Amazon

Amazon is a fantastic place to work if you appreciate a fast-paced and dynamic work environment. Teams and individuals are encouraged to quickly adapt to changing priorities, which can be a pro for some but may not be suitable for everyone.

The "Correction of Errors" process helps eliminate the blame game that often occurs during outages at other companies.

Working in networking at Amazon offers unique and challenging problems that are difficult to find elsewhere. NDEs (network development engineers) are given the opportunity to work on the problems that interest them, even if it means switching teams.

The company has high hiring standards, which means you'll be surrounded by bright and diverse individuals.

The constant change of priorities can have negative side-effects. Your project might have its scope altered or even cancelled altogether.

The company's organizational structure has changed every 3 years or so, and there's often a trade-off between long-term personal development and short-term goals. If you're interested in pursuing non-Amazon technical development or certifications, be prepared to invest personal time and money.

The combined effect of these factors has made my experience disappointing. I've reported to seven different managers in my time with the company, which has made it difficult to advance.

However, experiences at Amazon vary widely depending on your team and focus, and some teams are better than others. I strongly recommend vetting your manager and team thoroughly before accepting a position.

Finally, the scale of Amazon requires teams to focus on a smaller part of the bigger picture, which can result in siloed teams and individuals. Some teams do a good job of balancing their narrow focus with a broader perspective, but this is not always the case, especially in networking.

Develop the best. Encourage individuals to understand how they fit into the bigger picture.

Provide a framework for individuals to advance in the company that doesn't slip with a manager change. Reward long-term thinking and contributions.