I don't know anything about Amazon. What are they like to work for?

Yahoo
UITj57

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UITj57
May 23, 2017 20 Comments

New to the tech industry after working years in another sector. Amazon is interested in hiring me, but I'm not familiar with how they treat their employees and how innovative they are as a company. Can you help?

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TOP 20 Comments
  • Amazon
    ↪️

    Go to company page Amazon

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    People who dislike Amazon are the same ones who like Microsoft because they don't have to do any work. Also known as deadwood.

    It's going to depend on whether you like working. If you do you can have a big impact and you will do well. If you have a crappy work ethic then Amazon isn't for you. Note this doesn't mean long hours. It means actually working when you're at work. We move fast.

    It's also a very collaborative company, the leadership stuff is real. If you're an awesome coder but you don't get along with people Amazon isn't for you. If you don't mind reaching out to people to get yourself unblocked it's a place you'll love. If that seems like something you hate doing or figure you should be handed detailed requirements on a silver platter or you think someone else's mistake is an excuse for you to fail then you will struggle.
    May 23, 2017 6
    • Microsoft
      cn12987

      Go to company page Microsoft

      PRE
      Amazon
      cn12987
      I always find it funny that Amazon is referred to as 'fast paced'. I guess relative to the glacial pace of places like Microsoft it might qualify but to anyone who has been at smaller companies /startups it's slow as hell. It also amuses me the sanctimony that you see from so many (on Blind) on who work at Amazon acting as though anyone who works anywhere else is a slacker and/or the fact they are often treated as cogs is somehow a positive. I actually worked more hours at Microsoft than I did at Amazon. Amazon has its good and bad. I know people who hated it and couldn't wait to leave and others who love it. I left after a year not because it was crushing but because of what I perceived as incompetent leadership (Also recently left Microsoft for similar reasons). As a colleague said at the time 'It's amazing how you take so many smart people, put them together, and they make completely dim fucking decisions'. The group I was in imploded shortly thereafter, doesn't even exist now. There are other groups that are good. As with anywhere it comes down less to the company an more to your manager and leadership.
      May 23, 2017
    • found the manager
      May 23, 2017
  • Microsoft / Eng
    ☠Nutella☠

    Go to company page Microsoft Eng

    BIO
    The original one and only S Nutella. Bam Bam Lolol!!
    ☠Nutella☠
    Rumors of tears and jumpers
    May 23, 2017 1
  • I loved it. Was on a great team with really smart and creative people and had a lot of fun. Then I had a kid and it was a bit too much. Did 3 years there and I miss it, but it's like high altitude training.
    May 23, 2017 1
  • Google / Eng
    hagcja

    Go to company page Google Eng

    hagcja
    Depends on your position. If you are a manager then go for it. You will have lot of power, you can push SDEs to extreme or put them on PIP, no one will question you. However, if you are SDE then it depends on your manager.
    May 23, 2017 3
  • Microsoft / Eng
    houses

    Go to company page Microsoft Eng

    houses
    Amazon is a place which you will either love or you will hate. No middle ground.

    It's a meat grinder.

    Source: I worked at AWS for a year and burned out completely.
    May 23, 2017 0