Amazon

I'm only a few weeks into working at Amazon, so admittedly these are only first impressions. But here are some of the things I've seen so far.

1. Incredible recruiting experience - Throughout my entire time recruiting, things were communicated very well. There was no guesswork with what to expect or when to expect it. Amazon was completely transparent about what would be coming, and then HELD TO THEIR WORD. I can't stress enough how refreshing it was to actually experience what I was told was coming.

It really felt like my recruiters were working for me, not just Amazon. All my interviewers made it into a conversation, not a stressful barrage of questions. And you could tell that each one was engaged and interested, giving insightful responses and follow-ups to the things I would say.

1. Relocation was simple. I moved across the country to start my new job, and Amazon hired great vendors to help with the relo and made sure every step of the process was covered. This includes working closely with me when my needs diverged from what their usual plan was; I wasn't ever told something couldn't be done.

2. Management is collaborative. So many companies talk about flat structures and how you don't really have a boss. It's never true. Amazon does a great job of having minimal hierarchy but acknowledging where that hierarchy exists and ensuring expectations at every level are laid out. Then leveraging the expected skillsets to work in both directions.

My management has already been open about expectations but consistently available to ensure I have what is needed. And that's not just with me as a new joiner; it is visible everywhere around me.

1. My work hours are flexible. My team is nice. Everyone is intelligent and hardworking. The IT support (really essential when you're onboarding anywhere, I think) is very useful and responds to needs quickly.

Honestly, my cons are pretty banal. But for the sake of fair comparison, here are my thoughts.

1. It took me a couple of days to understand all the internal websites. I didn't feel like there was any great home navigation to find all the other internal endpoints that are needed on a daily basis. Thankfully, though, I had some friends already here who compiled a great startup email to point me in the right direction.

2. Ok, an obvious "Big tech company comparison" would point out that at Google they have in-building gyms, free lunch, and zen gardens. I actually haven't been to Amazon HQ in Seattle, so I don't know all the amenities there. But ultimately, a job is a job. When I saw those things in the Google office, it felt like gilding rather than something that would actually make me happier at work, but that could be different for other people.

3. This is my one real con. Amazon doesn't do yearly bonuses and gives out RSUs instead, which vest on a 4-year schedule that is heavily weighted to the tail end of that time. So, you are always leaving money on the table when you leave. Mind you, having equity at Amazon is a really good thing, so at least right now, it seems worth the wait.