First week as an Amazon Software Engineer 🎧 New Grad Diaries

Summary

This video follows a software engineer’s first week at Amazon, transitioning from an intern to a full-time role. The creator shares personal experiences, from nervousness and excitement on the first day to adjusting to the new responsibilities and work-life balance. The story highlights the learning process, team dynamics, and overcoming challenges while settling into Amazon's culture. It provides an honest and relatable perspective on career growth, the workplace environment, and the reality of starting a full-time job in tech.

Takeaways

• 😀 First day jitters: Starting a new role as a software engineer at Amazon, the speaker expresses nervousness and excitement, emphasizing how this marks the start of a long career journey.
• 🎒 Practicality over style: Despite wanting a work bag, the speaker prefers a backpack for practicality on their first day at Amazon.
• 💻 Internship experience: The speaker reflects on their internship at Amazon, where they learned a lot and gained confidence through hands-on work with new technologies and system design.
• 🏢 Work environment: The speaker mentions meeting their onboarding buddy and familiarizing themselves with the team and new office spaces at Amazon.
• 🍵 Coffee culture: They note how much coffee they consume during the workday, indicating how important caffeine is in helping them manage a busy schedule.
• 💼 Returning to the same team: Despite the initial uncertainty, the speaker is excited to return to the same team they worked with during their internship, albeit with some changes in personnel.
• 💡 Company culture at Amazon: The speaker observes how Amazon is made up of many different organizations with unique cultures, systems, and challenges, providing a vast, interconnected work environment.
• 🧠 Onboarding process: The speaker spends their first few days focusing on onboarding tasks, reading about the team and the products, and adjusting to the pace of a 9-5 job.
• 📅 Work-from-home shift: The speaker enjoys working from home, especially as Amazon plans to return all employees to the office full-time in January 2025, sparking discussions among colleagues.
• ⚙️ Interview prep and internship to full-time transition: The speaker shares insights into their internship experience, emphasizing the importance of problem-solving, articulating thought processes, and applying leadership principles to secure a return offer.
• ⏰ Adjusting to a 9-5 routine: After their first week, the speaker reflects on the challenges of getting used to a regular 9-5 schedule, including feeling exhausted by the end of the day and adjusting to the structure of full-time work.

Q & A

What was the user's experience on their first day as a software engineer at Amazon?

The user described feeling nervous on their first day but was excited about starting their full-time job at Amazon. They had previously interned at Amazon and were returning to the same team. The first day involved setting up their laptop, meeting their onboarding buddy, and learning more about the team and its products.

Why did the user decide to return to Amazon as a full-time employee?

The user enjoyed their internship at Amazon, where they gained valuable experience working with new technologies, system design, and big data. They felt that Amazon was a great place to start their career and to continue growing as an engineer.

What were the user's feelings about returning to the office after working from home?

The user appreciated the flexibility of working from home, particularly the convenience of avoiding the commute and being able to start the day casually. However, they mentioned that starting in January 2025, Amazon is requiring all full-time employees to return to the office five days a week, which is creating discussions among employees.

What kind of work did the user do during their first week at Amazon?

During their first week, the user focused on onboarding tasks such as setting up their laptop and cloud desktop, as well as familiarizing themselves with the team's projects and products. They also attended meetings and began re-familiarizing themselves with the technologies their team uses.

How did the user manage the transition from intern to full-time employee?

The user mentioned feeling a bit overwhelmed during the first week due to the amount of jargon in meetings and the transition from internship life to a full-time job. They expressed that it’s a big adjustment, especially with the change in pace and structure of a 9-to-5 job.

What made the user nervous about their first few days at Amazon?

The user felt nervous due to the pressure of starting their full-time role and adjusting to the more structured environment of a 9-to-5 job. They were also concerned about meeting people on their team and the changes that came with returning to the office after their internship.

How did the user prepare for their internship interview with Amazon?

The user prepared for the internship interview by practicing coding problems on LeetCode, particularly focusing on arrays, linked lists, trees, and graphs. They also worked on being able to explain their thought process clearly, as they had heard from interviewers that this was crucial.

How did the user convert their internship into a full-time offer at Amazon?

The user successfully converted their internship to a full-time offer by completing their project and applying Amazon's leadership principles throughout the internship. They focused on demonstrating ownership, curiosity, and a willingness to learn.

What did the user think about the culture within Amazon's different organizations?

The user noted that Amazon is very large, with various organizations operating almost like independent companies. They pointed out that different teams within Amazon have their own unique cultures, systems, and challenges, which makes working at Amazon dynamic and diverse.

What did the user reflect on regarding their work-life balance during their first week?

The user reflected on how a 9-to-5 job leaves limited free time, which made them appreciate their time outside of work even more. They enjoyed moments of relaxation, like eating a sandwich or going on a run, and valued these quiet moments of unwinding.