Quant interviews are notoriously difficult. They test mathematics, programming, probability puzzles, and market intuition — often in the same 45-minute session. Here's how to prepare systematically.
The Three Pillars
Brainteasers and Probability
Expect questions like: "You flip a fair coin until you get two heads in a row. What is the expected number of flips?" Practice Markov chains and recursive expectation. The key is recognizing the state structure, not memorizing answers.
Mathematics and Stochastic Calculus
Brush up on Ito's lemma, martingale pricing, and change of measure. Be ready to derive Black-Scholes from first principles. Interviewers want to see that you understand the machinery, not just the formula.
Coding Under Pressure
You'll likely face a live coding exercise. Python is standard; some firms expect C++. Practice implementing algorithms on a whiteboard or in a plain text editor. Focus on correctness first, then optimize.
The QLab Advantage
Our practice problem bank includes over 50 interview-style problems, each with detailed solutions and mathematical derivations. Every problem is designed by quants who've been on both sides of the table — as candidates and as interviewers at top-tier firms.