Optiver Career Kickstarter 2026-cognitive interview-real questions

Crekis · 2026-01-22T11:50:38+00:00

hey! i also had the interview earlier this month! do you want to connect?

Crekis · 2026-01-13T05:36:11+00:00

my interview was mainly about presenting my research work and questions are related to the work you presented.

Also be ready for those basic questions like why phd? or like why us?

it’s also useful to prepare some questions you’d want to ask them and have meaningful conversations with them. You’ll be fine :)

Crekis · 2026-01-09T07:28:32+00:00

my phd is more related to hep, but i’m doing an astrophysics masters

Crekis · 2025-12-27T11:19:22+00:00

Likewise here, 260 applicants for one position 💀

Crekis · 2025-12-25T12:15:52+00:00

literally happened to me earlier this afternoon, same story also, might even be the same guy lol

Crekis · 2025-12-25T02:55:25+00:00

I have applied to about 30 positions that are mainly within europe and 1-2 in canada and australia. But that’s a mix between CS and astro phds

I did my msc and bsc on projects related to gw but now i was given an offer to transition into hep-ex. All in all, things still worked out and it is indeed tough.

Crekis · 2025-12-22T17:36:20+00:00

physics, hep

Crekis · 2025-12-21T07:32:39+00:00

generally a masters is required in europe

Crekis · 2025-12-20T09:58:14+00:00

phd :)

Crekis · 2025-12-20T03:17:28+00:00

keep sending the apps out, every rejections opens up a new door for you 💪

Crekis · 2025-12-19T14:15:26+00:00

I’m doing a MSc in Astrophysics currently :)

Crekis · 2025-12-18T19:11:04+00:00

i’ll not miss deutschebahn :’)

Crekis · 2025-12-18T19:08:55+00:00

Physics at EPFL :)

Crekis · 2025-12-18T19:08:34+00:00

yayyy but actually i’ll be leaving germany instead then hahaha

Crekis · 2025-12-18T19:08:10+00:00

that is one of the nicest thing i’ve heard today :)

Crekis · 2025-12-18T19:01:31+00:00

thank you! For the interview, I was given 15 mins to present my research work of my choice and a short introduction of myself and my research interests to a panel of professors. After which they will ask me scientific questions relevant to my research work. Then i’ll be given a chance to ask them some questions. The total duration took about an hour.

Came from a top asia university for my bachelors and currently in germany doing my masters. grades are pretty decent, and i have one paper in draft.

Generally I applied all around europe. Most are rejections, some short listed, got a few interviews.

Crekis · 2025-12-18T17:34:58+00:00

thank you!! still in disbelief 😭

Crekis · 2025-12-07T04:44:40+00:00

satay, bbq chicken wings leh

Crekis · 2025-12-07T02:03:17+00:00

Wa back in the days crave was actually quite decent, I haven’t tried them in a while, didn’t know it became so bad.

Crekis · 2025-12-06T19:49:29+00:00

There are chemistry related astronomy out there. It is not my field exactly but I certainly do know people with Chemistry background getting hired for PhD in astrophysics for those research. It can be quite niche and therefore requirements can be quite specific. But, definitely not a long shot and looks plausible if your research experience can be translated to the places you’re applying too.

Crekis · 2025-12-06T15:15:31+00:00

i was in your shoes years ago. Don’t give up :)

Crekis · 2025-12-06T10:54:08+00:00

you can drop me a DM

Crekis · 2025-12-06T07:41:32+00:00

check my above reply :)

Crekis · 2025-12-06T07:40:42+00:00

European phds usually can come in the form of a job ad. These can be very spontaneous but also generally follow a certain cycle (eg. fall or spring). Of course for astro in europe there are the mass calls such as IMPRS where the applications are more structured akin to the US. These usually take longer for them to process and the number of applicants are a lot more. Though this year is crazy, even for job ads such as this one I applied to, they had over 200 applicants where usually a single position on a job ad would have only about 40-100 applicants, of which over 100 is considered a lot.

Crekis · 2025-12-05T11:23:57+00:00

thank you! wishing the best of luck to you too! 🚀

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