Prosperity launched in 2023 to build our brand awareness and attract the world's top talent. It created a huge splash with STEM university students worldwide, with 11,568 sign ups. Graduate Trader Kevin Martin is one of them.

Kevin first heard about Prosperity through a friend at university and was instantly captivated by the concept. “I still remember the opening tune, it was so fun and catchy!” he says.

“I teamed up with two of my university friends to complete the challenge together. We made a good team, and if one of us had a uni assignment due, the other two would take over,” he explains. “Looking back, this kind of collaboration set me up for a job at IMC. Collaboration is so important here – bouncing ideas off each other and sharing feedback is part of the IMC culture.”

While participants are expected to have some basic Python skills, the challenge is designed to be a learning experience. “I had done some Python at uni, but only small modules. There was quite a bit of learning during the algorithmic challenge, which was a long program with lots of moving parts, but it was fun to do as a team,” says Kevin.

“When approaching the algo challenge, we were brainstorming about machine learning or some very complex algorithm, but in the end, we used something pretty simple. That’s also something that the Mumbai office tends to emulate: simple is better. You can always add more complex features later, but get the foundation right first.”

Kevin’s team finished in sixth place at the end of the final round. Having got a good taste of what trading is all about, he was keen to join IMC. “I had an offer from another company, but I saw an opening at IMC Mumbai,” he recalls. “I also received an email from Prosperity encouraging me to apply after the challenge, and that prompted me to give it a shot. I really liked the office, the interviews were fun, and long story short – here I am!”

Since joining as a Graduate Trader, Kevin has enjoyed the company culture. “I love that it’s so fast-paced. You can think of something and make it happen in a day,” he says. “I also like the international environment, with people from other offices bringing their unique backgrounds.”

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