How to Apply to Nasdaq, Inc.

11 min read Last updated April 20, 2026 40 open positions
Blake Crosley
Blake Crosley Researched using publicly available information, hiring data, and ATS analysis.

Key Takeaways

  • Nasdaq is a technology company first, not just a stock exchange. While the Nasdaq Stock Exchange is its most visible brand, roughly 75-80% of revenue comes from recurring software and subscription services across market technology, index licensing, data analytics, and anti-financial crime solutions. Understanding this distinction is critical for interviews.
  • Workday powers Nasdaq's careers portal at nasdaq.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com. Format your resume with standard section headers, avoid tables and multi-column layouts, and upload as PDF. After submission, verify that Workday correctly parsed your work history, dates, education, and skills before finalizing your application.
  • The interview process is multi-stage and technically rigorous. Expect a recruiter phone screen, a proctored online coding assessment (potentially spanning SQL, algorithms, and frontend frameworks like Vue.js), 2-3 technical interviews, and a final panel. The entire process typically takes 4-8 weeks from application to offer.
  • Nasdaq operates three distinct business divisions — Market Platforms, Capital Access Platforms, and Anti-Financial Crime (Verafin). Research the specific division you're applying to and articulate why that area interests you. Generic enthusiasm for 'Nasdaq' without division-level knowledge is a missed opportunity.
  • The compensation package is competitive and includes base salary, annual performance bonus, RSU equity grants, a 6% 401(k) match (US employees), comprehensive health and dental coverage, tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, parental leave, fertility assistance, paid volunteer days, and flexible work arrangements.
  • Nasdaq's culture centers on four People Promise pillars: Unparalleled Support, Work That Shapes Tomorrow, Expanding Access and Opportunity, and Making a Change for Good. Behavioral interview questions map directly to these pillars — prepare specific examples that demonstrate alignment with each.
  • The Anti-Financial Crime division (Verafin) is a major growth engine and hiring center. Verafin serves 2,750+ financial institutions and recently launched Agentic AI for AML compliance. If you have experience in fraud detection, machine learning, compliance technology, or financial crime prevention, this division offers significant career opportunities.
  • Global experience matters. With operations in 38 countries and 85% of employees concentrated in 8 key locations (US, Canada, Sweden, Lithuania, India, Philippines, Australia, UK), Nasdaq values candidates comfortable working across time zones and cultures. Highlight international collaboration experience in your application.
  • Always prepare thoughtful questions for your interviewers. Multiple sources confirm that Nasdaq interviewers pay attention to candidate questions as a signal of genuine interest and preparation. Have at least 2-3 specific questions ready for each interview stage that demonstrate you've researched the team and its challenges.

About Nasdaq, Inc.

Nasdaq, Inc. is a global technology company that serves as the backbone of the world's capital markets, far beyond its well-known role as the operator of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. Headquartered in New York City, Nasdaq employs approximately 9,162 people across 38 countries, with significant operations (defined as 200+ employees) in the United States, Canada, Sweden, Lithuania, India, the Philippines, Australia, and the United Kingdom. These eight locations account for over 85% of the company's total workforce. In 2024, Nasdaq generated $4.6 billion in net revenues, with roughly 75-80% coming from recurring subscription and software services rather than transaction fees. Nasdaq's business is organized into three strategic divisions. The Market Platforms division operates equities and options exchanges in the U.S. and Canada, providing the matching engines, surveillance systems, and market data infrastructure that power trillions of dollars in daily trading activity. The Capital Access Platforms division combines corporate listings services (serving over 10,000 corporate clients), data and analytics products, and the massive Nasdaq Index business — the intellectual property behind benchmarks like the Nasdaq-100 and Nasdaq Composite. The Index business alone achieved $662 billion in average ETP assets under management in Q1 2025, with $27 billion in net inflows representing a sixth consecutive record quarter. The third division, Anti-Financial Crime, is anchored by Nasdaq Verafin, acquired in 2021. Verafin provides fraud detection, anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, sanctions screening, and financial crime management technology to more than 2,750 financial institutions representing $11 trillion in collective assets. Verafin's consortium network profiles over 800 million entities and counterparties. In 2025, Nasdaq Verafin launched its Agentic AI Workforce — a suite of digital workers that automate high-volume AML compliance processes with minimal supervision — and caught over $1 billion in check fraud across the financial system. Since creating the world's first electronic stock exchange in 1971, Nasdaq has continuously reinvented itself from a pure exchange operator into a diversified financial technology powerhouse. The company's stated purpose is to advance economic progress for all, powering stronger economies, creating more equitable opportunities, and contributing to a more sustainable world. In Q1 2025, Nasdaq reported total net revenue of $1.237 billion, reflecting 11% year-over-year growth, driven by strength in Index and Financial Technology segments.

Application Process

  1. 1
    Visit Nasdaq's careers portal at nasdaq

    Visit Nasdaq's careers portal at nasdaq.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com, which is powered by Workday ATS. Nasdaq maintains multiple job sites including US_External_Career_Site and Global_External_Site. You can also access openings through nasdaq.com/about/careers, which links to the Workday portal. Browse roles by location, function, or keyword across all three business divisions: Market Platforms, Capital Access Platforms, and Anti-Financial Crime.

  2. 2
    Create a Workday account to submit your application

    Create a Workday account to submit your application. Upload your resume in PDF or Word format, and carefully review the auto-parsed fields — Workday's parser populates work history, education, and skills from your uploaded document, but you should verify accuracy before submitting. Complete all required fields including work authorization status, and consider joining Nasdaq's Talent Community for email alerts about future openings.

  3. 3
    If your profile matches the role requirements, a recruiter will contact you for

    If your profile matches the role requirements, a recruiter will contact you for an initial phone screen, typically within 2-4 weeks. This 30-45 minute conversation covers your professional background, motivation for joining Nasdaq, salary expectations, and basic qualifications. The recruiter will explain the team's focus, the role's day-to-day responsibilities, and the remaining interview timeline.

  4. 4
    Following the recruiter screen, you will enter the technical assessment phase

    Following the recruiter screen, you will enter the technical assessment phase. For engineering roles, this often begins with a proctored online coding challenge that may include multiple-choice SQL questions, data structures and algorithms problems (commonly in C#, Java, Python, or JavaScript), and frontend components (such as building a Vue.js application). Non-engineering roles may receive case studies, analytical exercises, or role-specific assessments.

  5. 5
    The next stage consists of 2-3 technical or functional interviews conducted via

    The next stage consists of 2-3 technical or functional interviews conducted via video call. These 45-60 minute sessions are led by hiring managers, senior engineers, or cross-functional stakeholders. Expect deep dives into your domain expertise, problem-solving approach, and how your experience maps to Nasdaq's technology stack and business challenges. Behavioral questions assess cultural alignment with Nasdaq's collaborative values.

  6. 6
    The final round is typically an on-site or virtual panel interview, where you me

    The final round is typically an on-site or virtual panel interview, where you meet with 3-5 team members across different levels. Sessions alternate between technical depth and behavioral/cultural fit. For engineering roles, expect hands-on coding exercises split between frontend and backend work, plus system design discussions relevant to financial markets infrastructure.

  7. 7
    After the panel, the hiring team deliberates and a decision is typically communi

    After the panel, the hiring team deliberates and a decision is typically communicated within 1-2 weeks. Offers include competitive base salary, annual performance bonus, equity grants (RSUs), a 6% 401(k) match for US employees, comprehensive health benefits, tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, and flexible work arrangements.

Resume Tips for Nasdaq, Inc.

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Lead with quantified impact using financial technology metrics

Lead with quantified impact using financial technology metrics. Instead of 'built trading system,' write 'designed low-latency order matching engine processing 2M+ messages/second with sub-100-microsecond p99 latency' or 'developed fraud detection model reducing false positives by 35% across $4B in daily transaction volume.' Nasdaq operates at massive scale — demonstrate you can think and deliver in those terms.

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Highlight experience with capital markets, regulatory compliance, or financial s

Highlight experience with capital markets, regulatory compliance, or financial services technology. Nasdaq serves exchanges, banks, asset managers, and regulators globally. Keywords like 'market surveillance,' 'AML compliance,' 'FIX protocol,' 'exchange connectivity,' 'regulatory reporting,' or 'real-time market data' signal immediate domain relevance to hiring managers.

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Structure your resume with clean, ATS-compatible formatting for Workday

Structure your resume with clean, ATS-compatible formatting for Workday. Use standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications), avoid tables, graphics, or multi-column layouts that Workday's parser may misinterpret, and upload as PDF to preserve formatting. Verify that all parsed fields — especially job titles, dates, and company names — are accurate in the Workday preview before submitting.

recommended

Mirror the specific job description's technical keywords in your skills section

Mirror the specific job description's technical keywords in your skills section. Nasdaq hires across diverse domains — low-latency systems (C++, Java, Rust), cloud infrastructure (AWS, Kubernetes), data engineering (Spark, Kafka, SQL), AI/ML, cybersecurity, and SaaS product development. Tailor your skills to match the posting's language exactly, as Workday's screening may filter on keyword matches.

recommended

Showcase experience with high-availability, mission-critical systems

Showcase experience with high-availability, mission-critical systems. Nasdaq's platforms cannot go down — they power global financial markets. Demonstrate your track record with system reliability: SLA achievements, incident response leadership, zero-downtime deployments, disaster recovery planning, or performance optimization under extreme load. Phrases like '99.999% uptime' or 'zero-downtime migration' resonate strongly.

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Include relevant certifications and continuing education

Include relevant certifications and continuing education. Financial technology certifications (CFA, FRM, Series 7/63, AWS Solutions Architect, Certified Kubernetes Administrator) and advanced degrees differentiate candidates. Nasdaq values continuous learning through its 70/20/10 development model — showing you invest in your own growth aligns with their culture.

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Demonstrate cross-functional collaboration and global team experience

Demonstrate cross-functional collaboration and global team experience. Nasdaq operates in 38 countries with a highly distributed workforce. Highlight projects where you worked across time zones, partnered with business stakeholders to translate requirements into technical solutions, or led initiatives spanning multiple teams or geographies.

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If applying to Anti-Financial Crime roles, emphasize experience with fraud detec

If applying to Anti-Financial Crime roles, emphasize experience with fraud detection, pattern recognition, behavioral analytics, or compliance technology. Mention familiarity with AML regulations (Bank Secrecy Act, EU Anti-Money Laundering Directives), suspicious activity reporting, or consortium-based data sharing — Verafin's core differentiator.

ATS System: Workday

Nasdaq uses Workday as its applicant tracking system, hosting its careers portal at nasdaq.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com. Workday is an enterprise-grade HR platform used by Fortune 500 companies for recruiting, onboarding, and talent management. The system parses uploaded resumes to auto-populate application fields and uses keyword matching to screen candidates against role requirements. Nasdaq maintains multiple Workday job sites including US_External_Career_Site for US-based positions and Global_External_Site for international roles.

  • Upload your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting through Workday's parser
  • Use standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills) that Workday recognizes
  • Avoid tables, multi-column layouts, graphics, and text boxes that may confuse the parser
  • Review all auto-populated fields after upload and correct any parsing errors before submitting
  • Mirror exact keywords from the job description in your resume — Workday filters on keyword matches
  • Create a Workday account to save application progress and track submission status
  • Apply through the correct site: US_External_Career_Site for US roles, Global_External_Site for international positions

Complete Workday Resume Guide →

Interview Culture

Nasdaq's interview process reflects its identity as a technology company operating at the intersection of finance and innovation.

The overall experience is rated positively by 93% of candidates on Comparably, with an average interview rating of 73/100. The atmosphere is professional and structured but not adversarial — interviewers are genuinely interested in understanding your capabilities and cultural fit rather than trying to trip you up. For software engineering roles, the technical bar is substantial. Coding assessments test proficiency in algorithms, data structures, and practical problem-solving. Expect questions on merge sort, binary trees, linked lists, hash maps, and dynamic programming. The proctored online challenge may span multiple languages (C#, JavaScript, Python, Java) and include SQL queries, reflecting Nasdaq's polyglot engineering environment. On-site coding exercises are practical rather than purely academic — you might build a functional application component (such as a todo list in Vue.js) or complete backend tasks involving database operations and API integration. System design questions often relate to real-world financial technology challenges: designing a real-time market data feed, building a scalable surveillance system, or architecting a fault-tolerant order management platform. Behavioral interviews at Nasdaq probe for collaborative mindset, adaptability, and alignment with the company's purpose of advancing economic progress. Common themes include how you handle ambiguity in complex projects, your approach to working with cross-functional teams, and examples of driving innovation while maintaining system reliability. Questions like 'Tell me about a time you had to balance speed with quality in a mission-critical system' or 'How do you approach making technical decisions when requirements are evolving?' are typical. Nasdaq's culture emphasizes four pillars they call People Promise: Unparalleled Support (investment in employee growth and wellbeing), Work That Shapes Tomorrow (meaningful, impactful work), Expanding Access and Opportunity (inclusion and growth pathways for all), and Making a Change for Good (social impact and sustainability). Interviewers assess whether candidates naturally embody these values. The company has 11 employee resource networks, reflecting genuine commitment to diversity — expect your interview panel to include people from diverse backgrounds and geographies. The interview process for senior and leadership roles typically includes additional conversations with directors or VPs to assess strategic thinking, people management philosophy, and vision alignment. Nasdaq values leaders who can build high-performing teams, drive operational excellence, and translate business strategy into technical execution. For roles in the Anti-Financial Crime division (Verafin), expect domain-specific questions about fraud detection methodologies, machine learning applications in compliance, or financial crime trends. Preparation tips from successful candidates include: researching Nasdaq's three business divisions so you can articulate why you want to join a specific team, understanding the company's technology transformation from exchange operator to SaaS fintech platform, and preparing 2-3 thoughtful questions for each interviewer that demonstrate genuine interest in their work. Candidates who show passion for the financial markets ecosystem and an understanding of how technology can improve market integrity consistently perform well.

What Nasdaq, Inc. Looks For

  • Strong technical foundation with practical problem-solving ability. Nasdaq values engineers who can write clean, efficient code and understand fundamental computer science concepts (algorithms, data structures, systems design) deeply enough to apply them to real-world financial technology challenges at scale.
  • Domain interest in capital markets, financial technology, or anti-financial crime. You don't need to be a finance expert, but candidates who demonstrate genuine curiosity about how markets work, why surveillance matters, or how technology can combat financial crime stand out significantly in the hiring process.
  • Experience building and operating high-availability, low-latency systems. Nasdaq's platforms are mission-critical infrastructure for the global economy — they value engineers who understand what it means to build systems that cannot fail, who think about reliability, performance, and resilience as first-class design concerns.
  • Collaborative mindset and strong communication skills. Nasdaq's global workforce spans 38 countries and 11 employee networks. They seek people who work effectively across teams, communicate complex ideas clearly, take and give feedback constructively, and contribute to an inclusive team culture.
  • Growth orientation and intellectual curiosity. Nasdaq's 70/20/10 learning philosophy (70% on-the-job, 20% coaching and mentoring, 10% formal training) signals that they invest heavily in employee development — but they expect candidates who actively seek growth opportunities and bring a continuous learning mindset.
  • Alignment with Nasdaq's purpose of advancing economic progress for all. This is not abstract corporate language — interviewers genuinely assess whether you're motivated by making capital markets more transparent, accessible, and trustworthy. Purpose-driven candidates resonate more than those focused solely on compensation.
  • Professionalism, accountability, and the ability to operate with integrity. As a company that serves regulators, exchanges, and financial institutions worldwide, Nasdaq holds its employees to high ethical standards. They look for people who take ownership of their work, follow through on commitments, and maintain trust.
  • Adaptability to a rapidly evolving technology landscape. Nasdaq is transforming from a traditional exchange into an AI-powered fintech platform. They value people who embrace change, stay current with emerging technologies (cloud, AI/ML, distributed systems), and can help drive the company's next phase of innovation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical Nasdaq interview process like for software engineers?
The process typically involves 4-5 stages: an initial recruiter phone screen (30-45 minutes covering background and motivation), a proctored online coding assessment (which may include SQL questions, data structures and algorithms problems in C#/Java/Python/JavaScript, and a frontend component like building a Vue.js application), 2-3 technical video interviews with hiring managers and senior engineers, and a final panel interview (on-site or virtual) lasting 4-6 hours. The entire process takes 4-8 weeks. Technical depth focuses on practical problem-solving, system design for financial technology, and real-world coding ability rather than purely theoretical puzzles.
What ATS does Nasdaq use, and how should I optimize my resume for it?
Nasdaq uses Workday as its applicant tracking system, with the careers portal hosted at nasdaq.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com. To optimize: use a clean, single-column format with standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills); upload as PDF to preserve formatting; avoid tables, graphics, headers/footers, and complex layouts that Workday's parser may misread; mirror keywords from the job description in your skills and experience sections; and always review the auto-populated fields after upload to correct any parsing errors before finalizing your submission.
Does Nasdaq offer remote or hybrid work arrangements?
Yes, Nasdaq offers flexible work arrangements as part of its benefits package. The company has embraced hybrid working models, with policies varying by team and location. Many roles allow a combination of office and remote work. Specific flexibility details are typically discussed during the recruiter screen and may depend on the role, team, and geographic location. Nasdaq's operations span 38 countries, so distributed work is built into the company's operating model, and many teams collaborate across time zones as standard practice.
What programming languages and technologies does Nasdaq primarily use?
Nasdaq's technology stack spans multiple languages and platforms reflecting its diverse product lines. Core languages include Java, C++, C#, Python, and JavaScript/TypeScript. Frontend development uses Vue.js. The infrastructure relies heavily on cloud platforms (AWS), containerization (Kubernetes, Docker), and streaming technologies (Kafka) for real-time market data. Database technologies include SQL-based systems and purpose-built analytics stores. The Anti-Financial Crime division (Verafin) uses advanced machine learning, behavioral analytics, and graph-based analysis. Familiarity with Linux, SQL, and distributed systems is expected across most engineering roles.
What is the compensation and benefits package at Nasdaq?
Nasdaq offers a comprehensive total rewards package called You&Q. For US employees, this includes competitive base salary, annual performance bonus, RSU equity grants, a 6% 401(k) employer match, and comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance. Additional benefits include tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, parental leave, fertility assistance, child and elder care support, paid volunteer days (with matched charitable donations), 15 days PTO in the first year with annual increases (5 days rollover), mentoring programs, leadership development courses, Udemy membership for learning, and 11 employee resource networks. Globally, benefits are tailored to local markets while maintaining consistent core offerings.
What are Nasdaq's three business divisions, and which should I apply to?
Nasdaq operates three divisions: Market Platforms (equities and options exchange operations, trading technology, market data infrastructure), Capital Access Platforms (corporate listings for 10,000+ clients, index business managing $662B in ETP AUM, data and analytics), and Anti-Financial Crime (Nasdaq Verafin for fraud detection, AML compliance, sanctions screening, serving 2,750+ financial institutions). Choose based on your expertise and interest: Market Platforms suits engineers passionate about low-latency trading systems; Capital Access Platforms fits those interested in data products, analytics, and financial indexing; Anti-Financial Crime is ideal for those with backgrounds in security, fraud detection, machine learning, or compliance technology.
Does Nasdaq hire entry-level candidates or recent graduates?
Yes, Nasdaq runs a dedicated internship program (the Nasdaq Internship Program) and hires entry-level professionals across its global offices. New graduate roles are available in software engineering, data science, product management, and business functions. Nasdaq invests heavily in early career development through its 70/20/10 learning model, mentoring programs, and leadership development courses. Entry-level candidates should emphasize strong academic foundations, relevant internship or project experience, and genuine interest in financial technology or capital markets when applying.
How does Nasdaq approach diversity and inclusion in hiring?
Nasdaq maintains 11 employee resource networks and has committed to expanding access and opportunity as one of its four People Promise pillars. The company focuses on removing barriers, broadening access, and creating an environment grounded in respect, inclusion, and shared purpose. Interview panels typically include diverse representation, and hiring processes are structured to reduce bias. Nasdaq also partners with community organizations and educational institutions to build diverse talent pipelines. The company has been recognized for its workplace culture, with 76% of employees recommending it as a place to work.
What is the work culture like at Nasdaq day-to-day?
Nasdaq employees describe a culture that is professional, collaborative, and purpose-driven. The company emphasizes innovation alongside operational rigor — you are building technology that powers global financial markets, which creates a sense of meaningful impact. Teams tend to be collaborative rather than competitive, with strong cross-functional interaction. Leadership is described as supportive, with a genuine focus on career progression. The 70/20/10 learning principle means most development happens on the job with coaching and mentoring supplementing formal training. Employee reviews highlight strong work-life balance, excellent benefits, and the opportunity to work on complex, high-impact technology challenges.
What should I research before my Nasdaq interview?
Research Nasdaq's three business divisions (Market Platforms, Capital Access Platforms, Anti-Financial Crime) and understand which one your target role falls under. Review Nasdaq's recent quarterly earnings to understand revenue drivers and growth areas. Familiarize yourself with key products like Nasdaq Verafin's Agentic AI for financial crime, the Nasdaq-100 index, and the company's market surveillance technology. Read about Nasdaq's transformation from a traditional exchange to a diversified fintech company. Understand the four People Promise pillars and prepare examples showing alignment. Finally, have 2-3 specific, researched questions ready for each interviewer — this is consistently cited as a differentiator by successful candidates.

Open Positions

Nasdaq, Inc. currently has 40 open positions.

Check Your Resume Before Applying → View 40 open positions at Nasdaq, Inc.

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