I'm new grad and will join Bloomberg soon. And my passion lies in both tech/software/data and finance. However I've heard a lot that only infrastructure teams are strong in tech, while those finance apps team are super weak. If this is true, I'm worried that my tech and coding skills will be ruined two years later if joining such finance-focusing teams. So any recommendation of teams that are strong in both tech and finance? Or finance teams not-bad at tech? And in terms of long-term career development as tech(dev, quant) in financial industry, it's tech or finance or both that matter the most and will make us stand out? Thanks and appreciate any suggestion.
You have heard correct, but on infra teams it would remake you forever to push any code, so your best bet might be to find one of the few odd app teams that have great tech. On the other hand, it’s very likely that you would get paid more and get bigger raises on an infra team. Also, in infra your TL will be very strong technically as opposed to all incompetent buffoons on app teams.
Thanks lot. This is quite abundance info! 1. Sounds like infra teams are too pushy? 2. What old apps team that has not-too-bad tech? PORT? AIM? 3. Is the tech at those finance apps teams so shitty to the degree that will disqualify me to jump to like two sigma or Microsoft two years later? As long as it’s not that shitty, I could accept, because learning a ton of finance is equally exciting to me. Thanks!
Why do people get paid more on infra teams? Does this also apply to new grads/new hires with not much experience?
Irrespective of which team you join, being a fresher, you will have few things to learn at Bloomberg. While you learn and contribute, chart your path. LC everyday and GTFO, if you want to try out non-Bloomberg environment. Even if you want to switch to another team in Bloomberg, depending on the team, you will need to go through coding + other rounds of interview process. By far, best WLB and benefits you can get on Wall Street.
Thanks! Any recommendation for the teams on trading and analytics side?
If you have strong inclination in finance two sigma in NYC is true place to work for. Get a PhD in ML.
Is that the only way to get into Two Sigma?
That is one of the easiest way to get into main stream core finance or any product based work. I worked in Bloomberg and it was the worst company I worked for. Incompetent engineers. Shitty gaint monolithic code base. I learnt a lot about trading and Ml in my free time than I did for 2 years in that company. The only good thing about Bloomberg is the view and predictability with your career (they don’t fire you in recession) Also you are not allowed to trade.