4 ms·

I wonder how Amazon's poor reputation as an employer is going to effect this hiring push. I would take one of those 55,000 jobs for a FAANG salary but only if I

I wonder how Amazon's poor reputation as an employer is going to effect this hiring push. I would take one of those 55,000 jobs for a FAANG salary but only if I was sure Amazon wasn't going to chew me up and spit me out.

BlameKaneda 5y ago
If you join as an engineer it seems that getting on a decent team is a gamble. You could end up with great people, or with people who'll make you miserable. Needless to say, I'd rather look at other FAANG options.
yann2 5y ago
Does it matter? You'll have Amazon on your resume. Its a door opener for whatever job you apply for next.
- silicon2401 5y ago
  For those of us who value life above work, it does matter. My focus for the next 1-2 years is enjoying them, not being miserable just to open career doors
skohan 5y ago
For all the people like you who might have reservations, there's a line out the door with slightly worse, or even comparable qualifications who would be head-over-heals for an offer from Amazon.
- frankbreetz 5y ago
  This may have been true a few years ago, but eventually they will burn through qualified candidates. Every article I read about Amazon is how terrible it is to work there and that includes white collar jobs. I would have thought about working for Amazon as an inexperienced engineer, but at this point after getting just 3 YOE, I have way too many options to go work for Amazon, they would have to more then double my salary because Amazon is known for backloading pay, so you won't make that much money until you have been there 2+ years. As we all know, there is not an infinite number of experienced devs and Amazon is burning through them quickly
  - skohan 5y ago
    Yes but how many thousands of new grads come into the job market every year? With the salary they're offering, there's always going to be demand. They might lose the best candidates, but I don't think they will have an issue long term.
    - frankbreetz 5y ago
      I don't know if a company without any senior devs is going to make it long term. My point is even with a relatively small amount of experience, I have an unbelievable amount of opportunity, so I wouldn't take an Amazon job. If Amazon becomes a revolving door of new grads who are just trying to get a year or two experience and bolt, it will not be good for Amazon as a company and eventually and the Amazon stamp on your resume will loose its prestige, at which point even new grads won't want to work there. Amazon desperately needs to change its reputation.
      - skohan 5y ago
        Do you actually think this is at risk of happening? I understand the argument you are making, but it seems like Amazon is one of the most successful companies ever, and is absolutely printing money. I'm not saying you are wrong, I just don't know if this reality or whether this is what people wish would be the case for emotional reasons.
        frankbreetz 5y ago
        Yes, absolutely it risk of happening. Lots of huge companies have either gone out of business for less. It's not a binary thing, it's a scale. Fact is Amazon could keep better engineers for longing if they weren't so cut throat and that is not helping them. Will they be able to stay successful regardless of this? Who knows, they will probably become worse at innovation, but they could potentially keep running their store and delivery for a long time without much innovation. You are probably right in regards to emotion, who doesn't want to see a company who treats workers like that fail? I still shop there, it is way too convenient and cheap.
A4ET8a8uTh0 5y ago
Based on what I have read so far, it seems there are two Amazons, in a sense. Frontline workers ( warehouse, drivers and so on ), who, rightfully, complain about the conditions and corporate workers, where work is not as onerous and your level of 'enjoyment' depends on the team you join. If I had no other options, I would obviously go for it. That said, despite a good addition to resume, its not something I would personally go for of my own volition.

BlameKaneda 5y ago

If you join as an engineer it seems that getting on a decent team is a gamble. You could end up with great people, or with people who'll make you miserable. Needless to say, I'd rather look at other FAANG options.

yann2 5y ago

Does it matter? You'll have Amazon on your resume. Its a door opener for whatever job you apply for next.

silicon2401 5y ago
For those of us who value life above work, it does matter. My focus for the next 1-2 years is enjoying them, not being miserable just to open career doors

skohan 5y ago

For all the people like you who might have reservations, there's a line out the door with slightly worse, or even comparable qualifications who would be head-over-heals for an offer from Amazon.

frankbreetz 5y ago
This may have been true a few years ago, but eventually they will burn through qualified candidates. Every article I read about Amazon is how terrible it is to work there and that includes white collar jobs. I would have thought about working for Amazon as an inexperienced engineer, but at this point after getting just 3 YOE, I have way too many options to go work for Amazon, they would have to more then double my salary because Amazon is known for backloading pay, so you won't make that much money until you have been there 2+ years. As we all know, there is not an infinite number of experienced devs and Amazon is burning through them quickly
- skohan 5y ago
  Yes but how many thousands of new grads come into the job market every year? With the salary they're offering, there's always going to be demand. They might lose the best candidates, but I don't think they will have an issue long term.
  - frankbreetz 5y ago
    I don't know if a company without any senior devs is going to make it long term. My point is even with a relatively small amount of experience, I have an unbelievable amount of opportunity, so I wouldn't take an Amazon job. If Amazon becomes a revolving door of new grads who are just trying to get a year or two experience and bolt, it will not be good for Amazon as a company and eventually and the Amazon stamp on your resume will loose its prestige, at which point even new grads won't want to work there. Amazon desperately needs to change its reputation.
    - skohan 5y ago
      Do you actually think this is at risk of happening? I understand the argument you are making, but it seems like Amazon is one of the most successful companies ever, and is absolutely printing money. I'm not saying you are wrong, I just don't know if this reality or whether this is what people wish would be the case for emotional reasons.
      - frankbreetz 5y ago
        Yes, absolutely it risk of happening. Lots of huge companies have either gone out of business for less. It's not a binary thing, it's a scale. Fact is Amazon could keep better engineers for longing if they weren't so cut throat and that is not helping them. Will they be able to stay successful regardless of this? Who knows, they will probably become worse at innovation, but they could potentially keep running their store and delivery for a long time without much innovation. You are probably right in regards to emotion, who doesn't want to see a company who treats workers like that fail? I still shop there, it is way too convenient and cheap.

A4ET8a8uTh0 5y ago

Based on what I have read so far, it seems there are two Amazons, in a sense. Frontline workers ( warehouse, drivers and so on ), who, rightfully, complain about the conditions and corporate workers, where work is not as onerous and your level of 'enjoyment' depends on the team you join. If I had no other options, I would obviously go for it. That said, despite a good addition to resume, its not something I would personally go for of my own volition.