Vito joined VivCourt as a trading intern in December 2023, then became a graduate trader the following year. He now trades quantitative systematic strategies across global markets. A Data Science graduate from the University of Melbourne, Vito shares what first drew him to trading, the skills that helped him succeed, and his insights into the internship program that kicked off his journey.
What is your role at VivCourt? I participated in the 2023/24 Summer Trading Internship and just started the 2024 Graduate Trader program!
What sparked your interest in trading? Many of my hobbies had skills that applied to trading, including poker, chess, and sports betting; they shared a commonality of requiring strategic thinking to find a competitive edge. After a friend told me about trading at university, I read into it more and never looked back. The idea of applying the analytical and quantitative skills I had developed in a real-world environment was incredibly captivating.
Is a non-finance background a barrier to entering trading? I wouldn’t say so. VivCourt will teach you all the financial knowledge you need. However, a genuine interest in economics and financial markets is still ideal, as my curiosity drove me to learn and understand trading concepts more deeply.
Any tips for acing the internship interview? Nowadays, you can find countless resources online. I recommend brushing up on probability and statistics; these are the backbone of the technical questions. Focus on how you approach problems rather than simply getting them correct.
How did your skills develop throughout the program? At the start of the internship, there was a lot of focus on theory, which helped establish trading fundamentals. As we participated in market-making games, projects, and trading simulations, we really honed our quantitive skills and understood how they could be applied practically.
What is your favourite part about being at VivCourt? The culture. It’s a unique environment where everyone you work with is incredibly bright, and you learn interesting things daily – whether it be about work, general trivia or a niche hobby someone has. There’s little bureaucracy here, and seniors are always happy for you to pick their brains over a coffee.
Advice for students seeking trading internships? Joining a trading/quant club at university is incredibly beneficial. It helps you connect with like-minded people looking to break into the industry. Firms will also often run events that help you learn more about the industry and what they look for.
