Futures First, part of the Hertshten Group, is a leading proprietary trading and market research organization focused on global derivatives markets. With over two decades of operations in India and a footprint across five offices-Gurgaon, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Jaipur-the firm is known for its rigorous training, data-driven decision-making, and performance culture. Its teams engage with some of the world’s most liquid futures products, leveraging advanced trading technologies to uncover opportunities and manage risk with discipline.
This comprehensive guide provides essential insights into the Financial Market Intern (with PPO possibility) at Futures First (Hertshten Group), covering required skills, responsibilities, interview questions, and preparation strategies to help aspiring candidates succeed.
1. About the Financial Market Intern (with PPO possibility) Role
As a Financial Market Intern in Kolkata, you will be immersed in the dynamics of global derivatives markets through hands-on simulations. Interns learn to analyze financial news and real-time data to gauge sentiment, identify market patterns, and formulate testable trading hypotheses. You will work with best-in-class trading technologies, strengthen fundamentals in technical and fundamental analysis, and develop strategy execution discipline in a controlled, simulated environment. The internship runs 4–6 months with a stipend of ₹40,000 per month and includes continuous mentoring, evaluation, and structured training.
Within the firm’s high-performance trading ecosystem, this role sits at the entry point of the research and trading pipeline-bridging foundational learning with practical experimentation. It is designed to build analytical rigor, decision-making under uncertainty, and attention to detail-capabilities that are core to Futures First’s derivatives trading operations. Top performers may receive a Pre-Placement Offer (PPO), transitioning to full-time roles and contributing directly to strategy development and execution across global exchanges.
2. Required Skills and Qualifications
Candidates should demonstrate strong analytical and quantitative aptitude, a genuine interest in financial markets and derivatives trading, the ability to interpret financial news and data, and a proactive, fast-learning mindset. Attention to detail, sound problem-solving, and decision-making under simulated market conditions are essential. While the internship emphasizes skills and potential, a track record of disciplined learning and research orientation will help you succeed.
Key Competencies
- Analytical & Pattern Recognition: Strong ability to identify patterns in market data and conduct unique research to develop new trading strategies.
- Strategic Thinking & Execution: Capacity to develop and execute new strategies in simulated market environments.
- Financial Analysis & Assimilation: Skill in analyzing and assimilating financial news and data to determine market sentiments.
- Learning Agility & Problem-Solving: A quick learner with strong problem-solving skills, capable of understanding complex derivatives markets and applying technical/fundamental analysis.
- Aptitude for Financial Markets: Demonstrated high aptitude, as evidenced by success in online testing and interview processes.
Technical Skills
- Financial Derivatives Knowledge: Understanding of or strong interest in the world's most active financial derivatives and futures markets.
- Trading Technology: Aptitude for using best-in-class technologies and platforms for market analysis and simulated trading.
- Market Analysis Techniques: Foundational knowledge or ability to quickly learn the basics of technical and fundamental analysis.
3. Day-to-Day Responsibilities
Your routine will blend structured learning with hands-on simulation. Expect to monitor global futures markets, analyze news and data for sentiment, research patterns, and translate insights into hypothesis-led strategies.
You will engage with training modules on derivatives, practice execution discipline in a controlled setup, and iterate on strategies based on feedback and performance tracking. Continuous mentoring and evaluation will guide your progress toward a potential PPO.
- Participate in financial derivatives markets training to build an understanding of the world's most liquid and active futures products using best-in-class technologies.
- Learn to identify market patterns, conduct unique research, and develop and execute new trading strategies in simulated market environments.
- Analyze and assimilate financial news and data to determine market sentiment and inform trading decisions.
- Learn the fundamentals of technical and fundamental analysis to support decision-making processes in financial markets.
4. Key Competencies for Success
Beyond baseline aptitude, high performers pair curiosity with evidence-based rigor, stay disciplined under pressure, and iterate quickly from feedback. The competencies below reflect what drives progress in a fast, data-heavy trading simulation environment and align with the internship’s training-and-evaluation model.
- Hypothesis-Driven Thinking: Framing market views as testable hypotheses with clear entry, exit, and validation criteria.
- Information Synthesis: Rapidly converting news and data into actionable sentiment without overreacting to noise.
- Execution Discipline: Following predefined rules and risk parameters consistently in simulations.
- Iterative Learning: Using logs, reviews, and mentor feedback to refine strategies and avoid repeating errors.
- Composure Under Uncertainty: Staying objective during volatility and sticking to evidence over emotion.
5. Common Interview Questions
This section provides a selection of common interview questions to help candidates prepare effectively for their Financial Market Intern (with PPO possibility) interview at Futures First (Hertshten Group).
Show a clear narrative linking your analytical strengths, projects or courses, and genuine curiosity about futures markets.
Refer to its focus on global derivatives, structured training, performance culture, and offices in India.
Use a STAR example highlighting learning agility and outcome.
Mention a consistent information routine and how you synthesize signals from news and data.
Emphasize reflection, iteration, and measurable improvement.
Explain a method for prioritization, checklists, and rule-based actions.
Connect discipline to predefined rules, risk limits, and documentation.
Show openness to feedback and tangible changes implemented.
Discuss checklists, data validation, and post-analysis to reduce bias.
Align with the PPO pathway and growth in research/trading responsibilities.
Prepare concise STAR stories that demonstrate learning agility, discipline, and analytical rigor.
Define standardized contracts, initial/maintenance margin, and how leverage magnifies P&L.
Discuss execution quality, slippage, spread costs, and risk sizing.
Describe inputs, entry/exit rules, risk limits, and metrics to evaluate.
Outline baseline scenario, alternative outcomes, and validation triggers.
Define term structure effects and implications for roll decisions.
Position sizing, max loss per session, stop rules, and drawdown halts.
Use out-of-sample tests, sensitivity checks, and clear assumptions.
Connect source reliability, timing, and reaction functions to execution.
Clarify signal hierarchy, conflict resolution, and decision rules.
Limit parameters, prefer simple rules, and validate with forward simulation.
Anchor your answers to clear definitions, simple examples, and measurable evaluation criteria.
Formulate a hypothesis, define rules, test in simulation, and document results.
Pause, review logs, diagnose drivers, reduce risk, and iterate rules.
Use a pre-set hierarchy and only act when validation criteria align.
Reassess risk, tighten stops, reduce size, or stand aside per playbook.
Capture setup quality, rule adherence, outcomes, and improvement actions.
Test both views objectively and let data guide your iteration.
Define regime filters and adapt position sizing or switch strategies.
Use a checklist: key times, instruments, scenarios, and risk caps.
Review liquidity windows, entry methods, and limit/market order usage.
Risk of overfitting-prefer simpler models and forward validation.
Always translate situations into rules, tests, and documented learning-then iterate.
Highlight metrics, methodology, and lessons relevant to market analysis.
Connect specific skills-statistics, data analysis, or market research-to the role.
Explain cleaning steps, assumptions, and validation approach.
Plan: onboarding, tools, learning modules, and small simulation milestones.
Choose liquid futures with clear catalysts and well-documented behavior.
Provide a concrete example tied to accuracy and outcome quality.
Logs, dashboards, and periodic reviews aligned with goals.
Hypothesis, data, rules, results, risks, and next steps.
Emphasize long-term commitment, ownership, and continuous improvement.
Be transparent and show willingness to align with market schedules.
Tailor every answer to demonstrate fit for a research-and-simulation-heavy trading environment.
6. Common Topics and Areas of Focus for Interview Preparation
To excel in your Financial Market Intern (with PPO possibility) role at Futures First (Hertshten Group), it’s essential to focus on the following areas. These topics highlight the key responsibilities and expectations, preparing you to discuss your skills and experiences in a way that aligns with Futures First (Hertshten Group) objectives.
- Derivatives and Futures Fundamentals: Review contract specifications, margin, leverage, liquidity, and volatility-core to trading liquid futures products.
- Technical and Fundamental Analysis Basics: Study chart patterns, trend and momentum indicators, plus macro/news interpretation to build sentiment-driven hypotheses.
- Strategy Design and Evaluation: Practice framing entry/exit rules, risk controls, and documenting results; understand robustness checks and iteration.
- Market News Workflow: Build a routine to filter relevant headlines and data releases, and translate them into actionable scenarios.
- Risk and Decision-Making: Learn position sizing, stop rules, and drawdown management to preserve discipline in simulated environments.
7. Perks and Benefits of Working at Futures First (Hertshten Group)
Futures First (Hertshten Group) offers a comprehensive package of benefits to support the well-being, professional growth, and satisfaction of its employees. Here are some of the key perks you can expect
- Structured Training in Derivatives: Formal learning modules and mentoring focused on global futures markets and trading technologies.
- Hands-on Simulation Exposure: Practical, controlled environment to test strategies, receive feedback, and build execution discipline.
- Stipend Support: ₹40,000 per month during the 4–6 month internship in Kolkata.
- Certification: Internship completion certificate awarded by Futures First.
- PPO Opportunity: Top performers can receive a Pre-Placement Offer to transition into a full-time role.
8. Conclusion
Futures First (Hertshten Group) offers a rigorous pathway into global derivatives through a structured, simulation-led internship. Success hinges on analytical rigor, disciplined decision-making, and the ability to translate news and data into testable strategies. Focus your preparation on derivatives fundamentals, market-sentiment analysis, and rule-based strategy design.
Use logs, reviews, and feedback to iterate quickly-mirroring how performance is evaluated during the internship. With a competitive stipend, certification, and a clear PPO pathway for top performers, the role is a strong launchpad for markets-focused careers. Thorough, practice-driven preparation will help you stand out.
Tips for Interview Success:
- Lead with Evidence: Back every claim (skills, interest, impact) with specific examples, metrics, or projects.
- Think in Rules: When asked market questions, frame answers as hypotheses with clear entry/exit and risk limits.
- Demonstrate Market Routine: Share a concise daily workflow for news, data, and review to show discipline.
- Show Iteration: Discuss how you learn from mistakes using logs and mentor feedback to improve strategies.