Author Topic: Experience working for Amazon?  (Read 1290 times)

jrhampt

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Experience working for Amazon?
« on: April 12, 2022, 05:41:06 AM »
I have an interview with Amazon for a fairly skilled position (i.e., not warehouse or delivery driver) that is 100% remote.  Not a software developer but a senior business analyst.  I've heard a lot of horror stories about Amazon and am wondering if that is the experience company-wide or only in certain areas/departments/roles - that is, is it possible to work there and not have it take over your entire life.  If anyone has experiences good or bad, I'm interested to hear them.

reeshau

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Re: Experience working for Amazon?
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2022, 07:09:43 AM »
I have two work friends who both went on to work for AWS; one is in a customer-facing technical position, and the other leads internal projects.  Each has been there for 2 years.  I don't hear any complaints from them. (came from automotive)  They also have time to talk to me, i.e. non-Amazon stuff.

Fomerly known as something

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Re: Experience working for Amazon?
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2022, 07:16:18 AM »
One of the women in my old running group worked in a non warehouse, non tech role at Amazon she never complained about it taking over her life.

NorCal

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Re: Experience working for Amazon?
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2022, 07:26:57 AM »
I interviewed with AWS about 7 years back, but didn't get the job.

I came away with the impression that it is a very fast paced / high pressure environment.  But not investment-banker level work.  Certainly be honest with yourself if that's something you want at this point in your life.

As always, your individual boss will matter more than the company itself.   

seattlecyclone

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Re: Experience working for Amazon?
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2022, 10:54:28 AM »
Amazon was my first software job out of school. It was more than a decade ago. Certain things have certainly changed since then. You will likely find that there is always more work to do, always pressure to achieve a bit more. This tends to burn people out, and they're okay with this! Lots of people leave within a couple of years. On the flip side, a good portion of my former teammates are still there and have since been promoted to some pretty senior positions. If hired you will learn a lot, and have a good foundation for future success whether at Amazon or elsewhere.

SquashingDebt

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Re: Experience working for Amazon?
« Reply #5 on: April 12, 2022, 04:49:27 PM »
My close friend worked there - I don't remember her title but I think it was along the same lines as the job you're looking at.  I think it was okay at first but after she got a new manager the job really crushed her spirit and she started desperately looking for new jobs.

Tester

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Re: Experience working for Amazon?
« Reply #6 on: April 13, 2022, 10:38:54 AM »
Know when to take extra projects and when to say no.
Do your job because you love it and show that, get the results, you will be able to say no.
When you say no explain why (perhaps getting more on your plate means other stuff needs to drop?).

Amazon can be a great place to work for or it can consume you quickly. You need to do what is best for you.

It was a great place for me for a long time, .oved to another company two years ago to reset my brain.
I would recommend anyone to get a job with Amazon just to see how Amazon approaches work. Caveat, I worked in the software development/quality jobs so I am talking from that perspective.

Continue looking around from time to time, worst case your Amazon experience will be a good sign on your resume.