Pros
I was an intern at Grasshopper for a year. Coming into the company without expectations, I was pleasantly surprised at how different it felt to work at Grasshopper, compared to the large corporations where I have also previously interned at. The workplace exudes warmth and fun and yet it is not all fun and games (though it did have a lot of games in the office: FIFA, pool, Wii, dartboard and foosball). Apart from striving to be expert at their games, they were equally, if not more remarkable in their professions—trading and developing. Observing them at both gaming and working, I attribute their excellence in both fields to their capacity and speed of correcting mistakes, learning from them, and then owning them!
Yet, for all their talents and intelligence, humility remains one of the key traits of all Grasshoppers. For instance, they never made me feel small just because I am at the bottom of the food chain—an intern. On the various projects I embarked on, I was given full reign with the support of top management and senior traders who were willing to listen to my ideas and quick to mentor in times of challenges. Every good effort put in will never go unnoticed and would always be fairly rewarded. It is this kind of appreciation shown that helps motivate employees to strive even harder not just for themselves, but also for the company. This fervor, coupled with the management’s ability to adapt and evolve with the ever-changing landscape of electronic trading, has been the key driver of Grasshopper’s stellar and persisting progress.
Clearly, Grasshopper is a positive breeding ground for growth—both personally and professionally. I am glad to have had this opportunity to be part of a supportive, collegial and passionate work culture that helps breed success. It was enlightening how such positivity in the workplace could be such a powerful source of motivation and strength in times of challenges.
Cons
Not much downside to write about, probably just more healthy snacks in the pantry please!