I Got An Offer From Amazon Web Services (AWS) as a Self-Taught Cloud Engineer!

Summary

In an inspiring announcement, a self-taught cloud engineer celebrates receiving an offer from Amazon Web Services, part of the prestigious FANG group (Facebook, Apple, Netflix, Google). Reflecting on their journey from a startup to Amazon's vast workforce, they emphasize the importance of preparation, networking, and resilience. Despite challenges and differing opinions about Amazon, the individual confidently shares their rigorous interview experience, highlighting support from recruiters and the company culture. They encourage others to pursue their passions, reminding them that every role is just a step in their ongoing career journey.

Takeaways

• 🎉 Achieving a job at Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a significant milestone for the speaker, highlighting the prestige of being part of the FAANG companies.
• 📊 Amazon employs over 1.5 million people, showcasing its massive scale compared to the speaker's hometown population of 60,000 in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
• 🚀 The speaker transitioned from small startups to a major company like Amazon, emphasizing personal growth and the evolution of their career.
• 🎓 The journey to becoming a self-taught cloud engineer involved obtaining certifications, specifically the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, which was a turning point.
• 🤝 Networking played a crucial role, with the speaker connecting with over 1,500 Amazon employees to understand the company's culture and expectations.
• 🔍 The speaker emphasized the importance of researching Amazon's leadership principles, which informed their approach during the interview process.
• 💡 Personal resilience was highlighted, with the speaker reflecting on the doubts and skepticism faced from others during their career transition.
• 🔗 The speaker's interview experience at Amazon was positive, with a supportive recruiter who provided valuable guidance throughout the process.
• 🕰️ The interview process was extensive, lasting eight weeks and consisting of multiple rounds, including an online assessment and final round interviews.
• ✨ The speaker encourages others to pursue their passions and to live by their own convictions rather than succumbing to external opinions.

Q & A

What does 'FANG' stand for?

FANG stands for Facebook, Apple, Netflix, Google, and Amazon, representing some of the largest tech companies in the world.

What was the speaker's first job experience before joining Amazon?

The speaker's first job was at a startup with only about 12 employees.

How many employees does Amazon have?

Amazon has approximately 1.5 million employees worldwide.

What motivated the speaker to become a cloud engineer?

The speaker was inspired to become a cloud engineer after passing the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification, which introduced them to cloud technology.

What approach did the speaker take to prepare for their career in tech?

The speaker strategically focused on certifications, projects, and networking to position themselves for a role at AWS.

How many Amazonians did the speaker network with during their journey?

The speaker networked with over 1,500 Amazonians to gain insights and prepare for their career at Amazon.

What was the speaker's interview experience like with Amazon?

The speaker found the interview experience rigorous but supportive, with recruiters aiming to help them succeed rather than trip them up.

What are the Amazon leadership principles, and why are they important?

The Amazon leadership principles govern the company's culture and decision-making, and the speaker incorporated them into their daily life and preparation for interviews.

What does the speaker mean by saying no role or organization is a destination?

The speaker believes that a career is fluid and continuous, and each role is part of an ongoing journey of growth and experience.

What message does the speaker convey about following opinions from others?

The speaker emphasizes that while it's important to consider others' opinions, one should not blindly follow them; instead, it's essential to make informed decisions based on personal understanding and research.