What first sparked your interest in joining IMC APAC’s Campus Recruitment team?
I moved to Australia about five years ago from London. I’d previously worked in recruitment for law firms and financial services, and I was really drawn to IMC’s flat structure compared to other companies. Everyone is so friendly and you really can ask anyone anything, regardless of seniority. What I love about Campus Recruitment at IMC is that it goes way beyond simply filling roles. No two days are the same as we’re constantly innovating and coming up with new strategies to find and attract top talent.
You’re focused on hiring Trading Graduates and Interns. What’s your favourite thing about the job?
Trading – and particularly High-Frequency Trading – isn’t a very well-known industry, so I love helping candidates discover new dimensions to their degree in the professional world. You don’t need a wealth of financial knowledge to join IMC; we’re looking for candidates with a passion for solving quantitative problems and a desire to be constantly learning new things.
It’s so rewarding to help young people carve out a new career path they might not have previously thought about. I also enjoy guiding and supporting candidates through the application process – it can be nerve-wracking for those who haven’t had much experience with recruitment assessments.
What key criteria are you looking for in potential IMC Graduates/Interns?
All candidates need a minimum of a Distinction average. For our Engineering roles, this will need to be in a closely related degree, but for trading roles, we consider students from a variety of different STEM backgrounds. This is because trading at IMC varies depending on the style and desk you’re working on, so we look to hire traders who can bring diverse skills to the table.
While we are looking for the brightest minds to join IMC, we also pay close attention to whether candidates are the right cultural fit. We’re looking for people who love solving complex problems in a fast-paced environment, those who are motivated to put their all into what they do, and those who are also humble and down to earth – indeed, one of our values is celebrating success while keeping both feet firmly on the ground.
Resilience is also a huge part of being a Trader at IMC, so this is something we test for throughout the recruitment process. Of course, you aren’t expected to know everything straight away; we’re looking at how you learn, how you handle unfamiliar problems, how you push through uncertainty, and how well you work with everyone you meet in the interviews.
What is the recruitment process for graduates and interns?
Our recruitment process is really unique. It’s designed to reflect the challenges that you’re likely to face in your day-to-day role, and you’ll also work through interesting problems that put your skills to the test.
We always kick off with an online assessment to ensure that only suitable candidates are invited to interview. If you pass the assessment and meet our general minimum criteria (e.g., working rights and university grades), one of our Campus Recruiters will reach out to set up an initial behavioural interview. This is a friendly chat on the phone or over Zoom, where we learn more about you and your experience, share further insight into the role, and life at IMC, and answer any questions you may have.
Then, depending on which stream you’ve applied to, you’ll be invited to a First Round Technical Interview with one of our Traders or Engineers, who you will work closely with to solve a specific problem. Following that, we’ll invite you into the office for our Final Round Assessment Day, where you’ll work through a mix of technical and behavioural stations designed to challenge you while we assess your fit for IMC. We hear again and again from candidates how much they enjoy working on the problems they’re presented with in each of our interview rounds.
Are there any stand-out qualities that demonstrate to you that someone is the right fit for IMC?
Candidates who stand out are not only passionate about the industry and the role, but also have keen interests outside of their work and studies. This could be anything from esports to origami, making music or bungee jumping! Whatever it is, we love hearing about what makes you tick. So, we encourage candidates to reference examples from these extra-curricular activities when answering behavioural questions. They can often be great examples of resilience, determination and commitment.
How can candidates best prepare to excel in the recruitment process?
My first piece of advice might seem obvious for behavioural interviews, but it is an area often overlooked. That is: do your research! Make sure you have a broad understanding of the industry, the role and the skills required, and prepare some examples of when you have demonstrated those skills.
I’d also recommend having a few anecdotes up your sleeve for those elusive behavioural questions that start “Tell me about a time you…” But be careful not to appear too scripted when you’re relaying these, as interviewers want to get an authentic sense of who you are.
From there, make sure you do a thorough deep dive on IMC. This goes beyond just reading the website homepage. Be sure to check out YouTube and other social channels to get a better feel for our culture. Being able to talk in detail about our culture and values and how you personally align with them will serve you well throughout the process.
For the Technical Interview, ensure that you really engage with your interviewer: listen to what they’re saying, pick up on hints and ask questions if you get stuck. Showing your collaboration skills and ability to listen and learn in the interviews is always impressive. And be sure to have interesting questions prepared for each interviewer – it’s a great way to show you’ve done your research and to make a lasting positive impression!
Do you have any other advice for students thinking about applying to IMC?
The best way to get to know a company is through its people, so seize as many opportunities as you can to network. Attend university and society events to hear about the industry and company first-hand from its employees. Our Campus Recruiters often remember the faces they’ve met at events, so use them as an opportunity to build those relationships early on.
Find out where a career at IMC could take you – explore our latest internship and graduate opportunities here.