Software Engineer Interview Experience - Sydney, Australia
Process
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The first step was an HR phone screen interview. Questions were general and related to my most recent experience. They were friendly and reasonable.
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The next step was an online IQ test. I found this unusually challenging, strangely enough. I'm not sure if it was because I hadn't slept enough the few days prior (having a toddler).
I think this is an idiotic method of measuring programming ability anyway, since IQ is deeply flawed. Richard Feynman's IQ was only 125, yet he won the Nobel Prize in Physics, and I don't think anyone in their right mind would have disputed his genius. I guess filtering people out this way will prevent really stupid people from joining your company, but you're certain to miss a few Einsteins or Feynmans along the way.
Questions
Requirement gathering process from my most recent employer.
The aptitude test is apparently very similar to the Programmer aptitude test on BrainBench. If you really want to work for Optiver, you could buy the test and practice. I didn't think it was worth the money, as I have other employment options.
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 15 interview experiences for the Optiver Software Engineer role in Sydney, Australia.
Success Rate
Optiver's interview process for their Software Engineer roles in Sydney, Australia is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.
Experience Rating
Candidates reported having very good feelings for Optiver's Software Engineer interview process in Sydney, Australia.
Optiver Work Experiences
- 3.0Great Food, Toxic CultureSoftware Engineer • Former EmployeeSydney, AustraliaAugust 9, 2021Pros: I met some nice people, who were genuinely friendly, until I resigned. Free breakfast and lunch, with healthy and delicious food. The food was the main highlight.Cons: Managers are very bad and don't have people skills. There's no work-life balance. They fire people often and without remorse. The culture is often toxic.
- 4.0Great Location, Lots Of WorkSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeAmsterdam, NetherlandsMay 21, 2023Pros: Beautiful location, and the salary varies with time.Cons: Work too much, but it's okay.
- 5.0Rewarding place to workSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeChicago, Illinois, United StatesSeptember 26, 2017Pros: - Intelligent and humble coworkers - Great pay - Engineers are promoted and paid based on merit. There is transparency regarding levels (junior, senior status, etc.), and your guess is likely correct about where others are. - With everything in technology and trading constantly changing, there is much room for growth and taking on new responsibilities, even immediately after starting. - Everything is solid, including culture in general, 401k, massages, breakfast, lunch, snacks, five weeks of vacation shortly after starting (which everyone actually takes), and yearly company trips. - Useless meetings are cut short or cut out; there is little opportunity for being bored. - Team leads aren’t simply middle managers; they’ve excelled at the role they are leading. - Expectations are extremely consistent: focus on clean, simple solutions, own the stack, and grasp the feedback loop of development.Cons: - Making significant changes that affect trading can be stressful, though this is largely mitigated by frequent releases and having a plan if your solution is broken.
Optiver Interview Questions
