Why I Turned Down an AWS Job Offer • Hacker News Board

Re: Why I Turned Down an AWS Job Offer

#151

Post by zentiggr » Mon, Aug 05, 2019, 6:38 PM UTC

cperciva wrote: post #48

rectang wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> A discussion about clauses such as this is well needed in general We can have a discussion, but because money is speech, the voices of individuals will be drowned out by the voices of corporations.

The world has far more individuals than hundred billion dollar corporations.

The hundred billion dollar companies have the ability to buy the storyline they want portrayed in the media.

How many of those individuals can do the same? May as well have no voice unless they collaborate.

Re: Why I Turned Down an AWS Job Offer

#152

Post by RHSeeger » Mon, Aug 05, 2019, 6:43 PM UTC

kevin_b_er wrote: post #103

cameronbrown wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The tech industry has the best horizontal mobility of any other right now. Why do we need the downside of unions when we can just move company and have only the upsides?

As it turns out: You cannot "just move company" unless you live in California.

The entire east coast seems pretty well situated for job switching, too.

Re: Why I Turned Down an AWS Job Offer

#153

Post by analognoise » Mon, Aug 05, 2019, 6:44 PM UTC

scarface74 wrote: post #30

dvt wrote: post #5

I've also turned down countless Amazon interview offers. In fact, I don't get how I'm still on their recruitment lists after asking several times to be removed. Amazon has arguably the worst culture out of any large tech company, and generally treats its workers like dirt. Given all my friends that worked for them, almost all have quit within 5 years. Given their abysmal warehouse management, it's no surprise they ha…

Given their abysmal warehouse management, it's no surprise they have the second highest employee turnover out of all Fortune 500 companies[1]. Do you think any of the tech companies would treat their blue collar workers any better? It just so happens that all of the products produced by Google, Microsoft and Apple that need a lot of blue collar workers are done by contractors in a different country. I bet none of the…

I work in defense. We treat blue collar pretty well - hands on people are critical to large production of things like warplanes.

We used to treat them even better, of course.

Re: Why I Turned Down an AWS Job Offer

#154

Post by mruts » Mon, Aug 05, 2019, 6:46 PM UTC

Amazon pay is shit. I was laughed out of the room for asking for a salary that some analysts make in finance.

People get paid so much more in finance than any other industry that I wonder why tech people aren’t more interested in those jobs.

Also the work is more exciting and challenging. And it’s better for the world, though I suspect I’ll get a lot of downvotes for that one.

Re: Why I Turned Down an AWS Job Offer

#155

Post by stcredzero » Mon, Aug 05, 2019, 6:47 PM UTC

some random sales schmoo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shmoo

Re: Why I Turned Down an AWS Job Offer

#156

Post by jnwatson » Mon, Aug 05, 2019, 6:48 PM UTC

mirceal wrote: post #41

algaeontoast wrote: post #31

Working for amazon is like joining a fascist cult - you made the right decision. Source - worked for a startup that was acquired by Amazon. My team was slowly managed out of the company and replaced by teams in Seattle. Most of my team was let go by PIP, essentially claiming we weren't "performing at a high enough standard" since they weren't willing to reprehend my boss for being incompetent. However, I'm proud of t…

exit interview advice (applies everywhere): politely decline the exit interview. there is zero upside to doing an exit interview

If you're leaving for simply a better opportunity, there's nothing wrong with an exit interview.

During my last exit interview, I recommended my relatively new manager for a promotion and I later heard he actually got it. I guess they took my advice.

Some organizations actually want genuine feedback, and exit interviews are one of those opportunities.

Re: Why I Turned Down an AWS Job Offer

#157

Post by radicalbyte » Mon, Aug 05, 2019, 6:49 PM UTC

segmondy wrote: post #143

radicalbyte wrote: post #115

I've been approached a few times by Amazon recruiters, I reply back with my salary and profit share demands and that usually shuts them up. I guess that they must have some luck picking up junior developers from Europe, or maybe people who like the idea of living in the US or Canada for a few years so are willing to take the cut.

Amazon pays very well actually, so I'm not so sure. What amount were you asking?

I'm sure they do pay well, it's just that they seem to assume that ever random person in Europe would be jumping to work for them.

I'd have to be around the $150k in a city where large (180-200m2 inside on 600-800m2 land, with a double garage) high quality house would cost $2000 a month in mortgage payments. That's basically where I stand now. I have no idea what houses cost in the places they were talking about (Toronto and somewhere in the US iirc).

That's to be even just for me and that's just to say even. Which is of course not even slightly interesting if you're talking about emigrating.

For my wife you're talking between 4-6x that amount (which is where the profit sharing comes in).

From the emails I've exchanged with recruiters it was basically a no-go. I don't know what they could actually offer but the recruiters have all stopped replying after I mention that :-)

Re: Why I Turned Down an AWS Job Offer

#158

Post by ssully » Mon, Aug 05, 2019, 6:49 PM UTC

mruts wrote: post #154

Amazon pay is shit. I was laughed out of the room for asking for a salary that some analysts make in finance. People get paid so much more in finance than any other industry that I wonder why tech people aren’t more interested in those jobs. Also the work is more exciting and challenging. And it’s better for the world, though I suspect I’ll get a lot of downvotes for that one.

Can you elaborate on why you think it's better for the world? I ask from a position of honest ignorance.

Re: Why I Turned Down an AWS Job Offer

#159

Post by goatinaboat » Mon, Aug 05, 2019, 6:51 PM UTC

cameronbrown wrote: post #62

GoodJokes wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is also a thing called unions.

The tech industry has the best horizontal mobility of any other right now. Why do we need the downside of unions when we can just move company and have only the upsides?

The tech industry has the best horizontal mobility of any other right now. Why do we need the downside of unions when we can just move company and have only the upsides?

Think of it like ageism. The time to do something about it is when you have the leverage. Not when you’re over a barrel.

Re: Why I Turned Down an AWS Job Offer

#160

Post by digianarchist » Mon, Aug 05, 2019, 6:58 PM UTC

shados wrote: post #26

dvt wrote: post #5

I've also turned down countless Amazon interview offers. In fact, I don't get how I'm still on their recruitment lists after asking several times to be removed. Amazon has arguably the worst culture out of any large tech company, and generally treats its workers like dirt. Given all my friends that worked for them, almost all have quit within 5 years. Given their abysmal warehouse management, it's no surprise they ha…

> Given all my friends that worked for them, almost all have quit within 5 years. 5 years is pretty darn high by tech company standard, as people already mentioned. Partly because of the culture of "you have to jump ship to make more money and promotions", but even the most employee friendly company will barely edge that, just because software engineers have a huge "grass is greener" syndrome.

The longest I've stayed at a job since graduating is three years.

If companies had better career paths and gave good raises that might be longer.