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Hello, can someone with amazon provide guidance on how to properly follow up after submitting my application for a non-tech role. I submitted 5 apps so far and will appreciate any guidance or referrals if possible. Positions are related to fraud, investigations, anti-money laundering. Also, if you are a recruiter for related positions, please get in touch with me. JPMorgan Chase Amazon Stripe Chime Google Microsoft Discord Netflix Facebook (Meta)
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So we can be better prepared but it seems like any talk around structuring the team is deprioritized. Our team meetings are even often deprioritized. What is the best way to manage up in this situation or at least rebuild my reputation.
You definitely DON’T want to blame your performance on your manager or the fact that sometimes team meetings need to be canceled. People complain about having them and complain if they’re canceled - which is it?
Team meetings are helpful for many reasons but are easily something that can be dropped when time is short. It’s a fact of professional life. If your manager feels like you are taking a dig at them when those meetings need to take a backseat, you will be creating unnecessary (and foolish) conflict.
If you’re not entry level, presumably you came in with experience and command a certain pay level. Are you bringing experience to the table, or do you need a detailed roadmap to do every little thing?
Remember that YOU are supposed to be a skilled professional. If you need your hand held through absolutely every little thing, you should spend time with yourself and think about why.
Network with colleagues, ask questions, prepare, and research. Heaven forbid you might have to work until (gasp) 5:01pm to get settled in and caught up. As a new person, you should not expect to clock in at 8, take the hour lunch, and clock out at 5. Go the extra mile to learn the org and the new role, prove yourself, and dig in.
Structure in certain things and ways can be important, but too much emphasis on “needing structure” is a red flag for an employee that has no ability to take initiative and navigate ambiguity. If there was already a perfect way forward, you would likely not be needed. A monkey can be trained to do a task. Are you a task-doer or a professional with vision, ideas, initiative, and tenacity?
You want to avoid all inklings that you are a “blamer”/“finger-pointer” when you feel insecure about how you look/are perceived/ your performance. Take ownership and chart a path forward. People know you’re new. But, it’s your job to dig in, get to know your environment, network with people, learn, and contribute.
Take time with your boss where you can. Go to lunch, pick his/her brain, and soak up needed info and context to help you tackle seemingly vague deliverables. Ask good questions.
You should be focus on your onboarding process first. Rest will follow!
@OP this too! Take this time to network network network - find out about what the people around you do and make connections with them. This will also help you tremendously as you move forward.
I worked at Amazon for 8 years up until this past Spring. The best way to handle this situation is to take ownership and put forth your ideas to improve things. Ask lots and lots of questions about your manager’s expectations when it comes to your tasks as well as gaining clarification for the expected outcome. This will help you tremendously. If your manager doesn’t know or is clueless go to your skip level to gain that clarification. You will have to do your best to document your understanding and document the clarifications you do receive so that it becomes clearer what next steps should be—and never be afraid to present your ideas and campaign for buy-in. You will do great things!!
Mentor
I don’t work for Amazon. But I have been the new kid on the block.
One of the best phrases that you can use is - “Hi, I’m Jane Smithers, I’m new to Amazon and this topic… thank you for your patience while I’m being onboarded.”
Being thrust into these types of calls are a usually a good thing. Focus on your basics and build on the foundation that Amazon gives you during your onboarding.
You’ll be using this phrase a lot when groups change or projects change.
Try to keep your 1.1 with your boss and see if you can pair up with a co-worker mentor.
I usually tell my new hires at 2 months you will feel like you are making a horrible impression and dealing with imposter syndrome. 4 months in you’ll feel like you are crawling and 6 months in, you might be able to take on the workload without assistance.
If they are adding you to high-level meetings two months in… that is a sign that they think you are ready for the next stage of onboarding.
Not necessarily at Amazon. They believe deeply in baptism by fire…and you get a serious firehose to the face 😶🌫️🤭