Overview
Bloomberg's loop is heavy on data structures and algorithms, with system design added for experienced engineers. Some rounds run 90 minutes, which is longer than most companies, so expect more than one problem or a lot of follow-ups.
Candidates report that resume talk eats a real chunk of every technical round, often 10 to 25 minutes before the problem even starts. That goes for the design round too, so have your projects ready to explain.
About half the recent design questions people describe come from Bloomberg's world, like market data and stock alerts. The rest are general ones, like a ride-sharing app or a database schema.
Below is what people get asked in each one and what to study.
System design interviews
Expect a mix: market data and alerts, but also general designs like a ride-sharing app or a client portal. Interviewers dig into trade-offs.
What people get asked
- Build a secure client portal
- Stream live stock prices
- Price alerts
- Ride sharing
Coding interviews
Rounds can run 90 minutes with two problems. Expect classic data structures with a practical twist, and sometimes a small class to design.
What people get asked
- Plan a road trip between gas stations
- Add, remove and pick at random
- Add two numbers one place at a time
- Crush repeated letters
The rest of the process
Your recruiter will walk you through this, but here's the quick version.
| Stage | Length | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiter screen | Short call | Your background and why you want to switch |
| Phone or video screen | About 60 min | Resume questions, then one or two coding problems |
| Onsite coding | 1–2 rounds, up to 90 min | Usually two problems, plus resume questions |
| System design | 60–90 min | For experienced engineers |
| Manager and HR rounds | About 60 min each | Only if you pass the technical rounds. Your experience, and it can get technical |
Sources
We pulled this together from candidates' own write-ups of their interviews. They don't always agree, and things change over time.
- LeetCode Discuss: Senior SWE 4+ YOE, NYC (Nov 2025)
- LeetCode Discuss: Senior SWE, NYC (Nov 2025)
- LeetCode Discuss: Senior SWE, Pune (Nov 2025)
- LeetCode Discuss: Bloomberg phone screen, car and oasis grid
- Jointaro: Senior SWE, US (Jan 2025)
- LeetCode Discuss: SSE virtual onsite, rule-based alert system (2022)
Practice Loop is an independent practice tool and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Bloomberg.