Pros: Pay and benefits are top-notch, with bonuses very good compared to a lot of software jobs. The building is amazing. Snacks are okay (but they get you fat). Free entry into NY museums and cultural events. A lot of very smart people, and the work will definitely keep you busy. You get code into production fast compared to many software jobs, where the turn-around on a project might be months to years. At Bloomberg, many projects last weeks.

Cons: Technology is extremely proprietary. You're not working with open-source technology, or even Microsoft tools. You're working with Bloomberg-specific technologies, many of which date back to hacky solutions from the early 80s. A lot of the new stuff is poorly documented and in a constant state of flux. I often am jealous of my friends who get to work with more interesting technology, even though I'm better compensated. The management is a bit lacking. The structure is very loose (which can be a good thing), but sometimes things feel disorganized. They don't employ any software methodologies or processes, so even though they use rapid development, projects are poorly organized and lack planning and testing. This also can make projects more stressful than they need to be.

Pros: Fast-paced work; dull moments are rare. But that's because... (see "Cons").

Cons: Bad programmers abound. The emphasis is on rolling out software that's quickly written and does its job, with no concern for software standards. I'm amazed how much untested software is rolled out to customers every week. Customers are used for testing. Very political atmosphere. Top management encourages competition between different teams, resulting in a vitiated atmosphere. Company has grown very big and is dragged in different directions. Core product ("The Terminal") has hit a plateau, and things will be difficult unless radical innovations happen.

Pros: Compared to other Computer Science job opportunities in New York City and elsewhere in the field, Bloomberg offers some pretty attractive packages. The benefits are great, the workplace is vibrant, and most coworkers are competent.

Cons: The biggest downside is that the company is divorced from Silicon Valley and its ways, making it hard for former Bloomberg employees to return to greener pastures. The projects are effectively managed by the sales organization, which is eager to please the customers. This often results in making impossible promises, rushing projects, and asking for shortcuts left and right. As a result, the code is chaotic and archaic, and in bad need of huge rewrites and lots more testing. Some of the projects are ill-conceived from the start. Several projects in my team that took months to develop received little or no use from customers. The salesperson that asked for the feature, having signed up the client, has no interest in pushing your product. Your experience varies significantly depending on who your immediate manager is. It may vary as far as the flexibility of your workday. Some managers expect you to be at work no later than 9:00, and some others recognize that the flexibility to choose, within reason, what time you come to work in the morning will affect your output.