Amazon offer evaluation. Please help!

Nov 16, 2020 23 Comments

Hello, please help! I have 2 offers that I need to decide on, one for amazon and one for an unknown startup. Each have their pros and cons:

Startup:
TC: ~250: 15k sign on, 135k base, 60% bonus
Location: nyc
Pros: team seems super friendly, startup vibe, free beer, WLB seems great
Cons: not well known so exit ops may be even harder than now

Amazon:
TC: not yet known, they tried to lowball me but I told them about my other offer so I think they will at least get close - but would be happy with 200+
Location - Seattle, would need to eventually move (I live in nyc now)
Pros: amazon gold star on resume
Cons: I have heard horror stories on here about poor WLB and pip culture

Current situation- SWE
TC: 125k
Location: nyc
YOE: 4
Age: 26

Additional info:
I value WLB a lot but I also want a good career and eventually want to move to FB or G but out of all the FAANGs I could only get into amazon. Amazon will definitely have better exit ops and will upgrade my resume. Amazon also downleveled me. This startup is definitely a great job and I’d be happy there but it doesn’t put me in the big tech circle. I also want to stay on the east coast, I think I will tell my recruiter having to move to Seattle will be a deal breaker. Amazon org: consumer - international

Any advice? Is the amazon gold star worth the potential terrible WLB? Thanks!#swe

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TOP 23 Comments
  • Amazon / Eng
    qIXt24

    Go to company page Amazon Eng

    qIXt24
    Amazon's not that bad. I've been on 3 different teams throughout my career, don't listen to the naysayers. Go to Amazon for 1-2 years then bounce to a better company. But do keep in mind that you'll be worked hard and your limits will be tested. If that's not something you're used to then Amazon may not be the right place for you.
    Nov 16, 2020 5
    • Amazon / Eng
      qIXt24

      Go to company page Amazon Eng

      qIXt24
      Regardless of whether wlb is horrible or not... If you're young, what do you have to lose? I work less than 45 a week on my time. It really depends on your team as well.

      Soul crushing? I'd rather be told my work is crap than be given flowers and claps for the code that I right. Sometimes we need to be crushed to come back stronger. How do you know what happiness is if you don't know sadness?
      Nov 16, 2020
    • Amazon
      VfuB18

      Go to company page Amazon

      VfuB18
      Dude I’ve worked at other companies, this one sucks.
      Nov 16, 2020
  • Amazon
    “fang”

    Go to company page Amazon

    “fang”
    I worked at Amazon for a year and switch to Google. I was in a similar position to you and my thought process was similar in joining Amazon.

    1. The year I spent at Amazon was incredibly painful. Poor wlb, high stress, terrible oncall, toxic culture. Amazon has the potential to completely ruin your life for a year if your not lucky enough to get on a good team.

    2. It didn’t help much in getting into Google besides getting the interviews which I could’ve done without Amazon. Only thing that helps in the interviews is leetcode. I’d argue that leetcoding is a lot harder working at Amazon.

    3. I’m much happier at Google now and life at Google is so much better.

    If I could rewind time, Id skip the intermediate step of working at Amazon before Google.
    Nov 16, 2020 0
  • Amazon
    VfuB18

    Go to company page Amazon

    VfuB18
    Amazon is absolutely miserable
    Nov 16, 2020 3
  • Google
    oh shit!

    Go to company page Google

    oh shit!
    Don’t join amazon if you’re introvert or don’t have thick skin. (i hope amazonians will agree with this).
    Nov 16, 2020 2
    • Amazon
      chicha

      Go to company page Amazon

      chicha
      Agreed
      Nov 16, 2020
    • Apple
      fhne47ehh

      Go to company page Apple

      fhne47ehh
      I’d kinda disagree with the introvert part. You can be an introvert as long as you’re not scared to talk to people and be assertive. The two things aren’t mutually exclusive. If you don’t like talking to people at all, even about things you’re interested in and have an opinion on, then amazon definitely isn’t the place for you. The assertive part is what helps you grow at amazon (as long as you’re right a lot).
      Nov 16, 2020
  • Amazon
    (())(()))

    Go to company page Amazon

    (())(()))
    Not Amazon
    Nov 16, 2020 0