Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an interview there coming up. I’m very on the fence about working for Amazon. It feels like The Borg. I’ve heard so many mixed things I’m not sure I can get past it.

Luckily I’m not unemployed, so I feel like I have a few more options, but still, I can’t help but feel that everything I hate about corporate America would be worse at Amazon.

Tell me your pros and cons list, especially if you work there.

This is just my opinion, but the only pro I can come up with is that I've stayed employed during the pandemic.

Otherwise it is the worst company I've ever worked for. My job is nothing like the job description and I feel like I'm regressing.

It's commonly said that you either love or hate Amazon. I've found that the ones who love it are competitive, political, and very vocal about BIG IDEAS (that are usually not executed in the end, and are sometimes others people's ideas).

I've worked in three different teams (lots of restructuring is common) and none have been great. There are some great people and most have told me they're job hunting.

My colleague who absolutely loves Amazon has never worked anywhere else, if that tells you anything!

I wouldn't work there unless I were unemployed.

Actually I just thought of another pro....it's made me appreciate more my past jobs that I loved!

This has been my experience as well. It is a shame that the office culture is so dysfunctional, as the technology is so cool.

Anyone here work for Amazon in Arlington? What type of salary range is to be expected for manager/ senior manager in a finance role? TIA

I'm also "under consideration" and have been so for approximately three weeks. Is this a standard amount of time, is it the holidays, or are they waiting for a better candidate? I'm eager to leave my crappy federal job, yet don't have any illusions of things being much better (besides pay) @ Amazon.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Its been great for us as a family. Work from home, flexibility for field trips, school activities, allow families to travel (but you pay for air fare and food), and flexibility for other things. My spouse could work from the nursing home for a few weeks to be there when his mom died. They were very supportive.

Do you work there? Or does your spouse?

I’m curious what your spouse thinks about the actual experience of working there.

Its been a good overall experience. He's been lucky. Its one of the better jobs/companies he's had. Good supervisors and co-workers. But, he just does his job and stays out of the drama. And, for us, its nice for him/us to have stability vs. working on contracts. He isn't sure if he'll stay after his four years given his 5th year isn't particular good so he may be better off leaving for a year or two and going back. He's had interest but likes Amazon enough to stay for the full four years, probably longer.

He rarely hears about people getting fired except really poor performance or there is usually more to the story. Most people leave as they prefer salary over CEU's, salary (really RSU's but some of that is because the stock is up right now) goes down after four years or a bad supervisor/team. One thing to know is each time you RSU's vest you have to sell stock or pay the taxes on vesting day.

The thing he wasn't told about was the travel and early on was pushed by others to regularly travel. He was able to refuse travel and it was not a big deal. He rarely traveled pre-covid. Some folks travel a lot but some of it is choice or particular job. There is no travel right now. So, if you interview ask about travel. Also, about office vs. work at home. His supervisor didn't care, others do and expect in office (few are working in office with COVID in his building).

The other negative is you get a few months to learn before working but you are basically teaching/training yourself and there really isn't a team/mentor mentality where you get help and support. Amazon does provide tons of free trainings, certifications and conferences. But, you have to be able to basically figure it out on your own in less someone indirectly agrees to mentor you.

Anonymous wrote:
Its been great for us as a family. Work from home, flexibility for field trips, school activities, allow families to travel (but you pay for air fare and food), and flexibility for other things. My spouse could work from the nursing home for a few weeks to be there when his mom died. They were very supportive.

Do you work there? Or does your spouse?

I’m curious what your spouse thinks about the actual experience of working there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an interview there coming up. I’m very on the fence about working for Amazon. It feels like The Borg. I’ve heard so many mixed things I’m not sure I can get past it.

Luckily I’m not unemployed, so I feel like I have a few more options, but still, I can’t help but feel that everything I hate about corporate America would be worse at Amazon.

Tell me your pros and cons list, especially if you work there.

This is just my opinion, but the only pro I can come up with is that I've stayed employed during the pandemic.

Otherwise it is the worst company I've ever worked for. My job is nothing like the job description and I feel like I'm regressing.

It's commonly said that you either love or hate Amazon. I've found that the ones who love it are competitive, political, and very vocal about BIG IDEAS (that are usually not executed in the end, and are sometimes others people's ideas).

I've worked in three different teams (lots of restructuring is common) and none have been great. There are some great people and most have told me they're job hunting.

My colleague who absolutely loves Amazon has never worked anywhere else, if that tells you anything!

I wouldn't work there unless I were unemployed.

Actually I just thought of another pro....it's made me appreciate more my past jobs that I loved!

PP describes my current experience at Amazon perfectly, except I would add "high pay" to the list of pros as well (although it's because I joined when the stock was $1500. I envy my friends who joined when it was $500...).

Anyway, to answer OP: "under consideration" just means you're in the queue of resumes to be looked at. it might never be reviewed if the hiring manager is far along the pipeline with other candidates. but just as a counterpoint, it was 3 months from when I submitted my resume to when I was called for an interview, and then I had an offer a week later. and referrals aren't a magic bullet - most positions end up having the majority of applicants be referrals, so it doesn't really stand out

My ex got in when the stock was 330. Unfortunately the stress of working for the AWS DOD team turned him into an abusive alcoholic and his 100 nights on the road led to the demise of our marriage. He then wad fired by AWS.

Good luck. Think carefully. Terrible culture for families or good people with values.

Its been great for us as a family. Work from home, flexibility for field trips, school activities, allow families to travel (but you pay for air fare and food), and flexibility for other things. My spouse could work from the nursing home for a few weeks to be there when his mom died. They were very supportive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an interview there coming up. I’m very on the fence about working for Amazon. It feels like The Borg. I’ve heard so many mixed things I’m not sure I can get past it.

Luckily I’m not unemployed, so I feel like I have a few more options, but still, I can’t help but feel that everything I hate about corporate America would be worse at Amazon.

Tell me your pros and cons list, especially if you work there.

This is just my opinion, but the only pro I can come up with is that I've stayed employed during the pandemic.

Otherwise it is the worst company I've ever worked for. My job is nothing like the job description and I feel like I'm regressing.

It's commonly said that you either love or hate Amazon. I've found that the ones who love it are competitive, political, and very vocal about BIG IDEAS (that are usually not executed in the end, and are sometimes others people's ideas).

I've worked in three different teams (lots of restructuring is common) and none have been great. There are some great people and most have told me they're job hunting.

My colleague who absolutely loves Amazon has never worked anywhere else, if that tells you anything!

I wouldn't work there unless I were unemployed.

Actually I just thought of another pro....it's made me appreciate more my past jobs that I loved!

PP describes my current experience at Amazon perfectly, except I would add "high pay" to the list of pros as well (although it's because I joined when the stock was $1500. I envy my friends who joined when it was $500...).

Anyway, to answer OP: "under consideration" just means you're in the queue of resumes to be looked at. it might never be reviewed if the hiring manager is far along the pipeline with other candidates. but just as a counterpoint, it was 3 months from when I submitted my resume to when I was called for an interview, and then I had an offer a week later. and referrals aren't a magic bullet - most positions end up having the majority of applicants be referrals, so it doesn't really stand out

My ex got in when the stock was 330. Unfortunately the stress of working for the AWS DOD team turned him into an abusive alcoholic and his 100 nights on the road led to the demise of our marriage. He then wad fired by AWS.

Good luck. Think carefully. Terrible culture for families or good people with values.

You cannot blame AWS for your husband being a drunk. He probably was before it. It doesn't make sense a DOD team would be traveling that much.

Remember who you interview with and who you do the loop with may not be your actual co-workers or supervisor so you need to talk to them before you make a decision.

Travel has been shut down with COVID and it will probably be greatly reduced in the future given the travel costs.

My spouse is happy with Amazon and has a good team and supervisor. It's been really flexible though a lot of hours.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an interview there coming up. I’m very on the fence about working for Amazon. It feels like The Borg. I’ve heard so many mixed things I’m not sure I can get past it.

Luckily I’m not unemployed, so I feel like I have a few more options, but still, I can’t help but feel that everything I hate about corporate America would be worse at Amazon.

Tell me your pros and cons list, especially if you work there.

This is just my opinion, but the only pro I can come up with is that I've stayed employed during the pandemic.

Otherwise it is the worst company I've ever worked for. My job is nothing like the job description and I feel like I'm regressing.

It's commonly said that you either love or hate Amazon. I've found that the ones who love it are competitive, political, and very vocal about BIG IDEAS (that are usually not executed in the end, and are sometimes others people's ideas).

I've worked in three different teams (lots of restructuring is common) and none have been great. There are some great people and most have told me they're job hunting.

My colleague who absolutely loves Amazon has never worked anywhere else, if that tells you anything!

I wouldn't work there unless I were unemployed.

Actually I just thought of another pro....it's made me appreciate more my past jobs that I loved!

PP describes my current experience at Amazon perfectly, except I would add "high pay" to the list of pros as well (although it's because I joined when the stock was $1500. I envy my friends who joined when it was $500...).

Anyway, to answer OP: "under consideration" just means you're in the queue of resumes to be looked at. it might never be reviewed if the hiring manager is far along the pipeline with other candidates. but just as a counterpoint, it was 3 months from when I submitted my resume to when I was called for an interview, and then I had an offer a week later. and referrals aren't a magic bullet - most positions end up having the majority of applicants be referrals, so it doesn't really stand out

My ex got in when the stock was 330. Unfortunately the stress of working for the AWS DOD team turned him into an abusive alcoholic and his 100 nights on the road led to the demise of our marriage. He then wad fired by AWS.

Good luck. Think carefully. Terrible culture for families or good people with values.

Same here, the interview told me in the interview that the position description had been filled but they were looking for something similar. (This wasn’t the HR screen, this was the hiring manager)

She then proceeded to grill me on skills that weren’t in the original job description. (After starting the interview 8 minutes late and talking for 25 minutes straight about the team)

Probably one of my worst interview experiences this year, and I had a lot of interviews this year.

I love how because it’s such a big company with decent pay and the stock keeps rising, I’m supposed to put up with that chaos. That would be only the beginning, I’m sure.

Anonymous wrote:AWS was the worst (and most unreasonable) interviewing experience of my life. This was prior to their big move here.

No way in hell I would work for them. I ended up walking out during the middle of the interview.


--Industry Exec

You sere not qualified or did your homework.

Anonymous wrote:AWS was the worst (and most unreasonable) interviewing experience of my life. This was prior to their big move here.

No way in hell I would work for them. I ended up walking out during the middle of the interview.


--Industry Exec

Can you share your experience? What was so bad that you walked out?

Anonymous wrote:AWS was the worst (and most unreasonable) interviewing experience of my life. This was prior to their big move here.

No way in hell I would work for them. I ended up walking out during the middle of the interview.


--Industry Exec

I wish I'd done the same thing! It was a horrible experience. The interview has nothing to do with the actual position, which I find frustrating. I tried to ask about the position specifically, but they kept brushing off my questions to talk more about the leadership principles.