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INTERVIEW QUESTIONS: DRW, a prop trading firm, graduate position

Question:

Give the result of each squared number between 1 and 100 (by head, no pencils or paper allowed)? What's the sum of it? What's the average?

Answer:

I tried to calculate the results as best I could.

Question:

How many wrong results did you give? What is your margin of error (variance) how could you measure it? Where is this error bigger?

Answer:

I said I made two errors, which turned out to be wrong – I made no errors. Calculating the margin of error, I said I could use basic calculus and draw the function on a piece of paper, then using the first derivative as an ‘error measure.’

Question:

Imagine that as part of your contract for working here, there’s a clause saying that if you use Facebook again you will have your arms ripped off. What would be the price you’d request to sign the contract, and the opportunity cost of not using Facebook?

Answer:

I responded that I would need both arms to work as a prop trader, but that Facebook is now vital for everything. Without arms, I wouldn’t be able to work efficiently and wouldn’t be able to cover my high medical bills. I attempted to project my future cashflows over a 10 year period (the point at which I would plan to retire from prop trading) and then discounted it by a 5% risk free rate. This gave me a number in a ball park of $15-20m.

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We cannot guarantee the authenticity of these questions nor the accuracy of the answers: they are what one candidate claims to have been asked by DRW and have not been verified by the firm.

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AUTHORSarah Butcher Global Editor
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    tom22
    15 February 2012

    Looks like the last question was more about values, drawn in a very dramatic picture. The first part of the answer appears diplomatic to me, but then ... how far do you go for money?

    I wonder what's worse : to ask such question that way, the way it was answered or the fact that both parties were happy (I guess the person was hired?)

    If I imagine there is a clause in my contract saying 'your arms are ...' - no, hopefully that never ever happens in the UK.

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