I've been contacted twice in ten years. The positions were interesting, but their reputation preceded them even back then, so I never seriously considered it. I personally (and possibly unfairly based on hearsay) lump them with Dish as dysfunctional employers.
I have also been approached by recruiters for Amazon. The first time, I asked a few specific questions about the work culture there, and the response did not answer a single one directly. It was 100% evasion and redirection.
Among the specific questions:
- Under what circumstances would I be required to repay relocation assistance?
- Would a non-compete agreement be required?
- Does Amazon use an employee evaluation system similar to Microsoft's old "stack ranking"?
- What is the median employee tenure (a.k.a. how bad is the turnover rate)?
The first recruiter pleaded ignorance for some of my questions, so I helpfully provided him with some links to articles still available on-line from nationally-known business publications. These claimed (with references and fact-checking) that Amazon had the second-worst turnover of all companies where that statistic could be calculated, it does employ a variant of stack ranking, and that Amazon frequently pursued former employees for their relocation and NCA after leaving, even when it was Amazon's decision to fire them.
As I already knew all this, my goal was mostly to help convince that guy to stop being a recruiter for Amazon, and go take an easier job recruiting for someone else. I didn't exactly consider that the company would probably sue him for leaving, or maybe even fire him for not getting me to apply, then sue him for getting fired.
Always do your research on the prospective employer, kids.
Interestingly, their stock grants vest over 4 years at 5%/15%/40%/40%. 18 months means you see a tiny fraction of the big sum that draws you into the company.
Are they still doing that? Geez, it's a wonder they get hires at all.
Honestly, any vesting schedule that is non-linear is just a plain ripoff and should be laughed out of the room - or at the very least approached with extreme caution.
