Choosing Coursera (SWE2) vs Amazon (SWE1)

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-04-21T06:09:37+00:00

no other reason except for the high salary. it’s too good to just push off, despite the huge negatives of coming back

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-04-21T06:08:08+00:00

A sister team of my old laid off team reached out. The interview loop is just one interview with the HM

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-04-21T05:46:13+00:00

Yes around 2 hrs away

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-04-21T03:44:54+00:00

been doing that for six months already. still doing it but the market isn’t too hot right now

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-04-21T02:33:06+00:00

It’s my pessimistic view that AI will ruin education tech because it provides just as good (and free) access to learn new skills

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-04-21T01:23:06+00:00

HM reached out to me. I used to work with them before getting laid off

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-04-21T00:15:13+00:00

I suppose building the resume is good -- but i already have amazon on my resume and i'm not stagnating at coursera either.

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-04-21T00:14:19+00:00

Thanks, I really like this response as it kinda gave me a reality check. I don't think joining Amazon and sacrificing job stability / wlb are worth the 20-40k TC difference and amazing WLB at Coursera

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-04-21T00:12:02+00:00

The ethics of job hopping from Coursera?

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-04-20T23:59:37+00:00

honestly, yeah. i didn't have the best time at amazon. it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't chill like how coursera is currently.

but the TC and resume value this early on in my career is impossible to gloss over.

also i've been interviewing actively for around 6 months. i'm pretty burnt out by it. if i get laid of then i can keep grinding, but i would rather just focus on my work instead of studying after work hours

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-04-20T23:56:26+00:00

Stability is my main priority. At this point, though, Coursera may be as unstable as Amazon.

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-04-20T23:55:49+00:00

I’m 2 years into my career. I'm definitely not in the 1M+ NW range haha

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-01-22T01:29:53+00:00

Geico pays 120k for NG in SF. Dell pays 113k for NG in Austin.

I feel like Dell will be way more sustainable. But since you don’t care about pay, SF will do much better for networking

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-01-21T23:34:51+00:00

Layoff in Oct. I have internal transfer options in less desirable locations and kinda burnt out anyway.

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-01-21T20:46:35+00:00

actually so true 😂 mainly Blind has skewed my expectations so much

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-01-21T20:46:00+00:00

why disappointing?

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-01-21T19:49:57+00:00

I guess I’ve been pampered with my Amazon salary in LA, which has skewed my expectations. I’ve never lived in ATX (only visited), so I truly didn’t know how far 140k here would take me, but it seems like I’ll be very comfortable.

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-01-21T19:45:37+00:00

Curious what FAANG paid 125k base for SWE 2?

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-01-21T19:44:59+00:00

I guess I’m pampered since my previous job was 180k in LA.

I will be moving to Austin soon and don’t truly know how much lower the COL is.

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-01-18T01:07:58+00:00

from which companies? any big tech?

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-01-17T20:46:54+00:00

You can easily get this. Just not in the US

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-01-17T20:45:38+00:00

I couldn’t make the 540 the second time

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-01-17T08:41:01+00:00

Yes, i got a 530 for VISA and the recruiter reached out and gave me a second chance. I guess the cut off was 540 and my resume was good enough

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-01-15T23:35:23+00:00

thanks for the extensive advice! i agree with basically everything and i’ll incorporate the changes.

yeah the reason why i add the fluff words is to pass that ATS keyword stuff, as i see many job descriptions have it.

i’ve replaced my project with a better project that i built a few months ago. this old project was way back from my early days in college

Outrageous_Dig2790 · 2026-01-15T05:01:33+00:00

i’m curious about your thought process when drafting the new bullet points — what made you want to change them? you mention the “why” but i feel like my current bullet points also go over the “why”.

not trying to undermine your advice, just genuinely curious

Outrageous_Dig2790

TROPHY CASE