Cool Companies To Work For #3: Optiver

Feb 4, 2014

At HSC CoWorks our coaches continually stretch and challenge our students, not just providing HSC Tuition, but preparing students for success after the HSC. We actively encourage students to look ahead not just to University but also to their dream career within an inspiring and leading Company.ย Having this type of long term vision is not only encouraging but is one of the most successful tools our students can use in order to push themselves out of their comfort zone towards a great HSC result.

If you are interested in financial markets or information technology or even better a position at Optiver could be your dream job.

Optiver are a Dutch market making business with offices across the globe including Australia. What does a market maker do? They provide liquidity and depth in financial markets to ensure that investors are always able to trade in financial derivative products (options and futures). Think lots of spreadsheets, lots of computer screens (like 6 to 8 per trader), phones ringing and when the market is open(10am to 4pm) a turbo charged atmosphere.

optiver

From the Optiver Website:ย Here’s how market making works: a market maker provides a bid and an ask price to the market. The bid price is the price at which the market maker would buy, and the ask price is the price at which the market maker would sell. Pretty straightforward, really!

Market makers are happy to get a hit on either side of their quote, but the ideal result is a hit on our bid and ask price, resulting in a zero position. The profit left over will be the width of the spread he/she has quoted.ย 

The Sydney office has 160 personnel including one IT professional for every trader. Employee benefits include:

  • Free gym membership
  • Weekly massages
  • Games room(Table tennis – Yes!)
  • Annual team building trip to places like Thredbo and Hamilton Island
  • Plus more

If I were 23 or 24 again with an IT or Finance based major I would love to be accepting a job at Optiver.

Cool company to work for # 1: AirBNB

Cool company to work for #2: Nous Group

“Let’s Talk About the HSC”

The ultimate podcast for students and parents navigating the journey of the HSC. Presented by HSC CoWorks, each episode dives into the challenges and triumphs of the HSC experience, offering expert advice, study tips, and insights into achieving academic success.

Whether you’re preparing for exams, managing stress, or looking for ways to stay motivated, this podcast is your go-to guide for all things HSC. Join us as we chat with educators, students, and professionals to help you thrive during this important academic milestone!

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Got questions about the HSC? So did everyone last night on our Instagram LIVE episode.
We covered:
โ†’ What itโ€™s really like to move interstate for uni
โ†’ How to start preparing for Trials from now
โ†’ Why daily revision changes everything
โ†’ Balancing study with sport, social life + everything else
โ†’ How much Year 11 actually matters for Year 12
โ†’ Building habits that actually work for you
Real answers and practical strategies you can start using straight away. 
๐Ÿ‘€Watch the replay #linkinbio and take what you need because the students who feel โ€œin controlโ€ during the HSC arenโ€™t guessingโ€ฆ they have a plan.
#HSC #HSC2026 #StudyTips #StudentLife ATAR ExamPrep PostHSC
TOP 3 TIPS // LINK IN BIO
The April school holidays are one of the most underrated opportunities in the HSC journey andย what students do in this window can dramatically reduce pressure later in the year.
For many students, Term 2 is where things start to accelerate. Assessments continue. Content moves quickly. And suddenly, thereโ€™s very little time to catch up.
The students who use these holidays well donโ€™t just โ€œget aheadโ€. They build confidence, reduce stress, and put themselves in control of the term ahead!!
The April holidays are where momentum is built.
Most students slow down. The top students get ahead.
Our April Study Bootcamp is designed to help students:
โญ๏ธBuild exam-ready responses
โญ๏ธStrengthen key subjects (especially English)
โญ๏ธDevelop real study systems and habits
โญ๏ธWalk into Term 2 confident and prepared
5 days. No distractions. Just focused, structured training.
P.S. No phones. No wasted time. Just progress.
Got questions about the HSC?
Weโ€™re going LIVE this Thursday to answer them.
From essays and quotesโ€ฆ To study balance, trials prep, and everything in between!
Join our Head Performance Coach + team as we break it down and give you real, practical strategies you can actually use.
๐Ÿ“… Thursday, April 9
โฐ 6PM
P.S. Bring your questions and weโ€™ll answer them live.
๐Ÿšจ MARCH RAFFLE โ€“ FINAL DAYS TO WIN A $75 WESTFIELD VOUCHER ๐Ÿšจ
Every rep = a shot to win.
Upload a Mind Map โ†’ ๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ 1 entry
Submit a Challenge Question โ†’ ๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ 1 entry
The more you submitโ€ฆ the more chances you have. Simple.
But hereโ€™s the real win ๐Ÿ‘‡
Every submission = feedback
Every feedback = chance for improvement
๐ŸŽฏ Practice. Submit. Win.