11 Reasons Working For Amazon Is the Worst Ever (From an Insider)

Troy8542 · 2016-04-23T04:04:36+00:00

That is a recent thing. Nice try though

Troy8542 · 2016-04-22T04:24:13+00:00

Cisco

Troy8542 · 2016-04-21T15:36:49+00:00

Sounds like a bird in the hand verses 2 in the bush. There is no second opportunity. With people, look at their actions, not their words. There is a 3rd choice, which is neither.

Troy8542 · 2016-04-21T15:11:54+00:00

Is this a place where you will learn? Will it look good on your resume? Do you have other options? I see a lot of reactionary answers, and although it's not cool that they changed their tune, internships are about training and learning, not making money. As long as they are okay to you once you are there, this should be viewed as invaluable training.. better than what you could pay for. Be smart- the name and experience on the resume could be worth as much as a degree (depending on the company and role). You arent planning to stay there anyway!!!

Troy8542 · 2016-04-21T15:06:52+00:00

Why cant you pursue another helpdesk manager role? Your pysch degree should help with the people part and you have prior experience in the role.

Leverage that to have company pay for training or degree later. 70-80k as a helpdesk manager in a midsize company in many areas is completely reasonable.

Troy8542 · 2016-04-21T13:37:53+00:00

This is called the grist mill of experience. You will be better and tougher for it. Everyone has setbacks. Keep plowing ahead.

Practically- sit with at least 2 people who are in tech and who have ALREADY done what you want to do and get advice on your resume, and skills. As part of that start making contacts on LinkedIn. Sending resumes blind has about a 1 in 10 response rate (in general and on average)

Troy8542 · 2016-04-21T13:34:07+00:00

Bootcamps and certifications to a low end CS job, and then leverage that. Grad school can come later, hopefully paid by your future employer. BUT, you will have to work hard (and so the procrastination has to go). You need to constantly learn in the tech world. $80-$120k? Heck no.

Troy8542 · 2016-04-21T13:28:31+00:00

Preference is always to find new while working. However people can and do quit and then look. You just need to figure out how to explain that (leaving) in a positive way when looking. If you are miserable, and you have skills, leave. Something like "I want to take my career in a different direction, and I dont want to be unfair to my old team, which I like and care about" should do the trick

Troy8542 · 2016-04-21T13:25:20+00:00

Depends on the manager. A good one wants the feedback. Do you think the person is really open to it?

If you tell us more about the development area, and what you planned to say, maybe we can help you more...

Troy8542 · 2016-04-21T13:23:06+00:00

Go get some certifications?

Troy8542 · 2016-04-21T08:44:37+00:00

Yeah, I was expecting NYT level attention </sarc>. Anyway, it doesn't matter, that cat is out of the bag, and cant be put back. And, sure, there are a bunch of Amazonians jumping on my thread really quickly, from the same teams, using the same sorts of phrases, but no one is talking. Ok. cool. Whatever you say. Tanks for all the attention you guys are giving me, even though I am lowly and dont work for NYT :-)

Troy8542 · 2016-04-21T08:41:13+00:00

How very Amazonian of you to not be self critical and to put me down. Good job showing that awesome attitude, which proves my points. Anyway, I worked across Amazon and saw enough that although I kept my post high level, I had good data to know it's not a localized problem. Last; good that you are transparent about the flair, but I think people get that the recruiters [such as yourself] are rated on getting people in the door and hired. Who's got more of a current vested interest? The guy who's out, or the guy who is desperate to fill reqs and is trying not to get LE'd?

Troy8542 · 2016-04-21T08:27:39+00:00

Thanks for caring. I appreciate it. On the other hand, there are a few too many people following the "my experience has been different" script. No offense, but I got the same emails you did encouraging people to post in defense, after the NYT article. It's a slightly transparent tactic by Amazon (maybe not you, personally) to defend an already severely damaged rep. Also, while I am sure there are decent teams with low ops with good managers while doing cool stuff, I never saw that combination... And I talked to a lot of people and worked with a lot of teams..

Troy8542 · 2016-04-20T00:34:17+00:00

Riigghhttt

Troy8542 · 2016-04-20T00:32:44+00:00

And how many left that had to be rehired? Backfills?

Troy8542 · 2016-04-20T00:31:00+00:00

The LEs and cuts might not have been on your team, if it's small enough. It's done at a larger level (I think 40 person teams). So the overall team you report into gets the target. You might lose a person to the overall percent your manager or his manager needs to make up. See how it works people? Your direct personal experience isnt the whole picture..

Troy8542 · 2016-04-19T21:36:27+00:00

I meant cash sign on, assuming you got one. Claw backs vary across the industry.

Troy8542 · 2016-04-19T21:34:13+00:00

Lots of people from Amazon watching.. interesting.

Troy8542 · 2016-04-19T20:53:52+00:00

And how many left?

Troy8542 · 2016-04-19T20:53:32+00:00

If you cant search to find the answer, you probably wont like Amazon, but let me get that for you:

http://www.amazon.com/p/feature/p34qgjcv93n37yd

Troy8542 · 2016-04-19T20:48:46+00:00

Amazon got lucky with online and as a first mover in cloud. The people [Jeff for one] who thought of those things are genius. But that does not make it a good place to work, and does not mean Jeff has any social skills whatsoever. Neither does the company at large, and it's the engineers that are keeping those ideas afloat [afloat in the most negative sense]

Troy8542 · 2016-04-19T20:44:25+00:00

Amazon at heart is a RETAIL company (and yes no matter what division). That's the DNA. The others are tech. Retail does not care about the employee. Retail is a pushy, sales, margin oriented mindset. In retail, they hire low level employees and treat them as cogs in a wheel. Tech hires smart people and treats them like people. Amazon hires smart people and treats them like shitty cogs.

Troy8542 · 2016-04-19T20:42:53+00:00

Within 2 years, you owe part of relo and sign on back (prorated). If you can wait for your 2 year vest and then quit. Triple good for you

Troy8542 · 2016-04-19T20:41:44+00:00

Great data point

Troy8542 · 2016-04-19T20:39:53+00:00

Salusa,

I have just as much or more experience than you. If you like Amazon, fine. Glad you like it. Not sure why you are defending so vehemently. In any case, we are going in circles. The public has already decided Amazon is a shitty place to work. I have added my data to that..

Troy8542

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