Optiver

I have worked at two large and successful companies and one smaller government position since graduating college. Working at these other companies really lets me appreciate working at Optiver and all the benefits therein.

Compensation - Salary, bonus, health insurance, 25 vacation days on top of all the market holidays, and the dollar-for-dollar 401k match make the compensation top-tier.

Culture - Incredibly strong culture. Almost everyone working here checks their ego at the door, and the best ideas win. The focus is on long-term growth and doing the right things not only for Optiver but for the market.

Executives / Leadership - The people steering the ship at Optiver not only have great vision and insight; they know their employees and hang out and have a beer on Fridays after work.

Outlook - Amazing outlook and growth. Optiver Chicago is the best at pricing options on the SP500 complex globally. Seeing the current trend of money moving into passive index funds, Optiver is poised to keep growing even in a low-volatility market.

Work/Life Balance - The after-hours and weekend work here is very limited and much less than when I worked at other large companies. You are treated like a person here, and if you have a family emergency, people will go out of their way to cover for you.

Perks - Coffee barista, catered breakfast and lunch, huge variety of snacks and drinks, ping pong table, pool table, weekly massage, beer and wine available after work. All free.

Optiver is a flat organization. Overall, I think being flat is better, but it could feel like growth is limited.

You have to work at a high level each and every day. Once again, I feel like this is a benefit. If you are not performing over a sustained period, you will eventually get cut, but this makes Optiver stronger as there is no dead weight.