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Varied technologies and subcultures

Software Engineer
Current Employee
Has worked at Amazon for 6 years
October 25, 2015
Seattle, Washington
4.0
RecommendsPositive OutlookNo CEO Opinion
Pros

Tremendous scope for going in different professional directions in different domains, with different technologies, etc.

Very different work environments/cultures in different parts of the company.

Reports of slave-driving behavior generally exaggerated.

No sense of robotic corporate kool-aid that all must drink.

Competitive compensation, pleasant location, looks good on resume, etc.

Cons

The level of intensity and creative chaos in some groups may be overwhelming for some.

There's a preponderance of young, ambitious, hyper-focused, look-alike engineers.

It's demanding, not always family-friendly.

There's a rather Darwinian approach to performance management.

Advice to Management

Be more laid back. Concentrate on maintaining an orderly, reasonably predictable work schedule and a rewarding environment with opportunities for all to grow in their own ways. Reduce stress levels. Hire more diverse people (ages, backgrounds, styles).

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