The interview process at IMC was tedious - they require completion of a really easy online computation test (protip: don't be slow, but in all honestly this isn't hard), followed by a skype call where you talk about your background and why you want to do trading at IMC (people say be honest, but if you really want the job, do you really think this is the right idea? My motivation for wanting to trade was legitimate but if I told them for example I was interested in earning to give, would that be a good idea?) followed by an options question (again very simple. read an intro book on options theory. it would take 5 min to peruse through the course notes in my financial math class to learn enough material such that you could answer the question). Perhaps the most difficult part, as is always the difficult part with interviews, was the subsequent online behavioral assessment. I wouldn't say be honest at all. I think I'm quite a relatively competent human being if you want to be truthful - I donate to charity much more than my peers and I go to a top 5 school where materialism is rampant. More importantly how does one weigh on a rating scale how strong they are in one quality versus another? Remarkably silly idea and it shows why the firm is lacking in talent. The key to such a behavioral assessment is to give them what they want to hear - you're perfect for trading, but not too perfect. I'd imagine organization is less valued, say, than being methodical, creative, hardworking, and good under stress. Consistency is perhaps the most important thing in this survey, if I'm correct - several questions will probably be repeated later on so remember your responses. Hooray! That constitutes your ability to be truthful/know yourself well! /sarcasm
Because of the results of my online survey, which I should've taken more seriously, I wasn't given any more information about the interview till the day before the interview despite being told I would receive this information a week prior to my interview. I even checked in with them as politely as I could about the delay/dishonesty and they said I would receive the info in the next few days which became the day before the interview. Really speaks negatively about a firm if their dishonesty is in such plain sight.
I was significantly overqualified for the position so it's unfortunate that structural barriers prevented me from getting the offer. I'm also pretty sure the interviewer didn't like the way I looked on the day of the interview - it's something that makes you wonder if you should pursue legal action. These corporate hurdles are sadly best dealt with by experience - you will probably fail your first few interviews and that's ok it's about learning. I'd recommend you find an older friend who's jumped the hurdles before because nepotism is how these things work largely - it's a sad fact really. There are, however, a select few respectable firms that care truly about the talent that makes a good trader and that is mathematical ability as well as some ability to crunch numbers. Note that these two things are different. If you want to work at JSC, go play poker and bet on silly things - this is how the people at my school get into trading at the top couple firms, namely JSC and Five Rings. QR is much more interesting and a different story entirely.
I'm happy to have gotten an offer from a respectable hedge fund. If you're a talented mathematical student, this should be cake as long as you know beforehand what hurdles to expect, but I'd steer clear of this place if you have offers from more respectable places. Good luck!