- frugality: be sure to only receive the cheapest hardware(Macs, Screens) that Amazon can find - usually you only get a used laptop when you start. Also you are supposed to keep your laptop for 4+ years
- "the leader in the cloud" develops its software on desktop-PCs (which are horrible slow and run your dev environment in a VM)
- 10 days of vacation during your first year (don't underestimate your need for vacation - in my previous company I had 25 days already and it hurts to loose 15 days)
- they run you into the ground (prepare for tons of overtime, 12h days are not only normal, but expected)
- dont be alarmed if your team gets shut down and you have to find a new team within 30 days or you are fired (happened to my first team and heard of a handful of others)
- only the minimal parent leave that are required by law
- Java is pretty much the only language in the house - if you try to change their mind you get shut down fast
- lots of legacy systems/code - if you came from a fast moving startup, be prepared that things that took you 2hours tops will now require a 2 week development cycle with tons of reviews and millions of side-effects to consider
- the shares that you get only vest after 4 years and are not worth it - too low
- people don't stay long - on average people stay about a year before they leave again
