Pros: - Good pay (they'll almost always beat any competitor) - Free breakfast and lunch, which tastes good on most days - Free coffee until midday - Good resume booster But honestly, don't let these perks lure you.

Cons: - Very high expectations and BS performance reviews mean that you could be below average and get fired very quickly. I've seen smart and competent people shown the door. - Within the first few months, I saw quite a few people disappear or leave. There was even someone that resigned due to mental health problems (more than likely caused by work-related stress). If this place is so great, why do people leave? Seriously ask yourself that before joining. - Projects are an absolute mess. As a dev, you'll be a project manager, tester, and support, which is on top of your usual dev work. - Limited career growth outside of finance, and the tech is an outdated mess. Honestly, try finding a C++ job outside of HFT that pays in the same ballpark. So, make sure you plan an exit route. - Engineers are a pay grade below. Seriously, a second-year junior trader earns the same as a senior (L3) developer. - Individualist environment means people are always fighting for their bonus. - Got yelled at by a frustrated manager because I made an honest mistake and was a little slow to interpret something. - Be wary of teams with low headcount where only newcomers join and people just leave. - If you get an offer at a big tech company, take that option. The slightly extra $ you get is not worth the career risk. I'm glad I made the switch and got out early.

Pros: The monthly salary is very good, and you also receive a yearly bonus based on your performance. Once a year, they organize an Optiver weekend, which is very nice, and you can also bring your partner. They also have a weekly chair massage.

Cons: A lot of politics is involved at every level. The quality of code is not stressed enough. Old technologies are used, and there is no incentive to use any new technologies. There are no opportunities to grow. If you want to move to a higher level, you have to fight with politics, and this is not pleasant.

Pros: Optiver offers an incredible environment for growth, with smart colleagues, a strong focus on collaboration, and a culture that values ownership and impact. The compensation is competitive, the benefits are excellent, and the company supports continuous learning and innovation.

Cons: The pace can be intense, and expectations are high. It's not a place for those who prefer a slow or highly structured corporate environment.