Pros: Decent training, good name on resume, good introduction.

Cons: Poor culture, work is not intellectually stimulating, and some of the code is very old.

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: Since the products that the teams develop are entirely client/customer based, you will be involved in the entire software development life cycle process. Teams are switching over to new technology (that's a very good sign). The entire company is transparent. You know what different teams are working on, and the developers are easy to approach.

Cons: Although the company has a great volunteering program, there are not many employee networking events. A better software rollout process is needed.