"It's like doing an MBA on amphetamines." - Head of Sales, UK Amazon Employee Review

4.0
28 Aug 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Amazon is an astonishing place to work. Highly meritocratic, with enormous weight given to KPIs and metrics, and letting data guide your way. The high hiring bar means that you'll genuinely be working with the smartest people around - I spent the first year trying not to be the dumbest guy in the room. The green field thinking is awesome - you can approach problems without constraints. The leadership principles are also superb - they work, because Amazon uses them to guide and steer every part of the company, from hiring, to making strategic decisions, to resolving point issues - that makes them very, very powerful as a way to align an entire company. I also got to work with some of the best SVP/management talent in the world.

Cons

Jeff Bezos - "You work smart, hard and long - and two out of three don't cut it. " The working hours can be appalling - I was doing 73-74 hours per week, and it's very unsympathetic towards anything outside work, like family. It's also quite an unsentimental business - people don't tend to build great personal relationships, or if they do, they can be jettisoned quite fast.

Explore other reviews about Amazon

5.0
12 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great room for growth, amazing learning opportunities for early career

Cons

Problems don't get fixed quickly. Red tape, but you can work through it.

5.0
10 Jan 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Really smart people, a lot of opportunity for growth, always encouraged to be innovative, think big, and create something new. Competitive salary and benefits with other major tech companies. 100% self motivating work environment. No dress code and 4 legged friends are welcome.

Cons

You have to be self motivated. NO ONE will hold your hand and tell you that you're doing a great job. If you need constant affirmations from management, this company isn't for you.

3159
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