Maverick Derivatives runs a short, transparent process: 3 stages, ending in a single assessment day at their office. The firm supplies study materials as you go, which is unusual and worth using, and it is smaller and more specialised than most firms on this list, so cultural fit carries real weight alongside the technical bar.
- 1Aptitude assessment. A multi-part online test covering maths, reasoning, programming and finance.
- 2HR interview. Video or in person, on motivation, fit and communication.
- 3Assessment day. A full day at the office: brainteasers, trading games, coding and several interviews.
Stage 1: Aptitude assessment
A multi-part test, deliberately broad. You are not expected to be perfect in every section, which matters for how you allocate preparation.
| Section | What it covers | How to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Mental maths | Fast calculation under tight time limits, marked on accuracy as well as speed | The Math Trainer, and our mental arithmetic guide |
| Reasoning and probability | 10 timed multiple-choice questions on logic and basic probability | Probability questions and the questions reported at Maverick |
| Programming | Basic to intermediate problems in Python and SQL. You do not need to be an engineer, but you need to be comfortable with logic-based coding | Python and SQL fundamentals, with clean logic over cleverness |
| Finance | Financial markets, instruments and trading concepts | Bid-ask spreads, options basics and market structure, covered in our markets, trading and risk course |
Stage 2: HR interview
Video or in person, on your motivation, cultural fit and how you communicate.
What comes up
- Why Maverick Derivatives specifically, and what excites you about trading
- How you handle pressure
- A time you solved a genuinely difficult problem
- Your strengths and weaknesses
How to prepare
Be straightforward rather than polished. Read up on Maverick's mission and values so you can say what actually appeals, and pick past experiences that show resilience and curiosity rather than just achievement.
Stage 3: Assessment day
The most demanding part, held in person at Maverick's office, and built to resemble the working environment.
- Brainteasers. Classic problem solving, marked on structure as much as speed. Work the questions reported at Maverick and the top 50.
- Trading games. Simulations testing intuition, risk appetite and how you adapt. Read our make me a market guide, then practise on the dice game and the card game.
- Programming challenges. Coding problems, often on trading-relevant scenarios, and fast. Expect no AI tools and no outside help.
- Individual interviews. Multiple rounds with different team members, from technical discussion through to behavioural.
Candidates are often shortlisted over lunch. If you are selected you continue into the final interviews that same afternoon, so treat the morning as the round that decides whether there is an afternoon, and keep your energy in reserve for it.
Expect follow-ups on anything you said earlier in the day. Consistency across sessions matters, because the interviewers compare notes.
Closing remarks
Maverick wants numerical ability, structured thinking and genuine interest in trading, and it is unusually open about what is coming, so use the study materials it gives you rather than preparing generically.
You are not expected to be strong in every section. The firm is looking for people who are sharp, driven and willing to learn, so showing that you grow and stay calm is worth more than covering every base. Because Maverick is smaller and more specialised than most, fit genuinely counts: if you understand their philosophy and it appeals to you, that will come across.
Work through everything we have for Maverick, and read our full interview guide for how these stages compare across firms.