Early Careers
Everyone has to start somewhere. We have 20 years of experience in helping grads launch successful careers- so you’re in good hands.
What We Offer
Mako has multiple early career pathways for aspiring traders and technologists, including summer internships for those in their penultimate year of study and graduate programmes for those looking to start their careers. We have carefully designed all of our programmes to give participants the tools and knowledge they need to start their career journeys in the best possible way. Our internships are an opportunity to dip your toes into the complex world of options market making to see if it matches your aptitude and interest. Our graduate programmes are designed to support intelligent and driven students to take their first steps on the way to building a meaningful and engaging career in their chosen discipline.
Our six-week summer internship runs annually from July and our 18-month trader graduate programme commences in late September, as does our 12 month software developer graduate programme. All programmes open for applications in January. Please check the opportunities page for more details.
Graduate Programme for Aspiring Traders
The graduate programme will set you on a two year trajectory to becoming an options market maker. We have developed and iterated the structure over time to complement the changing face of the industry; it is fully immersive and can be a spring board to success for motivated candidates. We have run the programme for over 20 years and a significant number of our senior traders laid the foundations of their journey with its support.
Programme Highlights
Your journey starts with a two week intensive learning programme
You will then explore different strategies through a 10 week rotation
We will then assign you to a desk that fits your demonstrated aptitude
Graduate Programme for Software Developers
Our newly launched graduate programme for software developers will put you straight to work making an impact on projects directly tied to Mako’s revenue. For 1 year, you will be a part of a structured program that will include rotations through our software teams as well as more formal classroom training. During this time you will also be assigned a mentor and, following an initial training period, have the opportunity to work on meaningful tasks that plug directly into our trading system. The aim of the programme is not only to grow your software skills, but also to give you a broader understanding of our business and how you impact it as part of the development team.
Programme Highlights
Training
Mentorship
Team Rotations
Application Process
Internship Programme
The internship provides an introduction to what it takes to become a trader or technologist in one of the most complex markets. You'll get a taste of options theory, price discovery and financial modelling. You will also be introduced to the technical side of what we do by learning about coding, data analysis and systems engineering to name a few. Successful interns have a direct path to the graduate programmes.
Progamme Highlights
Trading
Technology
Entry Requirements
Recommended Reading
Mako recommends the following titles. Our reading list is valuable for new joiners and seasoned professionals alike.
Option Volatility and Pricing: Advanced Trading Strategies and Techniques
By Sheldon Natenberg
Equity Markets in Action: The Fundamentals of Liquidity, Market Structure & Trading
By Robert A. Schwartz
