new grad: FB vs AWS Aurora
Hi guys This is for new grad SDE. Got offer from both. Which should I join? I am totally lost. My team in Aurora in AWS seems pretty strong and to my taste if they are doing hardcore database infrastructure. FB is friendly to new grad( 6 weeks bootcamp, choosing team by yourself) I calculated the TC and FB is only 26k more than AWS in terms of 2 year or 4 year term, while the base salary is 1.3k more per year. So basically FB earns 1/11 more than AWS per year, but I don’t know whether FB is 1/11 busier than AWS. FB is know for fast promotion but as getting older I don’t want to burn my health and time for family. AWS is cursed everywhere on Blind but my team and manager seems fine, though we haven’t worked together yet. Advice are appreciated! Any aspect is helping me.
Comp is basically negligible so I’d focus on the work & growth opportunities. FB has great growth, but if you already know and like your AWS team then there is less risk and comparable opportunities there as well.
Yes. One thing concerns me is I don’t know how much growth there in FB compared with AWS. For company growth, because of the stock fluctuation recently I feel FB is more fragile compared with AWS. For personal growth, I am not sure.
FB is hit more by cuts in ad spending while Amazon is more diversified. That may influence which stock you invest in but shouldn’t really affect which company you plan to work at in the short term. FB has enough cash and margins to weather a recession/pandemic.
Dont go to AWS I had a choice between Aurora and Google I joined G. You are not calculating refreshers, year end bonuses and also raises which FB gives very well. Aurora is a great product, its one of the most innovative pieces of db in the last 10 years but as an SDE 1 and given Amazons sde policy you will mostly be oncall and not do even a bit of interesting work. Join FB now get promoted to E5 and then move to a chill place like G or infra team in FB which do 40-45 hrs. its very unlikely that you will be in the same company for life so you shouldnt worry about wlb when you have a family and having fb on your resume will open more doors than amazon no question
Also, perks at fb >>>>> aws
Yeah. Too much oncall is not meaningful work as I expected.
Currently at amzn not aws. But I'd go w fb 😂
Choose FB. “my team and manager seems fine” - one of Amazon’s LP is Customer Obsession. because you are our customer, we have to say good things about amazon. FYI AWS is overrated and is full of people who follow the hype and ego - “hardcore database”. This phrase is meaningless once you are in and you will realize that first few months, it is interesting. After than, they just need SDE1 for KTLO, oncall, migrations. As you are a new grad, there will always be people smarter than you who you can learn from in both companies. Choose FB. Also, switching teams in Amazon is another topic of itself. It’s not easy to switch teams if you land in a bad one. It’s hard for a reason and managers are trained to “sell” their team and hence are experts at painting a beautiful picture of their team.
join FB
In Bay Area or Seattle?
Post the offers to help everyone else out
At amazon, expect your tc to be flatten unless you get promoted. After you get promoted expect yourself to be underpaid. On paper the offers are close but taking into account the benefits perks faster promotions much better refreshers your AWS offer is no where close to FB. I think the actual value FB offer is likely 50k more than aws pretax or even more.
Amazon has no refreshers in your first 2 years unless you rocks out of the ceiling. 401k match is zero unless you stay 3+ years. Barely any other benefits. Amazon gives you 13’ MacBook while FB gives you 16’.
Most new grads switch after 2/3 years so idk if it’s a large difference short term.
AWS is the top tech company from a business perspective
Agreed! FB “is” better from word of mouth.
I agree AWS is better from an investor persepctive. Hence just buy Amazon stocks from your compensation, you dont need to join a post ipo company if you beleive its a great buisness to make money from it.