Pros: Have a chance to code financial applications. Big company opportunity to learn.

Cons: legacy technology, company unique technology

Pros: Bloomberg has the best working environment in the financial industry. It has a pantry in all buildings; the desk is large and the light is bright. It offers relatively flexible hours and a policy for working from home.

Cons: Relatively old technologies (improving quickly). Legacy stuff (same for most old companies in the financial industry). Laid back (some people have been in the company for many years).

Pros: The company seems to take reasonably good care of you, with a good compensation package and benefits, and a bright, lively working environment. There is a lot of expertise around to learn from if your objective is to develop an understanding of financial markets. The work is fast-paced, and you will seldom find yourself bogged down in your job. The ability to handle pressure and look at problems from a business perspective is valued. Good kitchens.

Cons: The codebase is old and can be frustrating at times. Core technical people who want to develop their technical skill set will be put off by the demand to get the solution out to customers, often sacrificing quality. If you're in a team that works on legacy products rather than new ones, the skills you pick up will be in proprietary tech that is not transferable. The flat hierarchy (3 levels from a new, fresh-from-college hire to the head of R&D) may not leave room for advancement that you can show on your resume.