Need advice on competing offers (Oracle vs Amazon, New grad)
Hello everyone, posting verbatim on behalf of a friend: Need help deciding between the following two offers (0 YOE): Amazon SDE1-- Base: 112k Bonus: 48k RSU's: 80k over 4 years Location: Seattle (HQ) Oracle MTS (SDE1)-- Base: 130k Bonus: 30k RSU's: worth ~$150k (at current price) over 4 years Location: Redwood Shores (HQ) Currently in favor of Oracle since manager and team is determined: domain is ML and manager seems amicable. Amazon sounds great for new grad in terms of growth but uncertainty of team (and manager), and other woeful anecdotes on work-life balance and management are a deterrent in choosing it. Thanks!
Is Amazon really that bad for a new grad? I am assuming the cut throat env and politics come into play for experienced candidates.
Trust me. It’s really bad. You need to be lucky to get good team.
70-80% of folks are new college grads, not a a whole lot of experienced people compared to their total employee numbers. Think of it as a revolving door where there is constant inflow and outflow of new and mid level employees but very few sticking their. I stayed there for two years and when I was leaving my tenure was higher than 50-60% employees as per the old fart tool. And you’ll probably notice that magical number of 2 years in your offer letter, that’s essentially how much time they need you to make it their worth. Again not saying it’s bad or good, some people like that kind of stuff and thrive their. In fact some of them if try to leave they come right back (called boomerangs) as they don’t like any other company’s culture anymore.
There is a trending thread of amazon company wide email, check it out and see for yourself.
Also review your vesting schedules. While I wouldn’t touch Oracle with a stick, the 25% a year is preferable to the 10/10/40/40 amazon offer.
The benefits are also fringe benefits, being frugal as they call it. Very expensive insurance, 401k match doesn’t vest until after 4 years etc. On the other hand, the truth is, Amazon is a better name to be on the resume than Oracle. Definitely you’ll learn a lot. Perhaps go with the intention of checking it out, learn a lot and leaving after you have gotten enough of what you are looking for.
Having worked at both, if you want a chill laid back life while doing some work with great benefits pick oracle. If you can deal with cut throat environment, perhaps toxic culture, but ability to work on the latest biggest challenges at scales never seen before, pick Amazon.