Bloomberg Software Engineer reviews

Lots of the codebase is pretty antiquated - Fortran code, old 1000 line C functions from the 1980s etc. Lots of proprietary stuff you have to learn that isn't transferrable, so you run the risk of getting a bit institutionalised. Also, Bloomberg often unnecssarily has it's own little version of something (file I/O libraries etc). Senior management have their head in the clouds & are fairly political - many have been since the dawn of time and have an outdated view of how the company works, and they will push through initiatives that they have 'sold' to their superiors even if they just don't make sense at ground level. One of those companies (and there are many) that sell themselves to applicants as having a 'flat' structure, when what this actually means is that hardly anyone ever gets moved up. There is also lots of bureaucracy and a culture of micro-management - every working hour must be ticketed, accounted for etc.

If you get bullied and you complain it is YOU that will be written up or fired. If you get a good team you will have a lot of fun, if not you will hate it. Often, your team leader is inexperienced and will see you as a threat. Incredibly long hours , party due the archaic technology. The programmer gets the blame and the manager takes the credit. Never, ever, ever complain to HR. Once you have a target on your head you will be forced out. You will see this happening to others.