Axxela - Trainee Analyst : Rishabh Singh shares tips and tricks - MAS & IIT Alumni

Business-focused summary (strategy, processes, execution)

Job-role fit & selection readiness

• Trading-profile roles favor real market interest: Rishabh emphasizes that candidates applying for trading-profile work should genuinely be interested in market activity—not those expecting a “coding/SQL/Python only” profile.
• Validate role reality upfront: He advises candidates to confirm the actual workload and daily attendance expectations before committing.

Selection process as a “performance playbook”

• 3-round pipeline with increasing emphasis:
  • Math/aptitude → trading simulation → market understanding via conversation.
• Staged filtering:
  • From an initial pool of ~500, about 160 progressed to Round 2.

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Round breakdown

Round 1: speed + aptitude fundamentals

• Speed Mathematics written test
  • 36 questions in 6 minutes (speed math + aptitude + general topics)
  • Aptitude: 20 questions in 25 minutes
  • General: time-boxed to ~5 minutes
• What it implies
  • Preparation must optimize time-to-solution and improve test stamina.

Round 2: trading-game simulation with P&L optimization

• Group simulation
  • 10 groups, each with a team of ~10 students
• Objective
  • Maximize P&L through buying low / selling high
• Observed outcomes (at his time)
  • His team: ~2400 P&L (highest at that point)
  • Second-highest: ~800 P&L
• What it implies
  • The simulation rewards rapid decision-making and basic trading logic under constraints.

Round 3: market/instruments interview (conversational)

• Duration
  • Interview typically 10–15 minutes; his went to ~35 minutes
• Topics
  • How the US market works
  • How global issues impact stocks (linked to Indian stocks)
  • Interest rate mechanics: repo rate and related concepts
  • How to read the economic calendar and apply it practically
• What it implies
  • Strong candidates can connect macro events → rates → market/stock impacts in a clear narrative.

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Frameworks / playbooks / processes highlighted

Fundamental + Technical analysis pathway

• Begin with fundamental analysis of Indian stocks (he did 140+ stocks deeply).
• Move into technical analysis (still learning, but described as broad yet powerful).

News/macro translation playbook

• Use the economic calendar + news to interpret how events affect:
  • Interest rates (e.g., Fed/RBI-related meetings)
  • Economic data releases
  • Ultimately, stock movement

Selection preparation process

• Resume feedback loop
  • Received feedback on what to improve.
  • Scheduled 3 mock interviews with MAS alumni:
    • 2 were resume-focused review.
• Test-skill training
  • Used the MAS course for speed mathematics + aptitude practice.

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Key metrics / KPIs and targets mentioned

Selection funnel

• 500 initial candidates
• 160 selected after Round 1
• 62 selected for interview after Round 2

Trading simulation performance

• Highest P&L observed at his time: ~2400
• Second-highest: ~800

Practice/time expectations

• Role includes 10–11 hours of office time
• Typical workday: 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM

Fundamental analysis scope

• Deep fundamental analysis of 140+ Indian stocks

Test structure (Round 1)

• Speed math: 36 questions in 6 minutes
• Aptitude: 20 questions in 25 minutes
• General: time-boxed to 5 minutes

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Concrete examples / actionable recommendations

Know the role reality before committing

• He warns many candidates become disinterested after 4–6 months if they weren’t prepared for the long daily schedule.

Prepare for the actual interview content

• Don’t assume it’s purely programming/coding (SQL/Python).
• Expect market reasoning:
  • US → global → India
  • Rates and economic calendar literacy

Study plan for trading-profile readiness

• Step 1: Fundamental analysis of Indian stocks
• Step 2: Technical analysis training (he references F&O / futures-options and also mentions crypto terminology)
• Step 3: Consistent practice interpreting economic calendar/news:
  • analyze how meetings, rate changes, and data releases shift stock expectations

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High-level investing/markets note (execution emphasis)

• This content focuses on market-entry preparation, not on investing-return outcomes.
• Core emphasis is on how to interpret macro events (Fed/RBI, rates, economic calendar) and translate them into stock impact reasoning—the same kind of thinking that supports trading performance and interview evaluation.

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Presenters / sources

• Presenter / interviewer: “ma’am” (name not provided in subtitles)
• Interviewee (source): Rishabh Singh (Axxela / Trainee Analyst; MAS & IIT Alumni)