Anyone here work for Amazon?

[OkieSnuffBox]

They reached out to me through LinkedIn to apply for a position, well positions. They have a few openings that are all in what I do (Technical Writing).

Going to speak to a recruiter later and get some more details. Just curious if anyone worked there and had any insight into culture, benefits, etc.

[jmack]

Haven't worked there, but did interview for an AWS Security position. The interview process was pretty brutal. I think I did 6 interviews in all before I was dropped from consideration. HR screening > 3 separate tech interviews > C-level interview > another tech interview. The money is great if you can get in, but you really have to drink the corporate koolaid.

[2000cs]

My son worked there about 20 years ago. On the Kindle project; software development. Didn’t love the culture, but he is retired now.

[whyzee125]

I don't, but I work with Amazon for my job and I know a few people who work for Amazon.

My best advice is RUN.

One of the worst companies in existence, IMO.

[chassis]

I looked into a position once. The application process was a big turn off.

I heard this week from people who know that Amazon “doesn’t treat their employees well”. No specifics given.

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by whyzee125

I don't, but I work with Amazon for my job and I know a few people who work for Amazon.

My best advice is RUN.

One of the worst companies in existence, IMO.

I work in the tech field and have a few contacts that worked there, they all say the same.

[Esteban]

^^ Yep, this is what I hear too. Not good.

Mostly from my daughter who reads a lot about places like that.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

I work in the tech field and have a few contacts that worked there, they all say the same.

Hmmm, not good. But I wonder if that's real or just disgruntled employees.

I work for Oracle so I know what it's like to work for a big tech company. I have to say we are treated pretty well, except raises don't come that often and most of it is typically tied up in RSU's vs base salary.

In 5 years, my base salary has only gone up $5k, but I have received hundreds of RSU's to go along with those two raises.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by jmack

Haven't worked there, but did interview for an AWS Security position. The interview process was pretty brutal. I think I did 6 interviews in all before I was dropped from consideration. HR screening > 3 separate tech interviews > C-level interview > another tech interview. The money is great if you can get in, but you really have to drink the corporate koolaid.

That's gnarly, I think I went through 4 here at Oracle.

[zx10guy]

I had interviewed with Cisco twice. First time wasn't bad. But a bit nerve wracking. For the tech interview I sat in a conference room where I was being asked questions by 3 CCIEs. Had to go white board some network topologies. Job opportunity didn't work out.

Second go around I had no less than 9 separate interviews. 5 of them were with CCIEs each went over an hour to two hours. Obviously, they were technical with each one covering a different aspect of network technology. One of the 5 was the worst as it was with a Cisco fellow. This is one of those guys where he gives key note speeches at Cisco events and will always have a job as long as Cisco is an entity. He rapid fired questions at me. Had me design out a data center/campus network deployment on the fly and was modifying requirements as we went along complete with how I would set up the IP schema for the network and then how I would handle wireless. I thought I was going to drop over from exhaustion after he finished with me.

Anyways, I know three former coworkers that work at AWS. They're on the sales side with one of them in management and the other two in executive management/director positions. They haven't gone anywhere so I guess it's ok where they are.

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

Hmmm, not good. But I wonder if that's real or just disgruntled employees.

I work for Oracle so I know what it's like to work for a big tech company. I have to say we are treated pretty well, except raises don't come that often and most of it is typically tied up in RSU's vs base salary.

In 5 years, my base salary has only gone up $5k, but I have received hundreds of RSU's to go along with those two raises.

Well your boy Larry just picked up a $173M house in south Florida. He's doing something with the minimal raises

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by spazzyfry123

Well your boy Larry just picked up a $173M house in south Florida. He's doing something with the minimal raises

And an $80 million last year. We worked out that just those two properties would have given all 130k Oracle employees a one-time, $2k bonus.

Then he owns 98% of the island of Lanai, has a home in Kyoto, Japan, multiple homes in the bay area and something like 24 in Malibu ALONE.



Just got off the phone with the internal recruiter. Talked about pay, benefits, the interviewing process, etc.

I'm going to apply, the salary range she quoted me was literally jaw dropping. I already know I'm underpaid where I'm at now, but I still do pretty decent for a guy in Oklahoma with a Public Relations degree.

Base for base, it would DOUBLE my salary. And that doesn't include the sign-on bonus, RSUs, etc.

[br438]

Originally Posted by whyzee125

I don't, but I work with Amazon for my job and I know a few people who work for Amazon.

My best advice is RUN.

One of the worst companies in existence, IMO.

... when a company and the execs that run a company know full well that the economy cannot function without said company.... said execs may have low motivation to run said company in a caring way. All for one... one for one. accountability quotient = 0

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by whyzee125

I don't, but I work with Amazon for my job and I know a few people who work for Amazon.

My best advice is RUN.

One of the worst companies in existence, IMO.

What do they do for Amazon?

One of my buddies that just left Oracle last year, insists they treat their employees poorly. The only poor treatment I've ever received is few raises with small bumps to the base pay and most of it in RSUs.

I had a friend who worked for Amazon and HATED it............he worked in the warehouse. I think it's relevant to compare a professional WFH job and someone slinging boxes in a warehouse or wherever inbetween.

[ryan stewart]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

Hmmm, not good. But I wonder if that's real or just disgruntled employees.

I work for Oracle so I know what it's like to work for a big tech company. I have to say we are treated pretty well, except raises don't come that often and most of it is typically tied up in RSU's vs base salary.

In 5 years, my base salary has only gone up $5k, but I have received hundreds of RSU's to go along with those two raises.

Well, if you have a LOT of disgruntled employees...

Something similar when I worked for a software company in KC. We would get TONS of people who would come work for us after putting in a stint at Cerner. Said it was a horrible corporate culture, freaking LOVED working for us, and were quality workers when they did work for us.

[ToddBlack88]

A good friend of mine was head hunted by them through Linked in. She was in a software development leader for a local company for 15 years and to get her to leave they gave her what she would have lost in severance x2, stock options, and an absurd salary increase.
I am not sure what the culture is like to her as she has worked from home for the 2 years she has been there, but she will have a comfortable retirement in 5 years.

[Alfisti]

Double???? Unless serious red flags you gotta take the job if offered .Just see if you can sneak in severance terms for security.

[zx10guy]

All this talk about disgruntled employees and horrible corporate culture reminds me of one of my past employers. When I started there, things were great. Slowly, they brought in a group of managers that just turned things to $hit.

My current company constantly talks about having a great corporate culture and has gone out of its way in getting feedback from the employees. My company is in the Fortune list of the top 100 companies to work for and is also recognized by Glass Door as company with great corporate culture. Funny thing is over the past couple of years the aforementioned former employer has been pissed that many of their current employees are jumping ship to work for us. If they want to be pissed, they should look in the mirror to see where the problem really is and not another company pouching talent.

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Double???? Unless serious red flags you gotta take the job if offered .Just see if you can sneak in severance terms for security.

I knew I was underpaid, but I didn't realize HOW underpaid I really was.

There are very few people in the Tech Writing sphere that have the amount and varied experience that I do.

I've worked in manufacturing, defense, aerospace, and software. And within that a bunch of varied experience.

I spoke with a friend last night that's a PM for Cisco, and like my buddy that left Oracle............I didn't realize how criminally underpaid I am.

IE, the range she told, if I can land the job would put me tens of thousands above what my current manager makes.

But I also realize, it's likely I won't get the job, but I'm definitely going to give it the college try.

[Alfisti]

Good luck man, I say go for it. Your labour laws are a bit screwy so if you can slide in say, min. 3 months severance is terminated for any reason, that'd help make the move less risky.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

I knew I was underpaid, but I didn't realize HOW underpaid I really was.

Working in the non-profit space for peanuts, I'm curious what they are starting technical writers at?????

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Working in the non-profit space for peanuts, I'm curious what they are starting technical writers at?????

No worries, I'm not shy. I got hired on at NetSuite | Oracle at the end of 2016 for $72k base. That obviously doesn't include the benefits or the sign on bonus of RSU's. Or the few raises I've received that have added little to the base, but mostly RSU's.

Oracle stock was north of $100 in December, it was below $70 this week. I'll have to check since I have a chunk vesting on Monday.

My buddy that left and talking to some other friends, I'm underpaid by $30-40k per year.