What's it like to work for Amazon?

June 12, 2010 12:35 PM

I'm contemplating going due south (Same weather anyway :) ) and taking up a development job at Amazon HQ and am looking for some opinions.

Researching amazon is really really difficult to do with the google being unable to differentiate between "about the company" and their products. I'd love to hear some anecdotes about working there long term; since I'd be on a visa, it can be difficult to switch and you get locked in. Is it a good place to work? How are the benefits, particularly things like parental leave? Can you stay their long term and be challenged, or is it a resume job (do your 2 years, looks good on the resume, and move on)?

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (3 answers total)

It completely depends on the division you're working in. Generally, what I've heard is that it's a bit of sweatshop, and still runs on a startup mentality. That is to say, loads of pressure, not great processes, shifting scope, etc. Oh, and expectations that you'll regularly work 60-70 hr weeks, sometimes more.
Benefits are probably good, but don't expect to be taking much time off (until you leave, that is).
All but one of the people I've known who worked there were glad to leave.
YMMV, but try to find out more about the group you'd be be working with. The one person who liked it said his group was sane, and had a great manager, but that it was a bit of an island of sanity.
posted by dbmcd at 6:03 PM on June 12, 2010

That pretty much corresponds with what I've heard. It totally depends on the group though, and it gets crazier as it gets closer to the top.
posted by Artw at 8:28 PM on June 12, 2010

It's not my experience at all (I'm currently working there) that it's a "bit of a sweatshop". Sometimes I work long hours, but no more than I've worked in any software job (actually far less than another I worked at). And when I do work long hours it's for a good reason. And, regardless, it's probably the most day-to-day satisfying job I've had. About half my immediate team have been here for years (as in 4+) and I know a lot of people that have been here 5-7 or more.

PM me if you want to know more.
posted by R343L at 10:43 PM on June 12, 2010