Though everyone I spoke to was extremely nice, this was the most ridiculous interview process I've ever encountered. I expressed concern over salary early on in the process, multiple times, though HR insisted we weren't "too far off" (despite a $40k gap) and encouraged me to continue. The cost of living calculator offered by Amazon HR to justify their lower pay was the only one I'd found in their favor. Reputable cost of living calculators from CNN and Money magazine showed only a 4% difference from my current city to Seattle, while theirs (from some no-name site) estimated it's %17 percent cheaper in Seattle. I kept plugging along exploring the opportunity even though this disparity left me feeling like my potential future employer was starting our relationship with a lie.
I was asked for 2 different writing samples and also filled out a questionnaire where again my salary requirements were asked. Over the course of the interview process, I was asked to send my resume 4 different times.
During the phone interview with the person to whom I would report, I asked about the NYTimes expose from 2014 which made Amazon sound like a brutal, cut-throat place to work. My would be boss, reported that yes, he had cried at his desk and yes, he is normally working 60-70 hours a week but his perception is that's how it is everywhere. Uhm, no....I've never been made to cry at work and while I do put in the occasional 70 hour week, its not regularly expected.
I was asked to fly out for an in person interview. I made arrangements for hotel and flight via Amazon's travel department. A few days before my flight HR called to prep me for the interview. First, it was explained that should I have to go the bathroom or need water, I should certainly not be shy about advocating for myself. Errrrr do they think i'm an idiot? I was informed there would be behavioral and situational questions and was asked if I knew what these types of questions were. I was also given the names of 5 people with whom I would meet and told that, "I might want to look them up on LinkedIn so that I knew who I was going to be talking to." The manner in which I was babied through the interview process was quite frankly embarrassing. Why coach people to say what you want? Shouldn't they look for someone's authentic response? If a candidate doesn't know what interview questions are and how to best respond; and if the candidate didn't look up who they were meeting with, don't hire them! Finally, at the end of the prep call, HR asked if the salary I had quoted as my bottom line was negotiable. I explained I was only asking for the same amount I made last year. At this point, the person to whom I was speaking explained she needed to speak to the hiring manager since she didn't think they could come up that far. An hour later, I got a call saying they couldn't meet my salary demands and didn't want to waste my time. Too late!
Thankfully, I already have a job and this confirmed my present company is a vastly better place to work than Amazon.
