We sat down with David to find out more about Bloomberg and the application process. Hear from David himself how he got his job at Bloomberg and get some valuable tips.
What struck you most about the company?
Bloomberg is known far beyond its core solution (the terminal), including global coverage by Bloomberg News reporters and Bloomberg TV. To this day, the terminal remains a central turning point for decision-makers around the world. Bloomberg not only serves customers in the financial world, but the platform is also increasingly an important source of data for people in politics and business.
The company describes itself as a fintech and is the market leader in the segment. One of the company's focal points is its inclusive and diverse culture. There is a very special team spirit and training and further education are a central component in the Analytics & Sales area and beyond.
How did you manage to make your application stand out?
To make a good impression in your application, you should have a recognisable interest in financial and/or economic and political topics. Later on in the job, analytical thinking is an important component. However, it is not just a question of whether you are invited to an interview or not. In response to motivational questions, it should be recognisable that you enjoy familiarising yourself with new topics and are not afraid of challenges, but try to solve them with the help of analytical approaches. My social commitment in associations and working groups beyond my studies and school days set me apart from other applicants. Ultimately, languages are an advantage, as we are always looking for multilingual colleagues.
Which part of the application process was the hardest for you?
You should have already done some basic research on Bloomberg before submitting your application so that your application is convincing - this should not be neglected. In the interview process itself, analytical skills and a 'culture fit' are tested in all interviews. Therefore, professionalism combined with authenticity should always be demonstrated. For me personally, the final interviews were challenging, as the focus here was on 'culture fit', for which preparation is difficult in my eyes - my authentic demeanour and honesty were certainly a success factor here.
What are your tips for mastering difficult questions in an interview?
As mentioned above, the right answers are not necessarily expected in difficult interview questions, but rather the analytical approach is tested. It is important to approach complex issues in a structured way and to examine topics from several angles. Here it can help to draw comparisons and use a closer, simpler issue as a reference. It is also advantageous to divide the question into several segments, like a maths equation, in order to work out the solution piece by piece.
Have you received any tips in the past that helped you with your application?
In many forums you can read that honesty and authenticity are very important - which I can confirm. In addition, testimonials from people in the role on well-known internet forums were helpful in gaining a better understanding of the fields of activity. As already explained in the questions above, tips on structure and prioritisation exercises were helpful in preparation.
What three tips would you give Bright Network members who want to follow in your footsteps?
Some understanding of Bloomberg's product offering beyond the terminal is important. You can focus on Bloomberg's enterprise solutions such as MARS or PORT.
Research about the company that goes beyond points such as 'market leading provider'. A good understanding of the role beforehand is valuable.
Be open to learning something new and there is nothing wrong with not knowing something. But be aware that you should always do your best to find a solution. Analytical and structured thinking is essential.