Amazon Lab 126 - Think ahead, think long term.
Pros
Working here is challenging, progressive, and cutting edge. You work on new projects, deploy new technologies, develop new code, and support great innovative products. The people and teams you interact with are smart, focused, and as professional as in any company I have worked for - with a lot less politics, and a lot more productivity. They like facts, encourage healthy discussion, and build trust in you as a direct contributor to the company's success.
Cons
Every employee needs to think ahead, plan well, and manage their own development path. Difficult to do, if you are busy delivering day-to-day requests, and working on immersive projects, but you must. If you sit still, even if you are spectacularly productive, you may get ignored. If you expect your manager to help you advance, you are rolling the dice. Some will, some wont. If you are pro-active you can navigate the hoops required to advance. First year employees are generally not incentivized to stay, so you need to negotiate your compensation up -front - particularly if you are a seasoned professional coming in. Knowing, if you are at the high end of the pay level coming in, you may not get a raise or bonus until year three, before you start , is an important factor in setting expectations. Something seldom discussed with non-entry level new hires.
