Pros
* Undoubtedly the best brand on the planet. It is Amazon! * Amazing customer service - the customer truly is all that matters at Amazon which is inspiring. * Fast paced environment, you can't ever be bored * You cannot help but begrudgingly respect Jeff and all he stands for, it works! * You'll likely be a one man band in your role meaning you don't delegate to anyone so lots of responsibility and scope to learn. * Really corporate and very business focused so if you think it's a fluffy retail environment you'll be shocked. *Big focus on pushing Amazon as an innovative tech brand and Prime is probably the most important proposition for future growth of the brand (aside from AWS which of course speaks for itself). * Lot's of engagement with Director's which is good for personal growth. * Structured training seminars and opportunities to learn outside your skillset * Regular reviews and team catch ups which means you always have an element of feedback * Great if you are highly proactive and a self-starter. Also great if you are willing to do your time and work your way up the hierarchy. Amazon awards long standing staff and loyalty. * Lots of scope for super geeks to do really well and win awards like the Just Do It Award and Desk Door Awards from Jeff B. * Opportunity to work with other big brands and partners and third party businesses which makes for nice wide scope of work and alleviates the stress of being part of Amazon. * Mostly what you get from Amazon is the chance to do pretty much anything once you leave. It is a brand that makes people take note and opens you up to any brand you want really! * If you manage to stick around you get chunky annual bonuses added onto your monthly salary which means you're earning about 20% more than your base salary each year. * Lots of travel opportunities for meetings, conferences and events * There are a lot of genuinely smart, cool, pleasant people at Amazon irrespective of people's assumptions
Cons
* Not good for people who are not highly proactive and seriously motivated (you don't get help) * No budget to grow your team so you will have to do your job and not delegate or manage unless you are at Director level. * Frugality taken to new levels - no budget for anything. * If you are hired for being wacky, creative and passionate it will be bashed out of you and you are better being very dull and corporate and will likely last far longer this way. * Not good if you prefer a sparky startup environment - this is a big corporate, don't be fooled by the 'it's still day one' line from Jeff B. It is 20 years old and a machine * Innovation isn't part of your day to day - only the super geeks and the American team get to really innovate at Amazon * You can't say anything about the brand on your social media at all - nothing good, nothing bad, nothing at all * You can't speak about the brand in the pub or to your family or friends * You definitely cannot speak to the press ever - certainly not about tax! * You need to consult tax and legal department on any communication at all that is going out (in marketing or press material and even customer service correspondence * The leadership principles make the brand like a cult, people live and breathe them and it can be irritating especially since half of them are rubbish * You have no autonomy, it is likely that 80% of the work you do will never be seen *It is brutal you will work long hours and if you are prone to stress and easily upset this is not for you - I cried almost every day and worked 12-17 hour days most days * You will be crushed if you pull up someone more senior and have an opinion that isn't backed by data (they are obsessed with data, ideas mean nothing without statistics. * Anonymous feedback means you feel paranoid quite often * People are cut throat and not afraid to slaughter you in a meeting in front of peers or Directors * You can lose confidence easily, especially if you are not very senior (even people with 10 years experience end up feeling like they are just starting out) * If you leave before a year you have to repay some of the starting bonus you are forced to accept * Stocks in Amazon means nothing unless you stay a minimum of 4 years to access them * You will likely have 8-10 interviews for the role all based on the leadership principles, it is mentally draining * If you don't get on with your direct boss you are screwed - you have nowhere to turn and no one to help you because everything ends with him or her * You cannot move to a new location until you have passed 18 months * You learn more in a startup where you have autonomy than you do in a senior role at Amazon where in many ways you may go backwards * You will definitely be indoctrinated into the cult and become a fully functioning ambot in no time. Maybe even an amhole! * Nodding dogs do well at Amazon. I was once told: care less = problem solved (weird!) * If you are prone to stress you may find that you can't sleep, are constantly shaking with adrenalin, experience hair loss and suffer nose bleeds