Career Kickstarter - Trading 2027

About this role

Want to accelerate your path from student to full-time trader? Career Kickstarter: Trading is an immersive five-day program at Optiver’s Amsterdam office, offering final-year students at European Universities a direct pathway to a career in trading. Over the course of one week, you’ll build your understanding of trading through theory, realistic simulations and exposure to Optiver’s trading floor. Through a blend of interactive lectures, trading games, and expert mentorship, you’ll learn how to think and act like a trader.

If you prove to be a good match, you may receive a full-time job offer to join Optiver as a Graduate Trader once the program is complete. When : 1 March - 5 March or 8 March - 12 March 2027 Where : Optiver Amsterdam Headquarters Application deadline: Applications close at 17:00 CET on 6 December 2026, and the first step of the recruitment process (online assessments) must be completed by 23:59 CET on the same day. Can’t make these dates? We expect to run more Career Kickstarter programs in spring 2027.

Register your interest to be notified when new dates and applications are announced. WHAT YOU' LL DO A week of learning, decision-making and trading in action. Throughout the program, our dedicated Trading Education Team will mentor you, providing guidance and feedback designed to sharpen your skills and accelerate your development. Learning and skill development: Discover options theory : Develop an understanding of options theory and how it applies to trading.

Build your market judgement : Gain insight into how traders use information, probability and risk-reward trade-offs to make decisions in changing conditions. Engage in trading games: Participate in fast-paced games that mimic real-world trading scenarios, helping sharpen your instincts and decision-making skills under pressure. Experience the trading floor first-hand: Where market conditions allow, experience Optiver’s trading floor first-hand and gain insight into the pace and teamwork behind live markets.

Pathway to a career: Demonstrate your potential during the program, and you may receive a direct offer to join Optiver as a Graduate Trader. Networking and culture: Get to know Optiver’s culture: Get a taste of Optiver’s incredible culture and enjoy our perks and benefits, including daily breakfast, lunch, coffee, and more. Build your network: Enjoy networking opportunities with traders, researchers and recruiters. Receive expert mentorship: Benefit from the guidance and support of our expert Trading Education Team.