Every summer, Wincent welcomes a select group of interns into its Quant Internship program. We sat down with Michaela Hubackova, the recruiter responsible for the internship, to hear her take on the process, the students, and what’s ahead.

How many candidates applied for the internship?

Michaela: We had close to 5,000 applicants. It’s a huge pool, and it shows how much interest there is in quantitative trading and research.

How many were ultimately selected?

Michaela: Out of those thousands, only 15 were chosen. One declined, so 14 joined us for the program.

What kind of work did the interns do?

Michaela: Each day started with morning betting games, which are designed to train quick thinking and intuition. They also had discussions on trading-related topics, worked on practical exercises that mirrored real quant and trading tasks, and had the chance to pursue their own ideas with guidance from our team. We also made sure there was time for fun — games, team activities, and social events outside of work.

Foto: Lenka Kandrava (2025)

Was it all work, or was there time for fun as well?

Michaela: Definitely both. The program is intense, but we want interns to build friendships and enjoy their time in Bratislava too. We had dinners, games, and even off-site activities like paintball and karaoke.

Did some interns receive return offers?

Michaela: Yes, several did. We extended offers to join either our trading or quantitative research teams full-time after graduation. I’d rather not give an exact number, but I can say that outstanding interns definitely have a path to stay on with us.

What surprised you most about this group?

Michaela: Their energy. They came in with different backgrounds — math, programming, statistics — and they were all eager to dive in. The level of curiosity and resilience stood out.

How competitive was this year compared to the past?

Michaela: It was much bigger. In the past, internships were handled more informally. This was the first time we structured it at scale and took in 15 people. That made it more competitive than ever.

What skills should applicants focus on before applying?

Michaela: The interview process is all about problem solving, probability, statistics, intuition, and common sense. If you want to stand out, work on sharpening those skills. Programming helps, but what matters most is how you think.

What advice would you give students preparing to apply next year?

Michaela: Be curious, and don’t just memorize formulas. Practice explaining your reasoning out loud. And make sure you really want to learn — that passion shows in interviews.

Interested in joining?

The Quant Internship at Wincent is demanding, but it’s also fun and rewarding. If you’re ready to test your skills and grow fast, this might just be the place for you.