Bloomberg in the BIC
Access:
There are 10 Bloomberg machines available at the BIC.
Bloomberg Essentials Online Training Program (previously known as Bloomberg Certification):
The Mahaffey Business Information Center at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business offers students the ability to learn about the Bloomberg Professional Service. One of the ways this can be done (and also receive recognition for it) is through the Bloomberg Essentials Online Training Program (BESS), previously known as Bloomberg Certification. The program, recognized worldwide, will signal to prospective employers that you have attained a high level of competency in using the Bloomberg Professional Service as well as optimize your job performance.
In order to receive a “Recognition of Completion” (what used to be referred to as “Certification”) from Bloomberg, a student needs to do the following things on the Bloomberg workstation:
- Create his/her own individual LOGIN NAME and PASSWORD for the Bloomberg Professional Service.
- Watch a set of videos (4 Core and a minimum of 1 Market Sector).
- Complete the Core Exam and a Market Sector exam (based on the videos) and achieve a 75% or better grade.
- Request an acknowledgement of completion from Bloomberg.
In a nutshell:
| 4 Core Videos + 1 Market Sector Video + Core Exam + Market Sector Exam = Recognition of Completion |
General Information
- To participate in the program, an individual must have his/her own Bloomberg LOGIN NAME and PASSWORD. The generic login credentials noted above will not work.
- This program is free of charge to ND students.
- Individuals can use any of the Bloomberg terminals located in the BIC. Be sure to check BIC hours to make sure we are open.
- Students can work on the program at their own pace.
Step 1. Create an individual LOGIN NAME and PASSWORD for the Bloomberg Professional Service
- To participate in the program, an individual must have his/her own Bloomberg LOGIN NAME and PASSWORD.
- To create your own LOGIN NAME, follow these steps:
- Login to one of the Bloomberg workstations in the BIC using your NetID and password.
- Once logged in, go to the ‘Start’ button.
- Select ‘All Programs.’
- Select ‘Library And Information Resources.’
- Select ‘Business and Economics.’
- Select ‘Bloomberg.’
- The top of the screen that opens will look like this:
- EITHER click with the mouse on the red ‘DFLT’ button at the top of the window OR press the red ‘Pause Break CONN DEFAULT’ button on the Bloomberg keyboard itself.
You will then see a screen that looks like:
- Leave the fields blank and press the green <GO> key (also the ‘Enter’ key on the keyboard). [The text in blue next to the boxes reads: “If you do not have a login name and want to set one up, leave the fields blank and hit <GO>.”]
- Follow the steps on the screens to create your LOGIN NAME and PASSWORD. There are 4 steps to complete.
TIP - After you have entered the information required on a screen, click with the mouse on the ‘1) TEXT HERE’ button in red near the top of the screen, where TEXT HERE will read ‘Continue’ or ‘Send Code’ or ‘Validate,’ depending upon the screen you are viewing.
TIP - The validation code you need can be sent in one of 2 ways:
- SMS Text Message (note that often cell phone reception is poor in the BIC, so you may have to step outside the BIC to get the text with the code)
- Automated Voice Call (select ‘Work Number’ and use the BIC’s phone number 574-631-9098. Alert a staff member, and we will listen for the phone call. We’ll give you the phone and you can listen to an automated message with the code.
Step 2. Watch a set of videos (4 Core and a minimum of 1 Market Sector)
Accessing the Videos
After you have created your own individual LOGIN NAME, follow these steps:
- Be sure you are logged in to the Bloomberg Professional Service with your own LOGIN NAME. If you are not, press the red ‘Pause Break CONN DEFAULT’ button on the Bloomberg keyboard itself to do so.
- Type BU, then press the green <GO> button. This launches Bloomberg University, your source for Bloomberg Training (screen shot below). You can go to Bloomberg University to either get instructional videos or some cheat sheets that describe common functions and commands.
- From the main Bloomberg University page, you can select either option 12 to view training videos or option 13 to access training documents which give you some useful commands. To select an option, you can either click on the option with your mouse or type the number of your option and then press the <GO> key.
- After selecting 12), you will see the following screen, where you can click on the numbers to begin watching a video:
Information about the Videos
There are four Core videos that Bloomberg has created to help the beginner learn the most important functions of Bloomberg. As part of the program, you MUST watch all 4 of these Core videos.
Once the Core videos have been viewed, a student may then choose to watch any one or all of the Market Sector videos, which will introduce you to market fundamentals of various asset classes. These videos give more detail on the market sectors in Bloomberg. If your Bloomberg use is focused on one of these sectors, it is not a bad idea to watch the video of the sector you use the most after getting a basic understanding of Bloomberg. At a minimum, 1 of the Market Sector videos must be watched and the corresponding exam taken.
Details:
Bloomberg Core Videos |
||
Title |
Description |
Viewing Time |
Getting Started |
The very basics of Bloomberg. This covers how to manage the keyboard, find news, look up basic equity data, etc. |
17:30 minutes |
Bloomberg News |
Covers the best way to access and search the wide range of Bloomberg news. |
17:05 minutes |
Market Monitors and Launchpad |
Talks about the BLP Launchpad function of Bloomberg. This function lets you customize your Bloomberg terminal if you have created your own, personal Login Name. This video is not very helpful if you are just beginning. |
17:20 minutes |
API (Bloomberg Data in Excel) |
Shows you how to export any type of data on Bloomberg into Excel. The computers in the BIC are compatible with the Bloomberg Add-In and the video walks you through its use. |
35:00 minutes |
Market Sector Videos |
||
Title |
Description |
Viewing Time |
Equity Essentials |
Covers key news functions that will keep you up to speed with headlines that can affect your investment strategies as well as the equities market on the whole. Covers tools that will help delve into 20 years of financial statements, sell-side consensus estimates, extensive technical analysis studies, and more. |
28:28 minutes |
Fixed Income Essentials |
Covers tools for monitoring the bond markets on Bloomberg. Broad market functionality is discussed, as well as tools for single security analysis as well. |
23:47 minutes |
FX Essentials |
Covers information on the FX market such as rates, as well as information that affects the market like economic releases, interest rates and other economic data. |
28:42 minutes |
Commodity Essentials |
Covers how to locate and assess both commodity futures and spot tickers and discusses some basic analytics that can be utilized with information you find. |
27:10 minutes |
It is an eight-course program, and 5 courses, at a minimum, must be completed to receive a "Recognition of Completion."
Step 3. Complete the Core Exam and a Market Sector exam (based on the videos)
- After you view the 4 Core videos, you will automatically be enabled to take the Core Exam.
- After you view a Market Sector video, you will automatically be enabled for the exam.
- You can select the ‘View and Take Exams’ option from the main video page in Bloomberg University when the time comes.
- One retake of each exam is allowed.
- Your exam grade will immediately appear upon completion of the exam.
- Bloomberg will not authorize access to exams unless you view the video.
- Once you begin an exam it is recommend that you complete it within 24 hours.
Step 4. Request an Acknowledgement of Completion from Bloomberg
- Upon earning a certificate, and with your permission, this information will be added to your Bloomberg Profile under Education.
Other Information
- * Remember that at any time you can type anything into Bloomberg and press Help to get detailed help. If that doesn’t work, press Help twice and you will launch a live chat with Bloomberg professionals who can answer your question quickly and effectively*
Training Documents/Cheatsheets
- Bloomberg University also has cheatsheets to help you with commonly used commands. The BIC has hard copies of these in the folder near the Bloomberg terminal, but they can also be downloaded. To access these documents, go to the Bloomberg University homepage and select option 13 (View Training Documents).
- You will then be brought to a sub-menu with more detailed descriptions of the cheatsheets. Once you select the one you are looking for, you will see a download screen like the one below.
You then select the language you are needing. On the next screen, selecting option one will open a PDF of the document which you can print or save.
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