume Ask Seniors who have
Introduction given that interview
Content for every project Company-specific tips
1 2
Build depth on project topic
3 4 Practice coding on paper
Prepare for HR Questions And verbally explaining it
Motivation, Career plans, PoRs,
Projects
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My Interview Experience
- 3 rounds
- 2 DSA
- Graphs, DP
- 1 HR
- Focused on Internship
Experience
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Tips and Suggestions
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Tips and Suggestions
How to stay motivated? How to apply? More Suggestions
- Do coding in a group - Don’t apply to profile you don’t want - Don’t procrastinate
- Start from now if till now you haven’t
- Revisit concepts whenever to do
- Avoid comparison
needed - Make an estimate of where you stand
- Don’t get demotivated - peer pressure,
- Do projects relatively and accordingly, apply Instagram Congratulatory stories, luck
- Avoid unnecessary stress and selectively
take some time to unwind.
How to choose profiles?
- Approach seniors, alumni
- Set your priority based on interest but
don’t be rigid to it
Ask for help!
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Reach out
Where ?
● Devansh Jain (+91 9464327218) Resume (SDE)
Thank You
