How hierarchical is your company?

Amazon
opxd97

Go to company page Amazon

opxd97
Mar 5, 2017 98 Comments

Amazon is the most hierarchical place I've worked at. Was I just lucky with my prior silicon valley experiences?

Some examples (if you want them)
* offices for status (I've only been at bullpen or open floor spaces where execs have private conf rooms)
* internal greasemonkey tool to show level on the internal phone tool
* debilitating deference given by level in meetings in spite of leadership principles to the contrary
* lower level employees are not allowed to be interviewers for higher level positions even when the new hire would be their mgr

98

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 TOP 98 Comments
  • Google / Ops
    Huhf13

    Go to company page Google Ops

     Huhf13
    Google is honestly not much different
    Mar 5, 2017 8
    • Google
      gyek80

      Go to company page Google

      gyek80
      my experience at Google has been good. I don't think people ignore me because my level is lower than theirs. it is a big company so there is bureaucracy. but compared to a smaller public company I have been in before, Google is actually pretty good.
      I think at its size, Google is doing well. But I can also see it could be different based on teams or product areas.
      Mar 6, 2017
    • Google
      epsilon

      Go to company page Google

      epsilon
      not sure I agree. I've interviewed plenty of external candidates senior to me to their chagrin. the private conf room is done sparingly and I usually squat them without reprecussion ;)
      Mar 6, 2017
  • Google
    kitnamore

    Go to company page Google

    kitnamore
    You should describe where you worked before. Google has the same problems, MSFT is even worse
    Mar 5, 2017 7
    • Oracle
      GNnB87

      Go to company page Oracle

      GNnB87
      I think he/she worked at companies with under 50 people. hence he/she figures if the experience is disclosed it would be easy to figure out. and also the reason why he's super surprised that a company with thousands of people would have more structure, and more of a pecking order.
      Mar 6, 2017
    • In Microsoft in my team I wouldn't say it is very hierarchial. A partner engineer works as part of our team together with everyone. above him only CVP and Tech Fellow who I constantly hear about as they are very involved into our project. above me there are my manager, director and CVP (then Satya) - I would say our org is very autonomous. I think for company such size it is very good. So it really depends on org and team.
      Mar 7, 2017
  • IBM
    Zjshwb

    Go to company page IBM

    Zjshwb
    That's cute!
    Mar 6, 2017 0
  • Private conference rooms for higher level folks is a waste of valuable space. They are probably empty 75% of the time or more. At a company with limited conf room space, it's just self important assholery.
    Mar 5, 2017 3
    • At Facebook you can usually use exec conference room if they are unused. You might get kicked out of your meeting but usually the ea would check the conference room first.

      What this means is if you work close to an exec team, there are a lot of nearby unreservable conference room that you can use any times.
      Mar 6, 2017
    • And at Linkedin we don't have this? Which world you live in
      Mar 6, 2017
  • Amazon / Eng
    ⚫⚫⚫

    Go to company page Amazon Eng

     ⚫⚫⚫
    I used to be in the USMC, holy crap what do you kids want out of a company? Sit around each morning discussing feelings and eating orange slices?
    Mar 6, 2017 4
    • Amazon / Eng
      ⚫⚫⚫

      Go to company page Amazon Eng

       ⚫⚫⚫
      SDE. I agree that open floorplan sucks. It's been proven by multiple studies to be counterproductive, and the one problem it purports to solve, ease and immediacy of communication, is the thing it most worsens. People either are hyper aware of noise pollution, so don't talk much, or are oblivious to the volume and distracting nature of their voice, and end up getting alienated.
      Mar 7, 2017
    • IBM / Eng
      0x0000ff

      Go to company page IBM Eng

       0x0000ff
      Open office
      Mar 7, 2017