Chicago Trading Company (CTC) Interview Process & Prep

CTC (Chicago Trading Company) is a Chicago-based options and ETF market maker. Process- and culture-forward funnel: timed SHL-style online reasoning battery (verbal + numerical), core-values behavioral fit, a probability / options round from CTC's Quant Trading Analyst (QTA) prep guide, trading games and mental math. Intel (official tips, probability primer, photographed OA) is thin on problem banks; treat rounds below as concept-driven.

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The Chicago Trading Company (CTC) interview funnel

1. Online Assessment — Reasoning Battery

Timed · online · reasoning + numerical

The first filter is a timed online reasoning assessment. Candidate captures show an SHL-style verbal-reasoning section (reading-comprehension MCQs plus true / false / cannot-say passage judgments) under a per-section countdown, typically alongside numerical reasoning. Domain knowledge won't save you here; careful reading and clock management will.

Chicago Trading Company online assessment guide →

2. Initial Technical Screen: Research Process (QR route, candidate-reported)

Video call · with a quant researcher · no OA

QR route, outside the trader funnel. One September 2026 report (PhD, quant researcher): invited from the resume and CTC's detailed application form, no online assessment first. First round: an "Initial Technical Screen: Research Process" with one of CTC's QRs, per the recruiter almost entirely about your research, plus technical questions. Later rounds unreported; assume the probability and statistics round below.

Chicago Trading Company Initial Technical Screen interview guide →

3. Core-Values Behavioral Screen

~30–45 min · recruiter / hiring team

A behavioral round built around CTC's core values. Expect 'tell me about a time…' questions probing collaboration, ownership, integrity, and how you handle being wrong. CTC's own interviewing tips emphasize this round: fit and values carry real weight in the decision.

Chicago Trading Company Core-Values Behavioral Screen interview guide →

4. Probability / Options Concept Interview

45–60 min · with a trader / researcher

The technical round, drawn directly from CTC's QTA prep-guide topics: probability, conditional probability / Bayes, expected value, common distributions, independence, confidence intervals, and market-making bid/ask intuition. Problems are trading-flavored and concept-driven: they want clean reasoning applied to a setup, not a memorized formula.

Chicago Trading Company Probability / Options Concept Interview guide →

5. Trading / Market-Making Game (candidate-reported)

Interactive · with a trader

As an options / ETF market maker, CTC's later rounds are reported to include a trading-game and mental-math component: quoting two-sided markets, sizing bets by edge, and rapid arithmetic under pressure. Specifics vary by cycle and role: treat this stage as candidate-reported / typical-for-the-firm rather than a fixed format.

Chicago Trading Company Trading / Market-Making Game interview guide →

6. Final — Onsite / Fit

Onsite · multiple conversations

A closing onsite / fit stage with the team. Conversational and values-oriented, confirming both technical bar and whether you'd thrive on CTC's floor. Expect a mix of lighter technical framing and culture-fit discussion.

Chicago Trading Company Final interview guide →

Chicago Trading Company (CTC) interview — FAQ

What is the Chicago Trading Company (CTC) interview process?

CTC (Chicago Trading Company) is a Chicago-based options and ETF market maker. Process- and culture-forward funnel: timed SHL-style online reasoning battery (verbal + numerical), core-values behavioral fit, a probability / options round from CTC's Quant Trading Analyst (QTA) prep guide, trading games and mental math. Intel (official tips, probability primer, photographed OA) is thin on problem banks; treat rounds below as concept-driven. The loop runs 6 stages: Online Assessment — Reasoning Battery, Initial Technical Screen: Research Process (QR route, candidate-reported), Core-Values Behavioral Screen, Probability / Options Concept Interview, Trading / Market-Making Game (candidate-reported), Final — Onsite / Fit.

How many rounds does Chicago Trading Company (CTC) have?

6 stages in total, starting with the Online Assessment — Reasoning Battery and ending with the Final — Onsite / Fit.

How do I prepare for the Chicago Trading Company (CTC) interview?

Work the stage notes above, then drill the matching problems and the Chicago Trading Company (CTC) online-assessment practice — each problem has a full worked solution.

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