Is it worth interviewing at Amazon ?

Feb 18, 2019 44 Comments

Currently living in Seattle and world like to stay here.

Interviewing with a bunch of companies located here (google, uber, Lyft etc.)

Should I interview with Amazon as well ?

From what I heard:
I. Amazon interview is behavioral heavy these days, which is pretty boring, you can’t even use it as a good mock interview
2. Vesting schedule is bad: 5, 15, 40, 40. So you get peanuts if you leave before 3 years
3. Culture and work life balance is not that great

PS: no offense Amazon folks, those are the things I heard and I am looking for your suggestions

Level at FB: E5
TC: 340k

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TOP 44 Comments
  • Google / Product
    Urs

    Go to company page Google Product

    PRE
    Microsoft, 500 Startups
    Urs
    Given that you are coming from FB, AMZN is one (amongst other bets) to negotiate a high TC. I would suggest interviewing.

    Also WTF is wrong with people on Blind these days? How come nobody told OP to TC or GTFO? Kids these days, spoiling Blind for us old timers.

    Obligatory TC or GTFO OP.
    Feb 18, 2019 2
  • Amazon / Eng
    tylium

    Go to company page Amazon Eng

    tylium
    The vesting schedule is not an issue. Amazon gives you a total comp figure. They give cash bonus for year 1 and 2 to hit/exceed this total comp. Then year 3 and 4 are stock based and it continues this way till you leave.

    Culture depends on team. Theres many good ones.

    I say fuck it why not. Maybe try for principal/sde3. The PE role makes you the lead for a ~100 engineer organization.
    Feb 18, 2019 2
  • eBay
    martinw

    Go to company page eBay

    martinw
    Why are you leaving FB?
    Feb 18, 2019 9
  • Amazon
    trump1

    Go to company page Amazon

    BIO
    Op
    trump1
    Stay away unless the role @ Amazon is aligning with your career progression or is giving a significant number too hard to refuse.
    Feb 18, 2019 2
  • Amazon
    gosxoy

    Go to company page Amazon

    gosxoy
    Downsides you listed are all true, but let me list some upside for aws:

    From all the people I have talked to, from other companies these are things I think you can only get at AWS:

    1. Great talent in some deep technical areas (database, Ec2, storage)
    2 You will see first time what customer obsession means and how that plays out in decision making at higher levels in Amazon. It’s unlike anything u will see at other places
    3. Be part of some PR/faq process and u will be delighted and how company prioritizes what to work on
    4. The rate and ease with which AWS can just spin up a new service and new region is amazing ... it’s reached a state where very difficult to achieve things at scale are just easy.
    5. Finally, you will see why there is tech debt and why it’s not all bad.
    Feb 18, 2019 2
    • OP
      Good Work life balance is my priority. That’s one of the main reasons why I plan to leave FB.

      Some of the things you posted, I have already experienced at FB, guess time for a change 😀

      I want an easy life for next 2 years at least, I am tired of the stress at FB
      Feb 18, 2019
    • Oracle / Eng
      Figment

      Go to company page Oracle Eng

      Figment
      ”things I think you can only get at AWS” - FB infra can setup their own cloud rivaling AWS. I am kicking myself for taking OCI😐
      Feb 18, 2019